John A. Willis 

Published 2:43 pm Tuesday, March 9, 2021

John A. Willis

March 8, 2021

John A. Willis, 64, of Bainbridge, Ga., passed away Monday, March 8, 2021.

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at Fellowship Baptist Church with Rev. Marty Anderson and Rev. Chris Humphries officiating. A private interment will be held at Davis Family Cemetery with full masonic rites. Due to the ongoing concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, those attending are asked to maintain the recommended safe social distancing of six feet and/or wear protective masks in accordance with the State of Georgia guidelines.

Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.iveyfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Processing Center, PO Box 863765, Orlando, FL 32886.

John Albin Willis was born November 30, 1956 in Bainbridge, the son of “Junior” and Alice Warren Willis. He was a graduate of Bainbridge High School, Class of 1975. He worked as an agent with Tim Smith & Associates. John married Jackie Davis in 2000. He was a member of Orion Lodge No. 8 F&AM and Fellowship Baptist Church where he was active in his Sunday school class.

John commanded attention when he entered a room. His stature alone made people think he was big and bad. In fact, he was a giant teddy bear who loved unconditionally. His nature was to serve others. He spent years working with the Jaycees serving as the local President and as district governor. He worked hard and loved his co-workers like family. When the hour for his paying job was up, he spent his “time off” assisting Jackie with catering. (He loved Wal-Mart so he volunteered for that duty.) John enjoyed bowling, golf, fishing, riding motorcycles, watching wrestling on television and ANYTHING to do with his family especially the grandchildren. John was the best version of “Papa John” in South Georgia.

Survivors include his wife of 21 years, Jackie Davis Willis; his children, Kristy (David) Seoane of Connecticut, Misty Davis Loyd (Ernie) of Bainbridge, and Kimberly Davis Bennett (Will) of Homerville; his mother, Alice Willis; his siblings, Wayne Willis, Denise Parker, and Cindy (Woody) Palmer; and his grandchildren, Trace, Emma, Mackenzie, Christian, Camdyn, Ryan, and Eason. John was preceded in death by his father, John Hampton “Junior” Willis, Jr.