Name: Mrs. Willie M. Willis Jones

Date: July 19, 1939 - July 11, 2022

Biography

City of birth: Elmore City, OK

Mother: Hattie Mae Prince Willis

Father: James Arthur Willis Sr.

Spouse: Herbert Jones

Daughters: Valerie Jones Steele

Sons: Tony D. Jones

Sisters: Erma J. Alford, Alice F. Willis (Deceased)

Brothers: James A. Willis Jr. (Deceased), Thomas O. Willis (Deceased), Lawrence Willis (Deceased), Ray E. Willis

Education: Paul's Valley High School/Cameron University and University of Central Oklahoma

Occupation: Registered Nurse

Special notations: OKLAHOMA CITY - Willie Mae (Willis) Jones, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, peacefully made her transition from this life to life eternal, July 11, 2022. She was born, the eldest of seven children, July 19, 1939, in Elmore City, Oklahoma, to James A. (Buster) and Hattie Mae (Prince) Willis. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, one sister, and a son. January 2, 1959, Willie Mae married the love of her life, Herbert L. Jones. Two children were born from this union: Tony DeNoye Jones (deceased) and Valerie D. Jones Steele. Herbert and Mae, as her husband affectionately called his beloved, would be happily married 63 years. Willie Mae had an immense love for education. She was one of six African American students who integrated Pauls Valley High School graduating in 1957. She immediately began a bachelor’s degree at Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, Oklahoma, transferring to Cameron University, Lawton, Oklahoma, earning an Associate’s in Nursing and a Bachelor’s in Sociology. She later received a Master’s in Gerontology at the University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma. At a very early age, she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior and was baptized. She served Christ with all diligence and faithfulness becoming a Certified Teacher of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., Department of Christian Education. When she saw a need for a particular ministry for the church, Willie Mae sought to establish it. She was integral in implementing the Medical Guild at Union Baptist Church, Lawton, Oklahoma, and the Grief Ministry at Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Willie Mae was both a drum major for righteousness and a seeker of justice. She also took no issue with being the first to blaze a trail for others. When she was denied entry into the King’s Daughter Hospital Association, Vocational Practical Nurse School, in Temple, Texas in 1963, legal documents were filed following anti-discrimination legislation passed in 1964 in the US District Court for the Western District of Texas. This ruling came down in her favor. She was admitted to the VPN School in 1966 graduating in 1967. She became the first to attend this School. She continued to work for justice in the workplace until her retirement from the Department of Human Services after 21 years. As a Registered Nurse she worked 35 years in the medical field. She was a member of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. Willie Mae is survived by her husband, Herbert; daughter, Valerie Jones Steele; grandchildren, Jasmine Reier (Nicholas), Deaven Steele, Nickolas Steele, and Hennessey Travon Steele; four great grandchildren, Dominick, Micah, and Peyton Reier, and Alkevion Flanner; sister, Erma Alford and brother, Ray Willis (Marilyn); and, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, loved ones and friends. Visitation is at Temple & Sons, 2801 N Kelley Ave, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Monday, July 18, 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Funeral Service is Tuesday, July 19, 10:00 am at Quayle United Methodist Church, 5001 N Everest Ave, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Interment is at the Ft. Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, Oklahoma, at 2:00 pm.

Visitations: 12pm-7pm Monday, July 18, 2022

Cemetery: Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, OK 73538

Services: Quayle United Methodist Church, 5001 N. Everest Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73111

Services date and time: 10am Tuesday, July 19, 2022