Carolyn Lee Wills

She died peacefully surrounded by her family at age 89 as the result of a tragic unexpected injury from a fall. She was married to Atlanta attorney Charles H. Wills for 44 years. He received the first Master of Laws degree from Emory University and practiced law in Atlanta for 50 years. Mrs. Wills was best known for her career as Regional Manager Public Relations for Eastern Airlines, the free world's second largest passenger carrier. She was the first woman department head at the company’s main hub of operations in Atlanta. Working there for over 22 years, she was the spokesperson for the company at its largest center of operations, and the first airline in Atlanta. She covered areas in the Southeast, Texas, West Coast and Tokyo.

The Fox Theatre was her favorite place in the world. In 1976 she led a benefit to save the Fabulous Fox from destruction that was the turning point in the community effort. For 38 years she served as a board member of Atlanta Landmarks Inc., non-profit (owner and operators of the Fox) later renamed Fox Theatre Inc. Carolyn continued her service as an active Fox Theatre Emeritus Board member and member of the Community Partnerships Committee. In 1994, she named and chaired the benefit “The Phantom Paints the Fox” raising funds to paint the auditorium of the Fox for the first time since it opened in 1929. Under the Board’s leadership and vision the Fox continued its success and has become one of the most successful Theatres of its size in the world. She along with other board members, established the formation of the Fox Theatre Institute, now known as Fox Gives. Fox Gives provides grants to preserve and revitalize historic Theatres across Georgia. Since 2008, Fox Gives has awarded $4.7 million in financial assistance for restoration and preservation projects statewide.

Mrs. Wills was involved in many other community efforts such as chairing the Zoo Atlanta’s largest fundraiser and raising a record amount of money. She also chaired The Chrystal Ball for the Arthritis Foundation again raising a record amount. She was President of the Atlanta Toulouse Sister City Committee and traveled to Toulouse multiple times including for the presentation of Atlanta’s Phoenix sculpture, which now resides in the city park. She was involved in countless additional fundraising and civic initiatives.

She served as President of The Alliance Theatre Guild, President of The Young Matrons Circle for Tallulah Fall School, President of Delta Zeta Sorority Alumnae Association, President of The Atlanta City Panhellenic and President of Poppy Garden Club. In 1983 she completed the Leadership Atlanta program. Mayor Maynard Jackson appointed her to a five-member committee to plan the opening of the current Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport in 1980, the largest airport in the world. She was a member of the Public Relations Society of America and Aviation Space Writers Assoc.

Mrs. Wills was born in Stockbridge, Georgia to Rosezena Cox Lee and Richard Jefferson Lee. She is the granddaughter of Mordaicai Boyd Cox and Carrie Cason Cox and D. Richard Lee and Kate Lambert Lee, all born in Georgia. The Cox family traces its ancestry to Pembrokeshire Wales, arriving in Virginia in 1640.

She went to school in Stockbridge, Georgia and at Smilie Grammar School in Atlanta and was the valedictorian at Fulton High School in 1954. She was an alumnus of Georgia State University where she was a charter member of Delta Zeta Sorority, the first national sorority at GSU and the only national sorority in Atlanta at that time. She served in several officer capacities including President of the college Panhellenic. She was the editor of the Rampway, the yearbook, and an editor of the Signal, campus newspaper. She was a member of Alpha Lambda Delta honor society and Mortar Board honor group. She received the annual Atlanta City Panhellenic Scholarship, was sweetheart of Phi Kappa Phi Fraternity and a school fencing champion. Carolyn worked for Delta Zeta Sorority as a field representative for over 4 years covering all areas of the US. Her job was to train officers, supervise rush programs, organize new chapters and represent the national headquarters to the local collegiate and alumnae chapters. She was named the Delta Zeta National Woman of the Year.

In 1964, she made a year-long trip around the world alone, which was unusual for a woman at the time, forming lifelong friendships all over the world.

In 1965 she was hired by Eastern Airlines in management as the first Representative of Women's Activities, advancing to Regional Manager Public Relations. She worked there for over 22 years and was part of bringing the first international flights to Atlanta when Eastern inaugurated non-stop flights to Mexico City July 1, 1971 and the second international flights to Atlanta July 1, 1972 with non-stop service to Montego Bay, Jamaica. The city at that time changed the name of the Atlanta Municipal Airport to William B. Hartsfields Atlanta International Airport. She traveled to well over 100 countries.

After the closing of Eastern Airlines, Mrs. Wills began a Public Relations business. She visited China 38 times, including escorting 19 groups, and later arranged and escorted international travel to Vietnam and Cambodia (four groups), Switzerland, Dubai, Abu Dhabi (UAE), and other destinations.

The Wills lived in Ansley Park for 28 years, where they enjoyed having international students live in their home. They felt they had children all around the world and they attempted to stay in touch. They later moved to Habersham Road and she resided there in her cherished home until she died. She was a member of the nearby Cherokee Town and Country Club.

Mrs. Wills was predeceased by her adored husband, Charles H. Wills, Esq.; her beloved premature infant daughter, Katie.

Her closest relatives are Rhonda Dawes Milner, MD, LPC, (Gene “Dusty”), and her family: Kathryn Milner Francis (Samual) of Denver, CO, Gene Whitner Milner, III (deceased), Cason Lanier Milner (Ashton York), Helen “Scottie” Milner Miller (Clark), all of Atlanta, and grandchildren: Edwin Whitner and Lillian Ellis “Ella” Miller, and Gene Whitner IV and Chatham York Milner all of Atlanta. Rhonda’s mother was her favorite Aunt Lil, Lillian Cox Dawes Braswell (deceased) of Atlanta. Her godchildren are Kathryn Lillian Milner Francis, twins David and Scott Richards of Cumming and Rome, respectively and Lisa Donley of Daphne, Alabama.

Mrs. Wills will be buried in Burks Cemetery in Stockbridge where both sides of her family and her husband, a native of Kentucky, are buried. Several generations of the Lee family are buried in this private cemetery.

Mrs. Wills funeral will be at H. M. Patterson & Son-Arlington Chapel in Sandy Springs Ga on Thursday, February 5th, at 3 pm with a reception to follow. Visitation will be Wednesday February 4th from 5-8 pm. The private family interment will take place on Friday, February 6th in Stockbridge Ga.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in loving memory of Carolyn Lee Wills to Fox Theatre Inc., 660 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta GA, 30308, Attn: Fox Gives a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.