~Indicates Lineage~
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Isaac Willis
M.
Ann Garnett
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Children:
M Larkin Willis 1800-1856
F Mary Willis 1803-1872
~M James Sydnor Willis (Sr.) 1808-1866
F Arabella Willis
M Robert Willis
M Benjamin Willis
F Sarah Willis
F Elizabeth Willis
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James Sydnor Willis B. March 12, 1808 D. Sept. 15, 1866
M.
Elizabeth Gordon B. May 1 1809 D. May 26, 1865 [Daughter of John Churchill Gordon, sister to Mary Gordon who married Larkin Willis]
“James Willis built the house at Spring Hill before 1827 when James and Elizabeth were married.Spring Hill is located in Orange County near the foot of Clark’s Mountain on the west side, the house facing the Rapidan River and commanding a lovely view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.The house burned in 1901.” There is a “Spring Hill Rd.” near to Locust Grove, and by the description of the home it is likely that the two were adjacent, James likely receiving the property from Isaac.
Children:
F Lucy Willis
F Lewis Willis ca 1839-
M James Snydor Willis ca 1841-
~M John Milton Willis 1849-1909~
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John Milton Willis 1849-1909 [Took early schooling from Andrew J. Gordon, born at Spring Hill]
M.
Mary Young Holman B. Oct. 7, 1853 D. Jan. 3 1919 [Daughter of Russell Holman, founding secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention and lifetime Baptist Minister/Missionary and Martha “Louie” Lucinda Tarrant]
Children:
~Russell Holman Willis 1880-1954 [progenitor of what we now refer to as the “Roanoke Willises”, accomplished attorney and VA State Senator]~
Julia Gordon Willis [Married Lewis Walker, Walker family now in Petersburg/Colonial Heights VA, who run Roslyn Farm Corp are still friends with us Willises; descended from Meriwether Lewis and have much genealogical and historical family info and many portraits]
Gladys Churchill Willis [Married A. Willis Robertson who practiced law with Russell Holman Willis early on, Pat Robertson’s parents]
*Died young
Louie E. Willis- 1879-1892
John M. Willis Jr.- 1882-1890
Henry Talbird Willis 1886-1892
Mary Holman Willis 1894-1904
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Russell Holman Willis B. Jan 12, 1880 D. Aug. 9, 1954
M.
Bess Bennett Brower B. Feb. 13 1888 D. Nov. 25 1952
Children:
~Russell “Billy” Holman Willis Jr.~ [Merchan Marine in WWII, Successful VA Attorney, 12 years VA Game Commission; Governor’s Commission for Parks and Rec.]
Keith Willis [Captured in WWII and again in Korean War, died of cancer in 1968]
Gordon Willis Sr. [Navy pilot during WWII, ran Rockydale Quarries for many years, accomplished businessman and philanthropist in southwest Virginia]
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Russell “Billy” Holman Willis Jr. Born Aug. 8, 1915 D. Oct. 30, 1983
M.
Juanita Martin Willis B. Dec. 8, 1918 D. March 9, 2002
Children (all living):
~Russell “Chip” Holman Willis III~ [My Father]
Sara Alden Willis (formerly Heywood) Brooks
Martin Randolph Willis