CLAYTON – Willa Maude Chesshir Standley, age 91, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 21, 2021.
Funeral services will be held 3:00 PM Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at Baptist Center Church with Pastor Ray Carr officiating. Due to covid 19 restrictions, face masks and social distancing will be required. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall immediately following the committal service.
She was born May 7, 1929 in Swink, Oklahoma to the late Ocie Chesshir and the late Effie McDougal. She was the oldest of three children, having been preceded in death by her sister Wanda Piercy and her husband of sixty years, Earl “Red” Standley.
She graduated from Ft. Towson High School and Southeastern State Teacher’s College, University of Oklahoma at Durant. She began her teaching career in Oklahoma, taught at Loudoun County High School in Leesburg, Virginia, Lillington High School and retired from Johnston County Schools in 1989 after 35 years of teaching. She loved seeing and speaking with former students.
Willa was a recipient of the North Carolina Humanitarian Award. She was among the first Johnston County Teachers chosen to teach Freedom of Choice students. Willa helped restore the Waterford Baptist Meeting House, bringing it back into the Southern Baptist Convention after it was declared dead.
When her family moved to Clayton in 1961, they became members of Baptist Center Church, where she served as pianist, organist, Sunday school teacher, youth leader and deaconess. She was active with the Hardee Sisters Circle and stayed connected with her church friends as long as possible.
She loved her family dearly and is survived by her son Joe Standley and wife Kim; daughters, Ginny Huddleston and husband Harry, and Kay Johnson and husband Robin; seven grandchildren Sora and Shane Bridges, Chad and Carrie Johnson, Jody and Angela Standley, Joseph Standley, Andrew and Amanda Standley, Sandra Standley, Brad and Michelle Johnson; fourteen great grandchildren, Lauren and Levi Bridges, Chandler and Chase Coughlin, Caroline Johnson, Sam, Jack, Will, Luke and Ree Standley, Jakob Standley, Lila, Eli and Ella Standley; and one brother, Larry Chesshir and wife Mollie of Oklahoma.
In addition to her family, her greatest loves were God, church and the children she taught.
On line condolences may be made to the family at www.mclaurinatpinecrest.com.
Memorials may be made in Willa’s memory to Baptist Center Church.
McLaurin Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the Standley family.
