Doris Ann Willis

Doris Smith Willis was born on January 22, 1949 to Oss Smith and Dorothy Mae Lathan Smith in Harris County. Both parents preceded her in death. Doris was a devoted Christian and a dedicated citizen of Acres Homes. Although, she moved to Fifth Ward for a short time, her true home was the Acres. She was so true to her roots as a native of Acres Homes, that she purchased her first home on the exact same street where she grew up as a child. Doris graduated from George Washington Carver High School in 1967. After graduating, Doris also attended Texas Southern University and Houston Community College for a short time. She dedicated more than forty years of her life to childcare, working at the Julia C. Hester House, as a preschool teacher for over fifteen years. She lastly worked and retired from Avance Head Start where she was also a preschool teacher. When she was not working, Doris enjoyed reading, attending town hall meetings, attending Acres Homes Civic organization meetings and participating with Union representatives for improving preschool teachers working environments. She frequently volunteered as a teacher for Children Church at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church. She was a member of the Mission Ministry with Galilee and she often traveled spreading the word of God. Doris was also a member and secretary of Christian Women Group Bible Study Sisters. Her other passions and interests included African-American heritage and politics. She also enjoyed writing, she actively wrote to congressmen expressing her political views and she wrote to celebrities. If Doris saw pamphlets in the foyer of a business she would grab them for informational reading. She had a plethora of knowledge and she shared it with many. After a vigorous battle with cancer, she was received into heaven on June 29, 2015 around midday at Villa Toscana. The members of her family that greeted her at these golden gates include her parents, Dorothy Lathan Smith and Oss Smith, and her brother, Oscar Smith. She leaves to cherish her memories two children: Bretah Tone Menifee and Redney Willis; her two grandchildren: Atiyya Menifee and Jada Menifee; her seven siblings: Lawrence Smith (Vanessa), Bernice Dickey (Johnny Jr.), Oss Smith Jr., Adam Smith (Minnie), James Smith, Mildred Sims (Craig), and Quincy Smith; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Special thanks and acknowledgements go out to her Doctor-Ann Alaniz, Denise Jones, Minnie Johnson and the faculty/staff at the two facilities that cared for her, ManorCare and Villa Toscana.