James Willis was born on April 19, 1942 in Lapine Alabama to Rufus Willis and Bettie June Hicks.  He departed his life on Sunday, December 24, 2017 at Western Reserve Hospice at Ridgewood.  James recently married Vernell Walters; twenty days before he died.

James served in the U.S. Army.  He also worked for Summa Health Systems retiring after twenty years of service.  James was a wonderful full time father and grandfather.  He became a member of Stone Deliverance Evangelical Temple.

James was preceded in death by his wife Billie Hogg; father, Rufus Willis; two brothers, Leonard Willis and Michael Willis.

He leaves to cherish his memory, wife Vernell Walters Willis; three daughters, Angelina Meyrs (Atlanta, GA), Elizabeth Allen (Akron, OH ), Latayo Portis (Akron, OH ); three sisters, Annette R. Randle (Ralph) (Chicago, IL), Elizabeth Willis (Rodney), Mary Irby (Roger); two brothers, Rufus Willis Jr., Leon (Wanda) Willis; grandson, Elijah James Clinkscales all of Akron, OH.  He also leaves to cherish, his close cousin Josey of Chicago, Illinois, special friend Yvette Jones and a host of nieces and nephews.