Lavinia Mills Willis

Lavinia Mills Willis, daughter of the late Clarence G. and Louise A. Mills, was born on October 29, 1941 in Baltimore, Maryland. She quietly departed this life on January 15, 2003.Lavinia received her education in the Baltimore City Public School System and graduated from Eastern High School. She was in the second graduating class that included Afro-American women.Lavinia continued her education at Baltimore City Community College where she received a degree in nursing. Upon her graduation, she began a career at the original Provident Hospital where she served as a L. P. N. for thirty-eight years. During her long career, Lavinia acquired a degree in Anesthesiology. At the time of her retirement in 1996, she was the supervisor of central supply.In 1968, she married the love of her life whom she knew as a teenager John L. Willis.Lavinia was a very loving family oriented person. She enjoyed having family gatherings and being with friends. If she could help you in any way, she would.Lavinia loved her church family very much. She was a long-time member of Gospel Tabernacle Baptist Church where she remained an active member until her illness in 1996.Under the tutelage of the late Josephine Turner, she acquired and perfected her skills as a pianist. Her church family honored her for over twenty-five years of service as a church musician. Lavinia helped organize the Luke G. Reynolds memorial Choir and played the piano for them along with the Tapscott Gospel Chorus and the male Chorus. She was a member of the Pastor’s Aid, Sisterhood, Nursing Ministry and a Flower Circle. She began attending gospel Tabernacle at a very, very young age and accepted Christ. This has always been HOME!Lavinia was a wonderful wife, companion, friend and devoted mother.She leaves to mourn: her husband, John L. Willis; her daughter, Erin C. Hyman; her grandchildren, Eric M. Brown, James W. Gaskins III, Robin C. Gaskins and Frank J. Hyman III; one brother, Lee Mills; two sons-in-law, Frank J. Hyman Jr. and Kenneth N. Littlejohn; her mother-in-law, Margarite Clary; three godsons, Michael M. Clary, Christopher Graham and William Carter; one nephew she raised as her own, David K. McCargo; four sisters-in-law, Audrey and Dwan Clary, Barbara Clark and Corita Mills; three brothers-in-law, Charles and Brian Clary and Albert Clark, all of Baltimore, Maryland; aunt and uncle, Clarence and C. Lea Crosby of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; thirteen nephews, five nieces, several great nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.

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Lavinia Mills Willis

October 29, 1941 - January 15, 2003