Wanda Marie Willis

Wanda Marie Willis, age 77, of Villa Rica, Georgia passed away Saturday, February 8, 2020. Funeral Services will be held at 12pm on Saturday, February 15, 2020 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Marietta with Pastor Lamar Clarke officiating. She will lie in state at the church from 10am until 12pm prior to the service at the church.

Wanda Marie Oden (Willis) was born on September 10th, 1942 in Evandale, Ohio. Wanda dedicated her life to the Lord at an early age at the 1st Baptist Church of Hazelwood, and spent her younger years in Ohio, surrounded by her siblings and close knit group of cousins.

She relocated to Detroit, Michigan for a number of years, before returning to the Cincinnati area where she continued her career as a respiratory therapist. While in Ohio, Wanda became a faithful member of Good News Baptist Church & Choir. After spending many years there with family and friends, Wanda decided to make Georgia her final home. In 2017 Wanda became a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Marietta, GA.

She had a beautiful smile and infectious laugh, and made friends everywhere she went. She was known for her love of plants, reading, traveling, and sunglasses, affectionately called "The Sunglass Queen" by many. Wanda truly loved the lord, and would minister to others often. She enjoyed spending her time surrounded by friends and loved ones, as well as volunteering faithfully with her church's Hope For The Hungry ministry.

Wanda was preceded in death by her mother and father, Albert & Arnetta Oden, sister Brenda Hawthorne, and brothers Larry Oden, Eugene Oden, Albert Oden Jr. and Clarence Oden.

She is survived by her sisters Patricia Hardy, Clara Page, and Ernestine Oden; son Russell (Karen) Oden, daughter DeEnda Gibson, grandchildren; Willie (Elizabeth) Oden, Chaunte' (Khristian) Pulliam, Russell Oden and Mikel Oden. She also leaves behind a host of beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Her beautiful light will continue to shine, and she will be truly missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Wanda Willis's memory to Mt. Zion Baptist Church, to the American Cancer Society @ www.cancer.org , and to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital @ www.stjude.org

The family will receive friends on Friday, February 14, 2020 from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm at West Cobb Funeral Home and Crematory in Marietta. Online guest book at www.westcobbfuneralhome.com .