Walter "Bryan" Willis

GRANTSBORO, NC - Walter “Bryan” Willis, 80, a life-long resident of Grantsboro passed away peacefully in his home with his family lovingly by his side. Bryan is survived by two devoted daughters, Kaye Willis White (Arthur) of Washington, DC, and Vicky Willis Houser (Charles) of Emerald Isle, NC. Bryan is blessed with three beautiful grandchildren:  Hollis Kaye Houser and Ella Grace Houser of Emerald Isle, NC, and Mary Rose White of New York City. He is survived by one brother, Benjamin Martin Willis of Florida and one nephew, Gerald Harper, and sister-in-law, Mavis Harper of Stonewall, NC. He was proud of his eastern NC heritage and the hundreds of Willis Dowty cousins from Pamlico County and all over the country whom he loved dearly.

Bryan was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Lester and Thelma Willis, brothers, Robert Carter Willis, and Elwood Amos Harper., and nephew, Benjamin Martin Willis, Jr.

Walter Bryan, named after his grandfather, “Walter” Thomas Willis (Carrie Louise Dowty) and his great grandfather, James “Bryan” Dowty (Nancy Benjamin Dixon) was born on August 2, 1941, on his family’s farm in Grantsboro, NC. This is where his true love for Pamlico County all began. He grew up working hard in the tobacco fields, raising hogs, dancing at the old Minnesott Pavilion and in the summertime, he ran a crab boat on the Neuse River.

He was a hard-working kid and enormously proud that at the early age of 12 years old, he was approved for a Montgomery Ward’s credit card where he bought his first moped.

After graduating from Pamlico County High School, Bryan moved to Alexandria Virginia where he started a successful drywall company. He was a self-reliant man who took immense pride in all the projects he worked on throughout his career including the renovation of the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria, VA. and the Slocum Village development at Cherry Point, NC.

After moving to Alexandria, he met a beautiful young lady named Carol Dickerson, they got married and 9 months later had their first daughter, Kaye. Fourteen months later, their second daughter Vicky came along making their family complete.

His two daughters meant more to him than anything else in the world and he was unendingly proud of “his girls.” He loved teaching them about nature, respect for animals and what it meant to give back to your community by quietly helping others who were less fortunate. He enjoyed taking his daughters on camping excursions and encouraged them to compete in everything they did.

All children, especially babies loved Mr. Bryan. His family affectionately called him “the baby whisperer” because he could just smile and make any baby stop crying and start giggling within minutes of being in his presence.

Upon returning to Grantsboro, Bryan assumed the role of owner and operator of a family-owned mobile home park. Mr. Willis had a soft heart and provided a safe place to live to many Pamlico County residents over the years. Mr. Willis was a humble man and was known for being honest and fair to all.

Bryan loved to dance and loved great music, especially country and bluegrass. He had a beautiful alto voice, and you could often hear him singing along with the radio or just turning his own words into a song. In his last few years of life, he loved to sit on the front porch of his house with his neighbors and listen to Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Allison Krauss.

He also loved a good road trip and good ole Southern cooking. He was happiest piddling around in the woods on his property and planting trees for future generations to enjoy. He was most proud of his long leaf pine tree farm. He took immense pride in seeing his customers win gardening accolades knowing his pine straw was part of their beautiful yard creations.

Despite the physical and mental challenges he faced over the past several years, he was able to host a Willis Dowty Family Reunion at the Pamlico County Shrine Club this past summer. Over 125 family members from around the country joined in the celebration. He lived everyday thanking the Lord for another day and knowing God had him in the palm of His hand.

Everyone who knew Bryan knew that he was an extremely kind, loving, gentle and peaceful person, and that he loved his family very much. He will forever be in their hearts and missed every day.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 2, 2021 at Bryant Funeral Home from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. A Funeral Service will be held at 11am on Friday, December 3, 2021 at the Bryant Funeral Home Chapel and a private Burial will take place at the Grantsboro Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Walter Bryan Willis Foundation, a 501C created to honor caregivers by funding educational scholarships for their children. Checks can be mailed to 3431 NC Hwy 306 South Grantsboro, NC 28529.