Rev. Millie Perdue Willoughby

Rev. Millie Perdue Willoughby (Madie Mildred Johnson), 100 years of age, of Amarillo, passed on Sunday, April 1, 2018 surrounded by her family. Millie was born to James Martin and Madie (Crager) Johnson in Plainview, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, James M. Jr. and Robert H., and her two husbands, James H. Perdue and Retired Army Colonel Jesse D. Willoughby.

Millie graduated from Plainview High School in 1936. She then    attended West Texas State College in Canyon, Texas. She married Jim in 1937 and they had 2 daughters, Marianne and Janelle (Jan). They moved to Dumas in 1950.  She served as the Moore County Librarian in Dumas from 1956-1969. Millie was active in the Dumas Little Theatre, directing and starring in many plays. She was named Dumas B&PW Club Woman of the Year in 1962.

After the death of her first husband, Jim, she started a new career and attended Unity School of Christianity in Lee’s Summit, Missouri and was ordained in 1971. She took her first church in Olympia Washington in that fall.  Millie married Jesse in 1976. She was a pastor at Unity of Olympia and Unity of Port Angeles, Washington, Unity on the High Plains in Amarillo and Unity of Lubbock, Texas.

She served on the Board of Directors of the Guyon Saunders Resource Center. And was a volunteer for hospice as well as tutor for Amarillo Independent School District.

Millie is survived by her daughters; Janelle (David) Hulsey of Amarillo, Marianne (Herman) Jackson of Corpus Christi, and step-son, Michael J. (Ruth) Willoughby of Alabama. Millie was blessed with 3 grandchildren; Holly, Michael and Kendra; 9 great-grandchildren, Bon, Kinsey, Austin, Taylor, Dylan, Lori, Veronica, Abby and Ava; 1 great-great grandchild, Brennan; three step grandchildren, Suzanne, Andrew and Christopher and five step great-grandchildren. She loved her family well and left a lasting legacy on each of their lives.

The family would like to thank the nurses and support staff of BSA Hospice of the Southwest for all of their help during this time, especially Janna, Shelley, Cindy, Andy, Liz, Kim, two Melissa’s; aides, La Cora and Brenda; Chaplains, Ira and Gemma; and Social Workers, Tonya and Leslie as well as all other employees who were so kind and caring to Millie and our family. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to your favorite charity.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 7, 2018 at Schooler Funeral Home Brentwood Chapel, 4100 S. Georgia St. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home.

To share condolences, please visit www.schoolerfuneralhome.com.