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1840-1889
1851-1901
William Wills
b. Feb 3, 1870
b. Sept 20, 1871
Sandy Wills, Jr.
b. Aug 8, 1873
d. Mar 22, 1893
Adolfus "Dolphin" Wills
b. Oct 2, 1875
Mattie Bell Wills
b. Sept 7, 1877
d. Nov 28, 1898
John Henry Wills
b. Aug 3, 1879
Walter Wills
b. Jan 25, 1883
Priscilla "Puss" Wills
b. Aug 25, 1886
James Wills
b. Mar 28, 1889
d. Feb 1893
b. Mar 1879
Emma Wills
b. 1897
Lyn Wills
b. 1898
Eamie Wills
b. 1899
Johnny Wills
b. 1903
Caline Wills
b. 1905
Jackson Wills
b. 1908
b. 1898
Tommie Wills
b. 1915
Roy Wills
b. 1917
Mary Wills
b. 1919
Mamie Wills
b. 1920
Robert Wills
b. 1924
Lucy May Wills
b. 1927
W.D. Wills
Anna Louise Wills
Opal Tyus Wills
b. Jan 21, 1927
Van Wills
b. Dec 3, 1945
d. Dec 2008
b. 1942
John III
Clarence D. Wills, Jr.
Crystal D. Wills
Celestial D. Wills
Cleavon D. Wills
Mahogany
Elijah
Christina
- Born into slavery in 1840, Brownsville Tennessee, died February 8, 1889, Brownsville Tennessee
- Could not read or write
- Married Emma West Moore – January 25, 1869
- Served in the United Stated Colored Troops, 4th Regiment, U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery
- Sandy’s children were the first generation born as “Free Americans” since his ancestors were brought
to the American colonies
- Owned by Edmund Willis Wills (born in 1805 in Virginia), who also owned runaway slaves Andrew
“Andy” Wills (born about 1844), Richard Wills (born about 1845), James Wills (born about 1845), Mack
Wills (born about 1846) and Dick Parker (born about 1841), all of whom joined the United States
Colored Troops and served with Sandy Wills in the same regiment.
Born around 1851 in Brownsville, Haywood County, Tennessee, died May 1901
Could not read or write but made sure all of her children were literate
Daughter of Dolphin West (born a slave in North Carolina) and Millie (born in Tennessee)
Owned by the father of Joel J. Moore of Brownsville, Haywood County, Tennessee
Born September 20, 1871 in Brownsville, Tennessee, died before 1910
Could read and write
Married Rennie “Remi” Burton October 30 1894
Born March 1879 in Brownsville, Haywood County, Tennessee
Could not read or write
Listed as Mulatto by census takers
Daughter of Calina Burton (who was born into slavery about 1850)
Sister of John and Temi Burton
Born November 23, 1896 in Brownsville, Haywood County, Tennessee, died March 3, 1952
Was the oldest child of Alex and Rennie
Was the first in Wills family to attend a formal school
Married Lucy Anne Oldham of Brownsville, Tennessee
Born 1898 in Brownsville, Haywood County, Tennessee
Born October 14, 1922 in Brownsville, Haywood County, Tennessee, died March 17, 1997 in Astoria, NY
Married Opal V. Tyus October 4, 1941
Accomplished Blues/Gospel Guitarist
Christian Preacher, was first in the Wills clan to relocate to New York City
Born January 21, 1927 in Brownsville, Haywood County, Tennessee
Accomplished Gospel Singer
Born April 18, 1942 in the Brownsville, TN, died September 4, 1980 – Calverton National Cemetery
Married Ruth Ford December 18, 1965
Accomplished Jazz Gospel Guitarist
Likely First in the Wills family to graduate from college
Served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam Era – honorable discharge
Was the first black firefighter to integrate Engine 1 Ladder 27 House in New York City Fire Department
Born December 1945, died December 2007
Accomplished Gospel Guitarist – Recording Artist
Born 1942 in Bronx, NY
Born in New York City
Television Journalist in New York
See bio and contact Cheryl at www.cherylwills.tv