Joanne “Jody” Reese Willis, born July 31, 1942, in Henderson, Texas was the daughter of the late John Frank Reese and Mary Carcity McCoy. Jody was raised in Longview, Texas where she  graduated from Longview High School. 

On Thursday, December 22, 2022, Jody transitioned peacefully from this life to eternity. Jody was a caring mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, cousin, and friend. The simplest pleasures in life brought great joy to Jody and she enjoyed reading and listening to music. Jody retired from Walmart where she worked in Customer Service.

Although we are in mourning, we lean on God’s word as it provides tremendous strength and power during times of loss and death. We are comforted by the words of Revelation 21:4, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Jody was preceded in death by her parents; Siblings: Annie Harvey, Robert Reese, John L. Reese, Clementine Rusk, Charles Reese, Carrie Reese, William Reese; and Brother-in-Law Pastor Alvin D. Brown.

Those left to cherish her memories are Sonya (Thomas) Alexander of Grand Prairie, Texas, Tony Reese of Boise, Idaho, Talisa Willis of Lansing, Michigan, Kimberly (Elbert) Sherman of Longview, Texas, Nazarus Willis of Houston, Texas, Clyde (Brittany) Willis of Longview, Texas, Jammal Willis of Longview, Texas; Siblings: Jessie Sr (Debra Kay) Reese of Longview, Texas, Joyce Brown of Longview, Texas, Frances (Rev. James Anderson) of Longview, Texas, Vera McCoy-Stinson of Longview, Texas, Merlene Thompson of Longview, Texas, and Griffin McCoy Jr of Los Angeles,  California; 18 grandkids, 24 great-grandkids, 7 great-great grandkids, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.