Judy Jeraline Willis

Judy Jeraline Whatley Willis died on Friday, October 9, 2026 at the age of 88. A graveside service will be held at the Lisbon United Methodist Church Cemetery in Lisbon, Louisiana on Saturday, November 7, at 11:00 a.m., with visitors welcome beginning at 10:00 a.m. While flowers are certainly appreciated, the family encourages donations to be made to the United Methodist Children’s Home and Family Services of Louisiana.

Judy was born on June 10, 1938, to Leon Will Whatley and Lula Bee White Whatley in Vivian, LA. She graduated from Fair Park High School in Shreveport in 1957, and a year later Judy was married to Terry Willis on June 26. The next year, they started a family together that would eventually include three sons, Ricky, Gary and Mark. After their second son was born, Terry entered the itinerate ministry with the Methodist Church, which took their family to different parts of the state. Judy fulfilled the role of a pastor’s wife wonderfully, supporting Terry and the ministry of each church to which they were appointed. She had a beautiful soprano voice and always sang in the choir if there was one. She also loved cooking and hosting. Judy held lavish open house celebrations around the holidays at each church they served. Her faith was a deep and genuine source of joy, comfort, strength and assurance, and she is largely responsible for imparting the faith to her children, two of whom became pastors as well.

Judy joined the United Methodist Women in 1960 and remained active throughout her life. Upon Terry’s retirement in 2003, she became even more involved serving in numerous leadership roles. In 2005 she was elected President of the local chapter of Homer United Methodist Church and President of the Shreveport District UMW. She was elected Vice President of the Louisiana Conference UMW in 2009, and in 2011 Judy became the Dean of the School of Mission and Chairperson of the Committee for the Annual Conference UMW Spiritual Retreat. She completed her elected tenure in 2013.

Though Judy gave much of her life to the church, she was also a devoted and superb wife, mother and grandmother. She certainly had her hands full raising three boys, especially with the youngest suffering from severe birth defects. She cared about everything in her children’s lives, and they never doubted her love for them and for their families. Her homemaking was the glue that held her family together. She was equally comfortable dressing out a fancy table or working in the yard, and she had an uncanny knack for throwing a delicious home-cooked meal together from an abundantly stocked freezer if guests should arrive unexpectedly. Many cherished memories centered around times together enjoying her wonderful cooking. Her spontaneous nature was often a source of laughter and memorable moments. She enjoyed growing flowers, cooking, traveling, camping, movies, music, coloring and her little dogs, whom she treated as family.

Judy is preceded in death by her parents; her parents-in-law, Clovis and Maudlee Willis; her husband, Rev. Terry Willis; her brother, Danny Whatley, and her son, Mark.

Survivors include their two sons, Ricky Willis and wife, Marie, and Gary Willis and wife, Amy; five grandchildren, Michael Willis and wife, Felicia, Timothy Willis and wife, Crystal, Amanda Willis, Michelle Willis and Jason Willis; three great-grandchildren, Angel Willis, Stephen Willis and Hunter Willis; Sister-in-law, Nancy Dear and husband, Willis Dear; along with several nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to express our heartfelt gratitude for the many expressions of concern and sympathy during this time. We are also grateful to her church family at Lisbon United Methodist Church and for the amazing care Judy was given by the staff of Presbyterian Village Nursing Care Center over more than five years. We rest assured that God has joyfully received His loving servant home.