Sara June Willis

Funeral will be at 1 p.m. today at Collier-Butler Chapel for Sara June Gilchrist Willis, 81, of Southside, who died May 29, 2014. The Rev. Lauil Thompson will officiate. Burial will be at Crestwood Cemetery. Collier-Butler Funeral and Cremation Services is directing.

Sara was born in Ashville, AL, on July 12, 1932, graduated from Ashville High School in 1950, and married her high school sweetheart, Bill Willis, that same year. She and Bill moved to Gadsden in 1959 and became charter members of MeadowBrook Baptist Church. She was retired from Etowah County with 22 years of service as a secretary and bailiff to Judge Cyril Smith and as a bailiff to Judge William Rhea. She was proud of her status as the county's first female bailiff.

She was a former Sunday School teacher and member of the Altrusa Club, and was a member of Southside Baptist Church at the time of her passing. She was preceded in death by her husband, William "Bill" Willis; parents, Truss and Viola Franklin Gilchrist; son-in-law Jimmy Giles; and eight siblings.

She is survived by her son, Sandy Willis (Judy); and her daughter, Pam Giles; grandchildren, Cammie Sancheti (Manu), Chris Giles (Jaclyn), Jennifer Sutton (Wes), Ben Giles and Holly Garrett (Blake); and great-grandchildren, ("sugar babies") Shaan and Seth Sancheti, Giles and Amelia Sutton, and Will Garrett.

Pallbearers will be Chris Giles, Ben Giles, Wes Sutton, Van Davis, Dr. Rick Hess, Blake Garrett and Judge William Rhea. Honorary pallbearers are Bill Drummons and Dr. Dwight Harper.

The family would like to thank the following special caregivers: Amedisys Hospice, Lawley Hospice, Beverly Berry, Colleen Ellis, Tabitha Helton, Wanda McGinnis, Lou Ellen McGruder, Lisa Morrison, Colette Dawson Stephens, Celinia Sturm and Reecie Thomas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to MANNA, P.O. Box 1623, Gadsden, AL 35902; or the Homebound Ministry of Southside Baptist Church, 3975 Highway 77, Southside, AL 35907.

The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be made at www.collier-butler.com.