Sandra Mercer Willis

Mrs. Sandra Mercer Willis, age 69, of Tennille, died Thursday, October 9, 2008. Graveside funeral services will be held on Sunday, October 12th at 2:00pm at the Old City Cemetery in Sandersville. Rev. Dale Andrews will officiate.

Mrs. Willis was born in Washington County the daughter of Mary Garbutt Mercer and the late Sanders G. Mercer Sr. She was a Graduate of the Sandersville High School Class of 1957 where she was named Miss Sandersville High School and was also named “Best All Around” by her class mates. Sandra attended the University of Georgia and Georgia State University. She served as the first full time president of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce from 1986 to 1996. Sandra was also a former member of the Sandersville Rotary Club where she served as the first female member and was named by the club Washington County Citizen of the year in 1996 a distinction also held by her father. Sandra followed her father’s footsteps as a community activist serving as a former member of the Washington County Hospital Authority and also chairwoman of the Sandersville Old City Cemetery Committee responsible for much of the Cemetery’s restoration. She was actively involved in the many Washington County Kaolin Parades from it’s creation to it’s revitalization in the 80’s. Sandra was a active member of the First Christian Church where she currently served as the Vice Moderator of the Church Council, a member of the Jubilee Sunday School Class as well as serving her church on numerous committees. She served the City of Sandersville as the former bookkeeper, interim City Administrator and currently served as the City Clerk.

Survivors are her husband Aubin H. Willis of Tennille, her mother, Mary Garbutt Mercer, children, Susan Studdard Lewis, of Sandersville, Jerald Jay Studdard of Nashville, TN., Julie Studdard Adams (Mike) of Sandersville, Gail Willis Anderson (Bobby) of Tennille, Mark S. Willis (Julie) of Macon, Terrie Willis Starr (John) of Batesburge SC., of Sandersville, grandchildren, Lauren Lewis, R.J. Lewis, Eli Harris, Chanci K. Studdard, Jake D. Studdard, Leigh Hillard Barrett, David K. Whitling, Matthew W. Whitling, Kate Willis, Luke Aubin Willis and Anthony D. Adams, great grandchildren, Sydney Barrett and David Aubin Whitling and her brother Sanders G. Mercer Jr. (Judy) of Sandersville.

The family will be at the Willis residence on Smith Street in Tennille and will receive friends Saturday, from 4 to 6pm at the May and Smith Funeral Home 1119 Riddleville Rd. Sandersville.

Donations may be made to the First Christian Church of Sandersville, P. O. Box 45 Sandersville, GA. 31082 or to the Sandersville Old City Cemetery, P.O. Box 71 Sandersville, GA. 31082.

May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements. www.mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com