Jack Willis

Jack Willis was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on November 30, 1958, to the late Joshua F. Willis Jr.  and the late Lillian Landry Willis. He fell into eternal rest on Thursday, July 21, 2022, at his home in Gulfport, Mississippi.  Jack was 63 years old.  

Jack was a graduate of Joseph S. Clark Sr. High School in 1977.  He grew to appreciate the behind-the-scenes nature of the Culinary Arts industry and worked at various restaurants in New Orleans.  He had a true burning passion for music.  This love of music began as a child through the influence of his father, Joshua (Jack) Willis who was a Dixieland Jazz Trumpeter.  Jack was a true percussionist at heart. He performed with many Musicians such as Johnny Adams, Fats Domino, Lillian and John Boutte, Ernie K-Doe, Jean Knight, Milton Baptist, Big Al Carson, and City News Band, just to name a few. 

Jack was a spiritual being who believed in the redemption of the soul.  He often spoke of immortality, fasting, and his constant thirst for knowledge.  These guided him to read about a plethora of topics concerning the spiritual man and how he could understand people better and improve his relationships. 

He was preceded in death by his father, Joshua F. Willis, Jr., his mother, Lillian Landry Willis, his brother, Alfred Willis and his twin brother, Jerry Willis.

He leaves to cherish his memories to his children, JaKyle T. Thornton, JaKyra C. Willis, and Jakiel C. Thornton, his older siblings Anthony Garner and Sandra E. Willis, and best friend/brother for life, Kevin Marrero, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, 1 uncle, 2 aunts, cousins, close friends, and other relatives.   

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Thursday, August 11, 2022, at Infinity Funeral Home, Biloxi. Friends are invited to visit with the family 30 minutes prior to the memorial service. A Facebook livestream link is available at https://fb.me/e/2L6x9UlZz

Infinity Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Jack Willis.  For inquiries, please call 228-436-6722.