Willis (Haywood County, TN)

Notable Births & Deaths for Willis ...

Below is our list of notable people who were born, died or were buried in the area surrounding Willis. Please note that while we are collecting data on an ongoing basis, it's a big task and it's unlikely that our list will ever be more than a sample.

John Henry Barbee (Musician)
- Born: William George Tucker
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for John Henry Barbee<1>
- He was born in Henning (TN) on November 14, 1905 (a Tuesday) and died in Chicago (IL) on November 3, 1964 (a Tuesday).
- Henning is located in Lauderdale County and is 21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest of Willis (which is located in Haywood County).
- Chicago is located in Cook County, Illinois.
- At the time of his death, he was 59.
- He is buried at Restvale Cemetery, which is located in Cook County, Illinois.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Restvale Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Restvale Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Willis to Restvale Cemetery
Bobby 'Blue' Bland (Singer, songwriter)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Bobby 'Blue' Bland<1>
- He was born in Rosemark (TN) on January 27, 1930 (a Monday) and died in Memphis (TN) on June 23, 2013 (a Sunday).
- Rosemark is located in Shelby County and is 28 miles [45.1 km] to the west of Willis (which is located in Haywood County).
- Memphis is located in Shelby County, Tennessee.
- At the time of his death, he was 83.
- He is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, located 42 miles [67.6 km] to the southwest of Willis. The cemetery is located in Shelby County, Tennessee.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Memorial Park Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Memorial Park Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Willis to Memorial Park Cemetery
Reverend William Herbert Brewster, Sr. (Musician)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Reverend William Herbert Brewster, Sr.<1>
- He was born in Somerville (TN) on July 2, 1897 (a Friday) and died in Memphis (TN) on October 14, 1987 (a Wednesday).
- Somerville is located in Fayette County and is 17 miles [27.4 km] to the south of Willis (which is located in Haywood County).
- Memphis is located in Shelby County, Tennessee.
- At the time of his death, he was 90.
- He is buried at New Park Cemetery, which is located in Shelby County, Tennessee.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for New Park Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to New Park Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Willis to New Park Cemetery
John Lewis Dodge, Jr. (Major League Baseball)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for John Lewis Dodge, Jr.<1>
- He was born in Bolivar (TN) on April 27, 1889 (a Saturday) and died in Mobile (AL) on June 19, 1916 (a Monday).
- Bolivar is located in Hardeman County and is 22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast of Willis (which is located in Haywood County).
- Mobile is located in Mobile County, Alabama.
- At the time of his death, he was 27.
- He is buried at Cave Hill Cemetery, which is located in Jefferson County, Kentucky.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Cave Hill Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Cave Hill Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Willis to Cave Hill Cemetery
Gene Evans (Actor)
- Born: Eugene Barton Evans
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Gene Evans<1>
- He was born in Holbrook (AZ) on July 11, 1922 (a Tuesday) and died in Jackson (TN) on April 1, 1998 (a Wednesday).
- Holbrook is located in Navajo County, Arizona.
- Jackson is located in Madison County and is 27 miles [43.5 km] to the east of Willis (which is located in Haywood County).
- At the time of his death, he was 75.
- He is buried at Highland Memorial Gardens, located 29 miles [46.7 km] to the east northeast of Willis. The cemetery is located in Madison County, Tennessee.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Highland Memorial Gardens<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Highland Memorial Gardens (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Willis to Highland Memorial Gardens
Isaac Hayes (Singer, musician, composer, actor)
- Full name: Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr.
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Isaac Hayes<1>
- He was born in Covington (TN) on August 20, 1942 (a Thursday) and died in Memphis (TN) on August 10, 2008 (a Sunday).
- Covington is located in Tipton County and is 21 miles [33.8 km] to the west of Willis (which is located in Haywood County).
- Memphis is located in Shelby County, Tennessee.
- At the time of his death, he was 66.
- He is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, located 42 miles [67.6 km] to the southwest of Willis. The cemetery is located in Shelby County, Tennessee.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Memorial Park Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Memorial Park Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Willis to Memorial Park Cemetery
W.S. 'Fluke' Holland (Musician)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for W.S. 'Fluke' Holland<1>
- He was born in Saltillo (TN) on April 22, 1935 (a Monday) and died in Jackson (TN) on September 23, 2020 (a Wednesday).
- Saltillo is located in Hardin County, Tennessee.
- Jackson is located in Madison County and is 27 miles [43.5 km] to the east of Willis (which is located in Haywood County).
- At the time of his death, he was 85.
- He is buried at Ridgecrest Cemetery, located 28 miles [45.1 km] to the east northeast of Willis. The cemetery is located in Madison County, Tennessee.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Ridgecrest Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Ridgecrest Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Willis to Ridgecrest Cemetery
Joe Hunter (Pianist)
- Full name: Joseph Edward Hunter
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Joe Hunter<1>
- He was born in Jackson (TN) on November 19, 1927 (a Saturday) and died in Detroit (MI) on February 3, 2007 (a Saturday).
- Jackson is located in Madison County and is 27 miles [43.5 km] to the east of Willis (which is located in Haywood County).
- Detroit is located in Wayne County, Michigan.
- At the time of his death, he was 79.
- He is buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, which is located in Wayne County, Michigan.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Mt. Olivet Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Mt. Olivet Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Willis to Mt. Olivet Cemetery
Christopher Jones (Actor)
- Born: William Frank Jones
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Christopher Jones<1>
- He was born in Jackson (TN) on August 18, 1941 (a Monday) and died in Los Alamitos (CA) on January 31, 2014 (a Friday).
- Jackson is located in Madison County and is 27 miles [43.5 km] to the east of Willis (which is located in Haywood County).
- Los Alamitos is located in Orange County, California.
- At the time of his death, he was 72.
- He is buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, which is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Hollywood Forever Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Hollywood Forever Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Willis to Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Ellis Kinder (Major League Baseball)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Ellis Kinder<1>
- He was born in Atkins (AR) on July 26, 1914 (a Sunday) and died in Jackson (TN) on October 16, 1968 (a Wednesday).
- Atkins is located in Pope County, Arkansas.
- Jackson is located in Madison County and is 27 miles [43.5 km] to the east of Willis (which is located in Haywood County).
- At the time of his death, he was 54.
- He is buried at Highland Memorial Gardens, located 29 miles [46.7 km] to the east northeast of Willis. The cemetery is located in Madison County, Tennessee.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Highland Memorial Gardens<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Highland Memorial Gardens (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Willis to Highland Memorial Gardens
Dr. Cary 'Doc' Middlecoff (Professional golf)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Dr. Cary 'Doc' Middlecoff<1>
- He was born in Halls (TN) on January 6, 1921 (a Thursday) and died in Memphis (TN) on September 1, 1998 (a Tuesday).
- Halls is located in Lauderdale County and is 28 miles [45.1 km] to the north of Willis (which is located in Haywood County).
- Memphis is located in Shelby County, Tennessee.
- At the time of his death, he was 77.
Hammie Nixon (Musician)
- Born: Hammie Nickerson
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Hammie Nixon<1>
- He was born in Brownsville (TN) on January 22, 1907 (a Tuesday) and died in Jackson (TN) on August 17, 1984 (a Friday).
- Brownsville is located 8 miles [12.9 km] to the north of Willis. Both communities are located in Haywood County.
- Jackson is located in Madison County and is 27 miles [43.5 km] to the east of Willis (which is located in Haywood County).
- At the time of his death, he was 77.
Carl Perkins (Musician)
- Full name: Carl Lee Perkins
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Carl Perkins<1>
- He was born in Tiptonville (TN) on April 9, 1932 (a Saturday) and died in Jackson (TN) on January 19, 1998 (a Monday).
- Tiptonville is located in Lake County, Tennessee.
- Jackson is located in Madison County and is 27 miles [43.5 km] to the east of Willis (which is located in Haywood County).
- At the time of his death, he was 65.
- He is buried at Ridgecrest Cemetery, located 28 miles [45.1 km] to the east northeast of Willis. The cemetery is located in Madison County, Tennessee.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Ridgecrest Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Ridgecrest Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Willis to Ridgecrest Cemetery
James 'Yank' Rachell (Musician)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for James 'Yank' Rachell<1>
- He was born in Brownsville (TN) on March 16, 1910 (a Wednesday) and died in Indianapolis (IN) on April 9, 1997 (a Wednesday).
- Brownsville is located 8 miles [12.9 km] to the north of Willis. Both communities are located in Haywood County.
- Indianapolis is located in Marion County, Indiana.
- At the time of his death, he was 87.
- He is buried at New Crown Cemetery, which is located in Marion County, Indiana.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for New Crown Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to New Crown Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Willis to New Crown Cemetery
Gail Robinson (Opera singer)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Gail Robinson<1>
- She was born in Jackson (TN) on August 7, 1946 (a Wednesday) and died in Lexington (KY) on October 19, 2008 (a Sunday).
- Jackson is located in Madison County and is 27 miles [43.5 km] to the east of Willis (which is located in Haywood County).
- Lexington is located in Fayette County, Kentucky.
- At the time of her death, she was 62.
- She is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, located 42 miles [67.6 km] to the southwest of Willis. The cemetery is located in Shelby County, Tennessee.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Memorial Park Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Memorial Park Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Willis to Memorial Park Cemetery
Tina Turner (Singer, songwriter, actress, author)
- Born: Anna Mae Bullock
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Tina Turner<1>
- She was born in Brownsville (TN) on November 26, 1939 (a Sunday) and died in Kuesnacht (Switzerland) on May 24, 2023 (a Wednesday).
- Brownsville is located 8 miles [12.9 km] to the north of Willis. Both communities are located in Haywood County.
- At the time of her death, she was 83.
- The body was cremated.
Robert Gene 'Red' West (Actor, stuntman)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Robert Gene 'Red' West<1>
- He was born in Bolivar (TN) on March 8, 1936 (a Sunday) and died in Memphis (TN) on July 18, 2017 (a Tuesday).
- Bolivar is located in Hardeman County and is 22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast of Willis (which is located in Haywood County).
- Memphis is located in Shelby County, Tennessee.
- At the time of his death, he was 81.
- He is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, located 42 miles [67.6 km] to the southwest of Willis. The cemetery is located in Shelby County, Tennessee.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Memorial Park Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Memorial Park Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Willis to Memorial Park Cemetery

Footnotes ...

<1>	The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.