July 7, 1951 –

June 18, 2012

Mack Ellis Willis Jr., 60, of Bainbridge, passed away Monday, June 18, 2012, at Emory University Hospital.

The memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 22, 2012, at Ivey Funeral Home Chapel, with Dr. Bruce E. Sloan officiating.

The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday at Ivey Funeral Home.

Mack Jr. was born July 7, 1951, in Bainbridge, the son of Mack Ellis Willis Sr. and Sara Evelyn Willis. Mack was a professional musician and had been playing keyboard instruments since the age of 3. Mack played in a number of musical groups over the years including: “The Tropics,” “Ottice Yawn Show,” “Macdaddy,” and most recently as a member of “Original P-Funk.” Mack was a 1969 graduate of Bainbridge High School and attended several state colleges.

Mack volunteered at Skyland Trail as a Certified Peer Support Specialist, specifically in the area of music therapy. This experience and helping others was very rewarding to him. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The George West Mental Health Foundation/Skyland Trail, c/o Music Therapy Program, 1961 North Druid Hills Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30329.

He was preceded in death by his father, Mack Ellis Willis Sr.
Survivors include his son, Harrison Pirrung Willis of Annapolis, Md.; his mother, Sara Willis Parker and step-father, Lee Ellington Parker, both of Bainbridge, currently residing in Alpharetta, Ga.; his brothers, John Felton Willis of Union Grove, Wis., and Evan Alton Willis of Atlanta, Ga.; and his sisters, Betty Evelyn Willis and Sara Lee Parker, both of Atlanta.

Ivey Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.