Ona Marie Willis

Ona Marie Willis (Johnson) was born to the union of Roosvelt Sr. and Elizabeth Johnson on June 14, 1945. She was one of 16 children born to this union. Her parents: Roosevelt and Elizabeth; seven brothers: Edward, Willis, Terry, Earnest, Roosvelt Jr., Roy Joseph, and Kenneth Marvin; four sisters: Birdie Mae, Mary Ellen, Patricia Ann, Brenda Louise; one son, Leonard M. Meade Jr.; and maternal grandparents, Birdie Mae and Anderson Shoats preceded her in death.

Ona received her formal education in the Kansas City public school system – as a graduate of Paseo High School.

Ona met and married Leonard M. Meade Sr. and to this union six children were born: Leonard Millard, Lemonte Millard, Lonnie Millard, Lionel Millard, Linda Marie and Lesa Michelle. She later met and married David E. Willis who preceded her death.

Ona led a faith filled life joining Zion Grove Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor F. C. Connery. As a youth she served in many activities, including choir, ushering, and BTU. She later united with Galilee Baptist Church under Pastor Phillip Layne, where she kept her membership until her passing.

Ona earned a degree in Early Childhood Education and furthered her education to complete her Masters in a specialty of Early Childhood education from Avila University.

Ona worked in Social Services at the old Wayne Minor Clinic known today as Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center for a number of years before working for Kansas City public school system as a Special Education Early Childhood teacher for 35 years, until her retirement in 2010.

Ona Mae, Shug, Big O, Fats, Grandma and Momma as she was so loving called was the strength of our family and our hearts.

Memories of Mom, she was tenuous woman with her own mind and her own ways of doing things. Underneath her tough exterior was a heart of gold.

The running family joke of the Johnson family between Uncle Don, Momma, and Aunt Pat who was most ornery starting at 1, 2, or 3 with one being the orneriest. Momma sat firmly at zero.

Ona mentored many through her life, gaining much love and admiration from those whose lives she touched, including the two grandchildren she raised: Lionel Jr. and Lonnie II.

Momma loved to cook, she loved flowers and her garden, and she could be found each summer planting and tending to her flowers and roses. She will be missed by many.

Her loving family will cherish the memories they made with her. She is an angel now in heaven watching over us all.

Her five children, three sons, and two daughters: Lemonte Sr., Lonnie, Lionel Sr., Dr. Linda (David Reggie Pruitt), Lesa (Gary) all of the city; three brothers: Don P., Leonard Sr., Billy Ray; one sister, Mae Ella Credit (Marvin) of Conway, Arkansas; 33 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and a host of many nieces, nephews, and the lives she touched as she walked through her journey of life.

Rest Well Momma, your race has been won.