Willa M. Garner

Willa M. Garner, affectionately known as “Totsie”, peacefully departed this earth on March 1, 2019. She was born in Selma, Alabama to the late Levi and Bertha (McGuire) Brooks and moved to Cincinnati, Ohio with her family at a very young age.

     Her love for education began while attending the Old Stowe School in the West End.  She later graduated from Woodward High School where she was the first African-American majorette. Willa obtained her L.P.N. and R.N. licenses and then went on to obtain both her B.S. and M.Ed. from the University of Cincinnati in the Health Care field.  Willa’s greatest achievement was that of wife to Oscar “Top” Garner (deceased) and mother to her only daughter, Kelly Ann.

     Over the span of Willa’s life, she was an advocate for family, education, healthcare, and held various positions teaching vocational nursing and allied health programs. Willa worked for many years at Withrow High School and Hughes STEM High School where she later retired as Dean of the Allied Health Professions. Retirement could not hold Willa back from her passion of nursing. She later opened her own business assisting students throughout the city in the pursuit of their STNA license to secure jobs in many area hospitals and nursing care facilities.

     Willa was a spiritual woman and a devoted member of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. She loved her church and prior to her illness, regularly attended Saint Mark A.M.E. Zion Church. Willa was very active in her community, serving on the Silverton Tax Board, as well as the Silverton City Council for many years. She was also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.

     Willa enjoyed watching HGTV and considered herself an “interior decorator” and thought she should have her own show right along-side Chip and JoAnna! Willa was also an avid traveler and accompanied her family and friends on many vacations with Barcelona, Nassau and Las Vegas among her favorites.

     Willa was preceded in death by her husband of forty plus years, Oscar, along with three sisters, Geraldine Brooks, Alberta Hooks and Minnie Gilliam. She is survived by her loving and devoted daughter, Kelly Garner; her sister-in-law, Ernestine Robinson; her dear cousin, Stella Wilson and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

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