Kathleen Holbrook Willis

Kathleen Faye Holbrook Willis went home to be with the Lord in the early morning of Sunday, August 28, 2016 at the age of 80. She was a beloved Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother, and she spent her entire life serving God, her family, and her friends. She was born on January 19, 1936 to Jacob Andrew Holbrook and Clara Martin Holbrook in Greensboro, AL. She had three siblings, Doc Martin Holbrook, Andrew James Holbrook and Lillian Louise Holbrook. She attended school in Greensboro, where she met the love of her life, Jimmie Love Willis. They were married at First Baptist Church of Greensboro, AL on February 7, 1952. After graduating from Greensboro High School, she attended Howard College in Birmingham, AL until the birth of her first child in 1955. Over the next 50 plus years, her husband Jimmie was a lifetime minister of the Southern Baptist faith and together they served the following pastorates: Old Town Creek Baptist and Harmony Baptist, both in Moulton, AL; Jayess Baptist, Jayess, MS; Harmony Baptist, Hazlehurt, MS; Eastside Baptist, Marianna, FL; Ariton Baptist, Ariton, AL; Franklin Rd. Baptist, LaGrange; Flintstone Baptist, Flintstone, GA; Southwest LaGrange Baptist, LaGrange; and served interim pastorates at Grantville Baptist, Hunter Rd. Baptist, Glenn Baptist and Franklin Rd. Baptist. She was a devoted minister's wife, active in many committees as well as teaching Sunday School and singing in the church choir. Jimmie and Kathleen were founding members of New Hope Baptist Church, and the fellowship hall at the church was dedicated in their honor. She attended Midsouth Beauty School In Rossville, GA from 1972 to 1975 and became a Cosmetology instructor. She was a hair stylist for many years. Later she worked for American Kidney Services from 2003 until May 2016 at the age of 80. One of her biggest passions in life was traveling while ministering to others. She organized and conducted many group tours all over the world, always serving the Lord. She was preceded in death by her husband Jimmie Love Willis, daughter Elizabeth (Libby) Willis Gilley, her parents and her siblings. Kathleen is survived by daughters Clara Willis Byrd (Bob) of Lebanon, TN, Kathy Willis Carroll (Steve) of Acworth, GA, Wendy Willis Parmer (Philip) of LaGrange, GA and Regina Willis Simma (Bachir) of Dacula. GA. She was "Sweetmama" to her nine grandchildren, Summer Deal(Wiley), Jerod Gilley, Nathan Gilley(Bethany), Jacob Carroll(Jenna), Lance Parmer(Lauren), Lucas Parmer (fiancé Miranda Bauers), Chase Carroll, Eli Simma, and Miriam Simma and five great-grandchildren, Lilly Grace Deal, Elizabeth Gilley, Lennox Deal, Collins Parmer, and Lydia Gilley, six step-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. The family will receive visitors from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Monday, August 29, at New Hope Baptist Church. The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 30, at New Hope Baptist Church with Rev. Michael Hornsby officiating. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions be made to New Hope Baptist Church. Claude A. McKibben and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.