Rev. Marie Willis had a career with the Social Security Administration that spanned 36 years.

She died Sept. 19, 2012. She was 70.

Willis was born Jan. 28, 1942, to James and Helen Willis.

She began her career with the Social Security Administration on July 18, 1965, as a clerk with the mid-Atlantic Payment Center which was then located at 401 North Broad Street. From there she was promoted to the benefit authorizer and subsequently became the benefit authorizer technical assistant. In 1973, she was promoted to the position of section chief of the Data Transcribing Unit.

In 1974, she left the payment center and went to work as a claims representative in the North Broad Field Office. She worked in the field office in several positions finally becoming a manager and management support specialist when she ended her career with the Social Security Administration in December 2001.

She served as a member of the Sickle Cell Community Board of the Children’s Hospital from 1976 to 1989. She also served on the board of directors of Lipscomb Square Housing Corporation and Hawthorne Community Development from 1977 and 1989, respectively, through the present.

The church became her greatest joy. She held an exhorter’s license with the Church of God and was involved in all phases of the ministry. She served as the minister of the Fitzwater Church of God and Christ for several years.

“More than all things, she thought of her membership in the “Family of God,” as the greatest thing to take place in her life,” her family said.

Services will be held October 1 at the New Testament Church of God, 935 South 53rd St. Viewing will be at 10 a.m. Services will follow at 11. Burial will be at Fernwood Cemetery.

Slater Funeral Home, Ltd. handled the arrangements.