Muscogee-Talbot County GaArchives Obituaries.....Willis, J.T. 1887
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Carla Miles http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00010.html#0002476 October 3, 2004, 10:16 pm

The Marion County Patriot, May 13, 1887
The Marion County Patriot, No. 19
May 13, 1887
Page Four

Judge Willis Dead

The following account of the death of Judge Willis we copy from the Columbus 
Enquirer-Sun:

It is seldom the Enquirer-Sun is called upon to chronicle a death so sudden and 
so sad.  It was only yesterday morning that he walked the streets of Columbus 
the picture of health, but shortly after the shades of night had fallen upon 
the city he was a cold and lifeless corpse.  Shortly after noon, while at home 
with his family, he was stricken with paralysis and was unconscious until his 
death, which occurred at 7:45 o’clock.

Judge Willis was on the streets yesterday about 11 o’clock and returned home in 
Wynnton at dinner time.  After dinner he went out into the yard with one of his 
little boys and engaged in shooting birds with a parlor rifle.  Between 1 and 2 
o’clock he suggested to his wife that they retire to their room and Judge 
Willis fell across the bed, laughing and talking to his wife in a most cheerful 
manner.  Suddenly he ceased talking in the midst of an unfinished sentence and 
his wife looked to see what was the matter.  She at once saw that something was 
wrong.  His face was in convulsions and Mrs. Willis asked him what was the 
matter.  He was unable to speak and his wife at once summoned the family.  Drs. 
Mason and Tery were called in at once, and upon examination they found that he 
had been stricken with paralysis and that the attack was one which was more 
than likely to prove fatal.  They did everything in their power to revive their 
patient, but they soon discovered that his death was inevitable, and informed 
the distressed family that he would hardly live through the night.  Judge 
Willis lingered in an unconscious state until 7:45, when the lamp of life went 
out and his noble spirit took its flight to the great beyond.  He died 
surrounded by a devoted family and friends, and not an eye that witnessed his 
passing away from earth to heaven was dry.

He was born in 1836 in Talbot County, where he lived all his life until he 
moved to Columbus a few years ago.  His father was a planter of considerable 
possessions before the war and Judge Willis enjoyed the benefits of a liberal 
education and social advantages.  He was educated at Emory and Henry and at 
Emory College at Oxford, Ga.  During a portion of the war he was a member of 
the Third Georgia cavalry, and was a brave and gallant soldier.  The practice 
of law was his lifetime profession and when still a young man he took a 
prominent position among the members of the bar of the state.  He never held or 
sought office until elected to the constitutional convention in 1877.  He was a 
strong advocate of the convention and achieved many triumphs in debate over 
those who opposed it, especially in his discussions of the homestead question.  
He was a member of the memorable Colquitt-Norwood convention and stood with the 
minority until he became convinced that the fight was hopeless and cast his 
vote for Colquitt.  He was elected judge of the Chattahoochee circuit in 1880 
to succeed Judge Wimberly, who was elected for a short term.  Judge Willis’ 
term began in January 1881, and at its expiration he was re-elected.  His 
present term would not have expired until January 1889.  As judge of this 
circuit he discharged his duties in an able and conscientious manner.  He was 
fearless and courageous, and won the esteem and admiration not only of the bar, 
but of the entire people.  He was unquestionably one of the ablest members of 
the judiciary of the state and was a man without spot and without blemish.  His 
public and private life was beyond reproach, and he well deserves the 
encomium, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”  In his judicial career 
he was never governed by impulses, but by a cool, calm and deliberate judgment 
of law and a conviction of duty.  It is the general verdict of the 
Chattahoochee circuit never had a better judge and expression of regret at his 
death were heard on every hand last night.


Additional Comments:
Transcriber's note: I was able to locate the name of the judge in another 
mention in the newspaper.





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