graduate of Cook County High School, where she was the Salutatorian, Beta Club President,
Editor of the Yearbook, and Homecoming Queen. She attended Georgia Southern University
where she earned a B.S. in Home Economics Education. She received a Master of Christian
Education from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in1962. She earned a Master
of Education in Early Childhood Education from Georgia College and State University in
Milledgeville, Ga. in 1975 She was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma honor society for
professional educators and the Philanthropic Education Organization, PEO, Chapter A.
Paige taught elementary school in Georgia’s Glynn, Houston, Wilkinson, Wayne, and Camden
Counties and retired from teaching after 31years. Upon her retirement, she and Willis moved to
Atlanta. Paige served in a part time role as director of Embry Hills United Methodist Church’s
Parents’ Day Out program.
Paige raised two wonderful daughters, as well as several, precious Welsh Pembroke Corgis.
She was a wonderful wife and mother, a superb cook, an excellent seamstress (read: superbmajorette-cape-maker), a leader in the United Methodist Women, and a treasured talent in
children’s Christian formation at every pastorate where she and Willis served. Paige loved
hosting events for others, especially her Open Houses each Christmas, her favorite holiday.
She loved receiving and sharing recipes over the years; one of which, a cake recipe, she
methodically edited became her delicious (& slightly famous) sour cream pound cake.
Paige and Willis met at Georgia Teachers College, now GSU, and began dating when they were
students at Emory. She occasionally reminded Willis that he missed several opportunities for
dating her in Statesboro. They married on Tuesday, August 20, 1963, in her home church in
Adel, Georgia. With Willis, a United Methodist Minister and member of the South Georgia
Conference, they served seven appointments in South Georgia and one statewide, ecumenical
appointment in Atlanta. They have two daughters, Melanie and Jennifer. Melanie (Stephanie)
live in Austin, Texas, and Jennifer lives in Atlanta, Georgia. There are four wonderful
grandchildren, Zachary and Katie Keung of Atlanta and Micah and Quinn Reich of Austin.
During her retirement in Atlanta, Paige was able to curate the best features of her parsonage
kitchens into her own dream kitchen. She loved cooking and always welcomed friends and
family to her home (and kitchen). Whether it was a big family meal, a Saturday of baking with
her grandkids, a weekday book club lunch, or a holiday party for her beloved Sunday School
class; serving others was always central to her joy.
