Mr. Shelvy Ray Willis

Shelvy Ray Willis was the second son born to Sessor and Nellie Willis. He and his twin sister, Shirley Faye shared the honor of being the first of four sets of twins born into the Willis family. Shelvy, known to most as Ray, was a kind and loving son and brother to his 13 siblings: Don, Rubye, Shirley, Andrew, King, Tensie, Alpha, Omega, Anthony, Bettye, Henry, Paul, and Peasie. Ray was the only brother of the seven Willis boys to be drafted into the military. He prayed to Jehovah and told Him that if he got back home alive, he would dedicate his life to serving Him. Ray was injured while on active duty and granted a medical discharge. Being a man of his word, Ray sought out Jehovah and became God’s faithful servant for the rest of his life. On a visit home to Birmingham, Ray met his older sister’s pioneer partner, Vera Jones. They began writing letters to one another when he returned to Ohio, and on February 15, 1969, they were married. In 1975, Ray moved his family to Starkville, MS to serve Jehovah...