Franklyn Willis

Franklyn Thomas Willis, 82, formerly of Lexington, died Tuesday, December 29 at Moses Cone Medical Center in Greensboro. A funeral service will be held at 1 pm Saturday, January 2, 2016 at Davidson Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. Doug McGee. Burial will follow at Forest Hill Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7pm Friday at Davidson Funeral Home. Mr. Willis was born November 7, 1933 in Richland County, SC to Clarence Joseph Willis and Katie Pearl Lovette Willis. He retired from Swing Transport and was a veteran of US Marine Corps. He had been a longtime member of Arrington Heights Freewill Baptist Church. His first wife, Shirley Powers Willis, preceded him in death, as well his brothers, Billy Willis and David Willis. He is survived by his wife, Lillian Pruitt Willis of Pleasant Garden; his sons, Dewey Willis (Devon) and Dwayne Willis (Cindy), both of Lexington; his daughter, Shirl W. Sumner and husband Steve of Trinity; his grandchildren, Kelly Cooper (Nikki), David Willis (Jessica) Billy Willis (Jessica), Steven Willis (Tiffany) Zachary Sumner (Brittany), Kevin Willis and Jamie Easter; eleven great-grandchildren; and his sister, Doretha Everhart of Lexington.