Donnie Willis, age 71, of 220 Vermont Dr., Gaffney, passed away Wednesday, April 3rd, in Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home.

Donnie Lee Willis was born in Gaffney, South Carolina on June 3, 1952 to Catherine Hemphill Willis and Milton Maxwell.

Donnie was a member of Bethel Baptist Church where he was on the Deacon Board, the All Male Choir, and Sunday School. He was a United States Navy Veteran and a retiree of Nestle.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings, Bobby Willis (Essie), Tommy Lee Rosemond, Dorothy Mae Brewton (Robert).

He leaves to cherish loving memories: his loving wife, Teresa Smith Willis; his children, Derrick Willis, Donnie Tate, Ronnie Tate, Stephen Jefferies, Sheena Ussery, and Robtees Smith; siblings, Billy Hemphill (Ruby), Betty Jean Robinson (Willie), and Claude Benson Corry (Dorothy Daniels); an uncle, James “Goat” Hemphill; his brother and sisters–in law, Tyrone Smith, Arlet Snith, Gytanna Tate, and Talmadge Smith; 20 grandchildren; a special cousin, Michael Hemphill; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Funeral Service will be held Saturday, April 13th, at 1:00 p.m., in Bethel Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. James W. Sanders, Jr. officiating. Interment will follow in Gaffney Memorial Park. He will lie-in-state an hour prior to service in the church.

The family is receiving friends at 236 Camellia Circle.