Clarence C. Wills Jr. was born on May 9, 1927 in Gary, Indiana, the son of Clarence and Kattie (Morgan) Wills.  Shortly after birth, the family relocated to Muskegon, Michigan where his father found work at a local foundry.  They remained in Muskegon until his father's death in 1942.  At the urging of his mother's sisters Lillian and Esther, the family moved to Lansing.  He graduated from Sexton High School in 1945, with a diploma signed by the superintendent of schools - J.W. Sexton.  Clarence earned both his Bachelors (1952) and Masters (1962) degrees from Michigan State University, and his Doctorate in Education from Wayne State University in 1977.

While in high school, he met the love of his life, Shirley Watkins.  He became the President of Sexton High School's Bible Club, and Shirley was his devoted Secretary.  They eloped and were married on November 8, 1947 in Toledo, Ohio.  Witnesses included good friends, Boyd and Shirley Lewis, and … his future Mother-In-Law, Marjorie Watkins.

He was a Westside renaissance man. From humble beginnings, "June" (as his family called him) worked as a migrant worker picking cherries in northern Michigan with his mother, and as a junk man picking up scrap metal with his father.  After his father's death, the family moved to Lansing, and he helped his mother support the family by waiting tables on weekends at Coral Gables.  He frequently shared his tips with his siblings.  Not afraid of hard work, he worked at a Drop Forge for 2 months prior to joining the US Navy, where he served on the USS Barton during World War II.  In the Navy, he continued to support his mother and siblings by sending his entire check to his mother.  Two weeks after getting out of the Navy, Clarence became a machine operator at Oldsmobile.  It was a tough decision, but after 6 years, he gave up the "Factory Money", and went back to school.  In 1952, he began teaching Social Studies and English at West Junior High School where he also served as a Guidance Counselor.  During his 14 years at West Junior, he developed a friendship with his peer, Don Johnson, that spanned 6 decades.  He spent summers teaching Drivers Education at Sexton High School.  In 1957 he relocated his family to Bayamon, Puerto Rico for a year, so he could teach English as an Exchange Teacher at Bayamon High School.  He supplemented his income by working in retail sales at Sears, with insurance and real estate sales (1960 – 1962) and with rental properties (1960 –1968).  In 1986, he retired from the State of Michigan Department of Education where he worked as an Educational Consultant and Administrator.  At one point, he supervised approximately 30 employees and managed a multi-million dollar budget.

He was a local legend. He was nominated by the Democratic Party to run for Representative of the 1st District based on the results of the primary election held in August 2, 1960.  He was the first Black to run for a seat on the State Legislature.

He was a member in good standing of the Capital Area District Libraries.  He visited the Downtown Branch of the Library every Saturday morning since it opened in 1964 until 2 weeks before his death, when his health would no longer permit it.

Picking cherries and hauling junk during the depression left its mark on Clarence.  He learned at an early age to observe rich people, read every book and newspaper he could find on making money, and make it his business to understand how money works.  He was intrigued by the stock market, and was a member of the Investors Club, which was a group of Black men who discussed economics, finance, and made investments.

"Tony" was an avid traveler.  He enjoyed being the "Co-Pilot" on several RV adventures.  He and his wife chaperoned the Sexton High School Marching Band's 1978 trip to Honolulu for the Hawaiian Festival of Music.  They returned to Hawaii twice after that.  They took numerous cruises including cruises to Alaska and one traversing the Panama Canal.  Two days after his retirement from the State of Michigan, he and his wife and daughter escaped to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with eight neighbors.  One of his most memorable trips was to the Great Wall of China with his long-time peer and friend Dr. Calvin Anderson.  Before he died, he achieved his lifetime dream - a train trip through the Canadian Rockies.

Tony enjoyed of all types of music and played the clarinet and saxophone in a local band.  He enjoyed bowling with his family as well as a good round of golf.  He was passionate about reading books, magazines, and newspapers.  He took great pleasure in reading financial materials and newspapers that friends and family brought back from their travels.

He was a God-fearing man. As a child, he sang in a gospel trio with his father and older sister, Catherine.  Growing up, he attended church nightly and all day on Sunday.  He prayed before each meal and on his knees every night, until his health would no longer permit it.  He recommitted his life to Christ and was baptized at the age of 85.  As a devout member of Dorcus Outreach Ministries, Tony regularly attended both Church and Sunday School.

Clarence (Tony) went home to be with the Lord on Friday, May 4, 2018 surrounded by love, family, and of course, his favorite books.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Shirley Wills; parents, Clarence and Kattie Wills; and siblings Catherine Dickson, Geraldine Erskin, and Royce Wills.

Tony had a deep love for his family and leaves behind to cherish his memory: his daughters Linda Williams, Stephany (Cleveland) Wills-Boyd, and Luanne Wills-Merrell; grandsons Carl Williams and Christopher Merrell; sister, Beverly (Calvin) Davenport; and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, his church family at Dorcus Outreach Ministries, and a phenomenal care-giving team who became his second family.

Dad

He never looked for praises

he was never one to boast ..

He just went on quietly working

for the ones he loved he most.

His dreams were seldom spoken

his wants were very few ..

And most of the time his worries

went unspoken too.

He was there, a firm foundation

through all our storms of life ..

A sturdy hand to hold on to

in times of stress and strife.

A true friend we could turn to

when times were good or bad ..

One of our greatest blessings

the man that we called Dad.

With love from your daughters,

Linda, Stephany, and Luanne

Tony's Financial Tips

Pay yourself (save) first, before spending or paying others.

Try not to borrow money.

Lending money is the best way to lose a friend.

When it comes to spending money, stop and think, is this what I would most like to do with this money?

If you go into a deal with someone, get it in writing and make sure you know the person well.

Money is important and necessary, but it is not the most important thing in life.