Mrs. Rebecca Willoughby

Rebecca “Becky” Rye Willoughby, a loving military wife, proud mother, grandmother, sister, teacher, true friend, and avid BAMA fan passed away November 8th, 2022 at the age of 75. She was a resident of Monarch Place in Hanceville Alabama and was born in Cullman Alabama April 24th,1947. She was raised in the Prospect Mountain community and a graduate of Cold Springs High School class of 1965. She attended several Universities including University of Alabama, Minot State, TCU, Wichita State, and UAB. She graduated with an undergraduate degree in English Literature and studied for her masters.

She was driven by her passion for literature, poetry, art, architecture and traveling. Alabama game day weekends excited her the most, Roll Tide Roll!

Rebecca trusted the Lord and had a servant‘s heart and touched the lives of many people during her life. She had a special gift to connect with people and draw them in to her as she opened her arms wide to listen, comfort, and love them.

As a friend: For the last 8 years, many people came into her life as a resident of Monarch Place Assisted Living. To many she was a dear friend and to some she was the resident mother. Numerous caregivers and residents expressed their love for her and valued her companionship, often seeking her out to talk and be loved. Many were like extended family. Our family is grateful for the blessing these ladies and men were in her life. She had a home. While we wish all could be listed, special thanks and love to Renita, Tina, and Kathy.

As a wife and mother: Rebecca was an Air Force wife. Her husband, Lieutenant Colonel Don Willoughby, served our country honorably for 20 years in the Air Force piloting B-52 Bombers. She loved and supported her husband greatly, always proud of his service. She also sacrificed in many ways to support her family. They were stationed at Lubbock, TX, Merced AFB CA, Minot AFB ND, Carswell AFB Fort Worth TX, Barksdale AFB Shreveport LA, Ramstein AB Germany, and McConnell AFB Wichita KS. After retiring from the military in 1989, Don and Becky moved back to their farm in Cold Springs.

As a Teacher: She loved teaching and connecting with students. She was a teacher at different levels including Junior and Senior High at Friendship Academy in Shreveport LA, Wichita St University in Kansas, University of Alabama - Birmingham, and teachers aid for physically challenged elementary students in Fort Worth TX. (Mark was one of these students and she befriended his disadvantaged family to serve and love them. She helped by providing needed items and including him in family activities and outings)

Rebecca is survived by her son “Bud” Donald N. Willoughby Jr. (Stacy Lockhart Willoughby); 3 granddaughters Madeline, Morgan, and Jenna Willoughby; sister Reba Rye; brother William ”Bill” Wesley Rye Sr.; half-sister Sharon Joan Hester; nephews William “Wes” Wesly Rye (Regina Rye) Jr., Joseph “Joe” Franklin Rye, Sellus Wilder (Emma Anderson), Wilson Rye Bessinger (Roxane Asselin), Rebecca “Becky” Helen Bobba (Paul Vincent Bobba), Timothy Hester, Gregory Hester, Byron Hestor, and other great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Lt. Colonel Donald Nelson Willoughby Sr., father Luther Wesley Rye, mother Mildred Rye, half-sisters Linda Faye Rye Hester and Berldeen Mahoney, and nephew Wendell Hestor.

Funeral services (broadcast via Facebook live) will be held 2pm Sunday November 13th at New Prospect Baptist Church (5805 County Road 38, Cullman, AL 35057). She will lie in state starting at 1pm. A small graveside service will follow at Cold Springs Missionary Baptist Church.

The family requests donations in lieu of flowers. (http://gofundme.com/rebecca-willoughby) All money received will support elderly residents in need at Monarch Place Assisted living in Hanceville AL.

Moss Service Funeral Home Directing.