Ada Lee C. Wills

Ada Lee C. Wills 03/05/1918-11/10/2015 Ada Lee was born and educated in Lakeland, attending schools at all grade levels in buildings now used for different purposes, such as Lawton Chiles School on Lake Wire (formerly Lakeland High School), and LVIM (formerly the John Cox School). Her mother""s parents, the W.J. Reddicks, owned a grocery store and home in the 100 block of Missouri Avenue. Her mother, Edna Cloud, was a seamstress, and her father, Talley A. Cloud, was a conductor with the Atlantic Coast Line Rail Road. One brother, Buddy, married a girl from Chicago and moved there after the war. He later moved to Nevada where he passed way. Her sister, Naomi, was an active member of First United Methodist Church (FUMC) until her death. Her younger brother, Dr. Graydon Cloud, lives in Lakeland and is also a member of FUMC. Ada Lee""s lengthy resume includes night courses in accounting and business law at Florida Southern College, and a career in nursing in Orlando, which ended when she married Sydney H. Wills. In the 1930s, nursing students were not permitted to be married. Sidney and Ada Lee both worked at a dairy in Lakeland, where she had her first bookkeeping job. During the war, Sidney had a civil service job at MacDill Field in Tampa, and Ada Lee stayed at home with her two babies. However, true to her character, she obtained a bicycle and delivered telegrams in the area where they lived. After the war, they lived in Bartow. Sidney worked for Gulf Life Insurance Company and was part owner of a grocery store, and Ada Lee found a contributing activity by sewing with a designer. The next move was to Ocala, where Sidney worked as office manager for Great Southern, and Ada Lee was a cost accountant for a meat- packing plant and a road-building company. In addition, she taught Sunday school and led a Boy Scout Troop. In 1953, the Wills moved back to Lakeland, where Sidney had successive jobs at W.R. Grace Company, Yogurt Master, and E.T. Wright""s Dr. Pepper & up Company (later PepsiCo.) Sidney retired from PepsiCo in 1982. Ada Lee worked for a local CPA firm for 30 years before retiring in 1983. Sidney died in January 1997. After her retirement, Ada Lee was VISTE""s first accountant, was UMW treasurer for ten years, and did the accounting for the Children""s Clothes Closet from 1987-2003. She was actively involved with the CCC since January 1997, and served on the Finance and Staff Parish committees of FUMC. She served Homebuilders as Treasurer and Membership Chairman and prepared the class yearbook for several years. One son, Talley E. Wills, is a retired postman and lives in Lakeland with his wife, Susie. Talley and Susie have three children: Talley Jr. , Donna Henderson, and Lisa Jacklin. Talley Jr. is married to Renee Estell, and they have two daughters, Sonya and Shelbie. Sonya is married to Justin Conger, and they have three children: Jesse, Mason & Willow. Donna is married to Doug Henderson, and they have four children, Carolyn, Doug III, Josh, and Katie. Lisa is married to Steve Jacklin, and they have two daughters, Kayla and Kellcee. Ada Lee""s daughter, Helen Edgar, lives in Lakeland and is a retired paralegal. She has four children: Terri Lynn, Eddie, Bo, and Alison (deceased February 2010). Terri Lynn resides in Orlando with her husband Mike Dion. She has three children, Brandon Fagan, Cameron Fagan, and Sydney Lee Fagan; and two grandchildren, Brandon's sons, Dexter and Benjamin. Eddie resides in Celebration and has one son, Dustin, who is married to Mary; they reside in Alabama. Bo is married to Carolyn, and together they have four children, Kayla, Harrison, Connor and Morgan. Ada Lee has a total of 8 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren. Service: 11/16/2015 First United Methodist Church 72 Lake Morton Drive, Lakeland, FL 33801 First United Methodist Church Visitation: 11/16/2015 First United Methodist Church