Ida Mae Willis

Mrs. Ida (Honey) Mae Willis was called home by our Heavenly Father at the age of 90, on November 24, 2024 in Fishers, Indiana, surrounded by her loving family. She will be dearly missed by all who loved her but are comforted by knowing that all her burdens have been lifted, and her unbreakable spirit is free. 

Ida was born on March 13, 1934 in Sumter, South Carolina, the youngest of 9 children to Ulysses and Emma White. She married Robert E. Willis Sr. in 1949, and together they would welcome four children into the world: Ruth Emma, Robert Jr., Bathsheba, and Veronica. The growing family would live in Norfolk, Virginia, where Ida and Robert cultivated a vibrant life and community together.

Ida managed the family for long periods on her own while her husband was at sea serving in the US Navy. She instilled the values of education, faith, hard work, generosity, integrity, and love of all people in her children. Ida held many different jobs during her young adult life but found her “work home” at the University of California, Berkeley, where she served on the Housekeeping Staff of Cowell Hospital. Each day, as she moved from office to office in the building, Ida would serve as friend, counselor, teacher, spiritual guide, confidante, and mentor to countless professional colleagues and students. 

After living in Vallejo with her daughter Bathsheba for many years, Ida relocated to Fishers, Indiana in 2009, where she lived with her youngest daughter Veronica, son-in-law James A. Knight Sr., and grandson James II. While in Indiana, she joined Light of the World Christian Church, where she blessed so many people with her warm and tender spirit. Ida was constantly surrounded by love and care, making new friends and enjoying time with people she had known through visits, phone calls, and social events. Ida was a beautiful woman, renowned for her regal dress style and elegant fashion sense. She loved to dance, tell stories, share her wisdom on all matters of life, and—most poignantly—give freely to others without hesitation, whenever she saw a need, big or small.

Ida was preceded in death by the wonderful men with whom she shared her life, Robert E. Willis, Sr., Harry Dusky, and Frank Clayter Jr.; son, Robert E. Willis Jr.; grandson, Blaine McKinley Clark; parents Ulysses White and Emma (Hunt) White; and siblings Ashby White, Arlisher (White) Johnson, Annete (White) Johnson, Nathaniel White, Ulysses White, James White, and Willie Mae Lemon.

She is survived by her children, Ruth Woods, Bathsheba Willis, and Veronica Willis-Knight; grandchildren Giovanni Willis, Yusuf Woods, Tomara Fallen, Racha Taylor, Raja Taylor, and James A. Knight II; and a host of great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and countless adopted grandchildren. She continues to be honored, loved, and cherished by so many others, who joyfully regarded her as family.

All who are able are invited to join in any of the moments of farewell. Services are still being organized, but internment will be held at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery at 5810 Midway Rd., Dixon, CA 95620. In lieu of flowers, gifts in honor of Ida Willis may be made to “The Ida Mae Willis Memorial Foundation”, to support students in pursuit of a college education or professional vocational training, by clicking HERE