Villanova’s newly-minted head coach has announced his full assistant coaching lineup
Villanova’s new head coach Kevin Willard has announced the full lineup of assistants that will make up his coaching staff
Ashley Howard is the only Villanova staffer to stay
while there are six new members moving to the Main Line from Maryland
and Ricky Harris will be assistant coaches for the 2025-26 season
Brenton Petty has been named director of player personnel
while Charlie Butler is the new director of basketball operations
“We are thrilled to welcome an outstanding group of coaches to Villanova,” Willard said in a statement
“In this era of college basketball staff cohesion is incredibly valuable
To be able to maintain that with coaches who are also a great fit for this community is a huge win
Together we have a group that brings extensive Big East recruiting experience along with a proven track record of on-court development.”
will continue to serve as general manager as another Villanova holdover
Minneapolis police are investigating a shooting that left a man injured on the city’s north side early Thursday evening
officers were called to the 1500 block of Oliver Avenue North just before 8 p.m
The deaprtment says a man was outside when he heard a gunshot
He was then taken to Hennepin Healthcare with a gunshot wound that is considered to be non-life-threatening
no one is in custody and police are continuing to investigate the incident
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playSVP lambastes Kevin Willard for Maryland exit (2:00)Scott Van Pelt goes off on former Maryland coach Kevin Willard after his departure to Villanova
PHILADELPHIA -- Kevin Willard deadpanned that
he hadn't heard the laundry list of complaints lodged against him by Maryland fans and former players -- and
the list goes on -- that he threw his program under the bus after the Terrapins made a run to the Sweet 16
But yes, Willard acknowledged, he was generally aware of the consensus sentiment that he used Maryland as a pawn to get whatever he wanted at a traditional power such as Villanova, which hired Willard as head coach just days after his Terrapins were ousted from the NCAA tournament by top-seeded Florida
So perhaps Willard knew ESPN commentator Scott Van Pelt
"You don't do damage to the university and program where you've been for three years." Perhaps Willard also heard Jimmy's Famous Seafood -- the self-proclaimed home of "the world's greatest crabcakes!" -- stuck snakehead bites on the menu in honor of Willard with all proceeds donated to Maryland's name
Or that all-time Terrapins great Len Elmore said he was weary of "mercenary coaches" who played the school like fiddles
Willard landed at a Villanova program that
despite missing the NCAA tournament for three straight seasons under former coach Kyle Neptune
still has elite status within reach with deep NIL coffers and a whopping payout ahead courtesy of the proposed upcoming House settlement
Maryland forged ahead and hired Buzz Williams away from Texas A&M
bounced on to a new gig -- just like Willard and just like so many successful coaches in March
But Willard says he understands why he caught some heat
He publicly campaigned during Maryland's run to the Sweet 16 for more from the university and athletic department for his Big Ten program
More of everything -- "fundamental changes," he called them -- that really came down to more money being funneled into basketball
Willard wanted Maryland to share its plan for revenue sharing with athletes and questioned how the Terrapins could ever be a "top tier" program as the race in college sports to outspend for players and all the adjacent bells and whistles nearly rivals professional levels
Kevin Willard accepted Villanova's head coaching job just days after his Maryland team was eliminated in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. Eakin Howard-Imagn Images"I think some of my comments during the NCAA tournament probably could have been a little bit less abrasive," Willard said Wednesday
normal fans just don't understand what went on."
And for those at Maryland with hurt feelings
"I just think it's time that everyone moved on," he said
Willard expressed concerns with the direction of Maryland's program on the eve of the Terps' opening game in the NCAA tournament
He had not signed an extension before the tournament
a matter complicated when Maryland athletic director Damon Evans left the school for the same job at SMU
"Everything I said during the press conference was because I loved Maryland
I was very passionate about my job," Willard said
all I wanted to do was try to get the best for my players and best for the program
I'm going to do the same thing here at Villanova
My comments were just about having an opportunity to try to make Maryland the best program we could make it."
He should get what he needs at a program that was a perennial Final Four contender and won two national championships under Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright
A court settlement that would require colleges for the first time to pay athletes billions for their play is set for approval next week
Many schools have said that most of the up to $20.5 million they'll pay out to their athletes as part of the $2.8 billion House settlement would go to football and men's basketball players
the bulk of that money is going to men's basketball
"If you understand the House settlement and cap space and all that stuff
I think the Big East is really situated in a unique situation where they're probably never going to have to worry about the cap," Willard said
"I think football conference schools or football-centric conferences are going to run into the fact that if you have $16 million to football
Willard said all the right things about fitting in on his first few days on the job
He watched the Villanova women's team play in a postseason tournament and met with the men's team while it played in Las Vegas in the College Basketball Crown
He even tipped his cap to the "special culture" created within the program by Wright
threw his support behind the Big 5 and was professionally polite by saying he wanted to build on what "Kyle and his staff" have done over the past three years
it was time after three seasons without a tournament berth at Villanova to "get everyone excited again
Wright endorsed Willard, his longtime Big East rival while Willard coached at Seton Hall, and former Wildcats openly supported the new coach on the Main Line. Josh Hart, a 2016 national champion with Villanova who now plays with the New York Knicks
also said Willard was the right coach for the Wildcats
"I hated playing against him because he was a hell of a competitor
The Associated Press contributed to this report
GRAFTON ― The Willard House & Clock Museum is looking into the future with plans to expand its collection and build a state-of-the-art 10,000-square-foot facility
The museum announced last year that it would receive a $15 million gift last year from Trustee Charles N Grichar
The gift also included his collection of Willard clocks
which will more than double the museum's current collection
along with some 300 wrist and pocket watches
some of which are 11 feet tall," said Robert Gierschick
"These pieces were built for train stations
The museum's plans include a new Charles N
Grichar Center at Willard House & Clock Museum
complete with horological support services
"The public will be able to see some of the clocks being worked on," said Gierschick
These plans will be presented to the public on Saturday, May 10, between noon 4 p.m. at the clock museum at 11 Willard St.
Grichar will be there to highlight the incoming collection and showcase how the architectural plans for the new addition will complement the historical plot
The collection is not just an important part of local history
The museum is one of the only ones in the world that teaches horology
"The plans really tell the story of the history here
while also looking into the future," he said
the museum has raised $4.2 million through donations
It needs to raise $2.8 million more to reach its $6 million goal by 2028
in order to receive the $15 million donation
The $6 million will go into the museum's endowment
"We've made extremely good progress," Gierschick said
The museum is involved in a match challenge with the Worcester-based William J
which is offering a dollar-for-dollar match on donations of $10,000 to $50,000
Outside the museum – which also includes the original 1718 Willard house and 1766 clock-making workshop – work is also being done on a multiyear pollinator meadow project
Volunteers have been hard at work creating pathways
planting roughly 50 species of plants and trees
Benches made by local Eagle Scouts will be placed around the meadow marking specific seasons via the tilt of the earth
all placed with the help of a NASA solar ambassador
With the largest collection of Willard clocks in existence
Gierschick said the expansion will bring in more people from around the country and overseas
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and Agnes—he grew up on the family farm
where he developed a deep love for agriculture
he enjoyed time on the tractor and took many trips helping haul cattle
Willard went to Berean Academy for 2 years
then graduated from Whitewater High School in 1953.When he was a young man during the Korean war
he chose to be a conscientious objector and completed 1-W service as a nurse aide at Evanston Hospital in Illinois
it was after their return to Kansas that they dated and he anxiously proposed
at the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church near Goessel
In the early years of their marriage times difficult as the farm struggled
Willard bought the farm and house from him
He read many farming magazines and was always looking for a better way to do things
With their hard work the farm became profitable again and he was able to expand the operation
they adopted a 2 ½ week old baby girl and named her Teresa Ann
they adopted 10 ½ month old Christopher Jon
Mary Ann and the kids helped with farm life
Willard bought a camper when the kids were in grade school and the family took many vacations in it
Willard served his community as a longtime board member of Rural Water District #7 and sang for many years with the Mennonite Men’s Chorus
One of the highlights of his life was the 2007 “Great Trek” tour to Europe
tracing the ancestral roots of the Mennonite faith
Willard and Mary Ann were devoted members of Grace Hill Mennonite Church
He spoke fondly of long hours driving the tractor or combine and being outside with the cattle doing what he loved
Willard was able to fix or build about any machinery or tools he needed
He was often in the shed welding on a new project he designed during the winter
He also learned how to use a computer to keep the farm books and got a smart phone to keep up on the markets and check the radar
and wanted to get one last corn crop in before he became ill in March
Just after his 90th birthday he developed pneumonia and fluid around his lung
Imaging of the lungs also revealed a pancreatic mass during this time and he was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer
In late April he returned to the hospital with a bowel obstruction and was told nothing more could be done for him
He returned to Wheat State Manor and chose hospice services
Mary Ann Wiebe; sister Helen and brother-in-law Willard Friesen; brothers Eldon Wiebe and Howard Wiebe
Survivors include his daughter Teresa Martin (James Martin) of Hays
KS; his son Chris and Catina Wiebe of McPherson
Survivors also include grandchildren Elizabeth and Daniel Schrandt of Glasco
KS; great-grandchildren MaryAnn and William Schrandt of Glasco
2025 at 11:00 am at Grace Hill Mennonite Church
Burial will be at the Grace Hill Cemetery at 10:00 am
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1956 to the late Willard and Marthalea Osburn
He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years
Adelei Osburn and Aubrey Osburn; and numerous nieces and nephews
Willard had a long career with Duke Energy in Radiation Protection for over 30 years
He was a diehard Hokie (Humbah!) and had a love for the finer things in life
Willard never met a stranger and extended his kindness and selflessness personally to everyone he met and into the community in many ways
including his involvement with the Boy Scouts and his long and faithful support of St
He was rich with friends from many different backgrounds
and ages and made it a priority to keep those connections strong
One of Willard’s most noted and endearing traits was his ability to soldier on with a smile on his face even when faced with true adversity
Rather than being consumed by the challenges he faced
Rather than comparing himself to others or wishing things away
he had a graceful contentment and embraced the life he had
A funeral service will be held on Saturday
Mark’s Episcopal Church with a private family committal and a celebration of life at the Rafters immediately following
which may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) and St
a resident of Morton passed away peacefully while at his home
He loved the Lord and was a dedicated member of Edinburg United Pentecostal Church
He enjoyed being outdoors fishing and working in the yard
Jerry was a great domino player and always enjoyed winning
Spending time with his family was something he enjoyed and especially when everyone got together
Lacey Robert Reid and Susan Jane Wilkerson Reid; grandson
Michael Reid of Morton and Jimmy Reid (Tonya) of Morton; sister
Elijah Kade Puckett and Taygen Slade Puckett and a host of friends
2025 at Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Morton
2025 at Edinburg United Pentecostal Church
Church service will be held at 2pm Sunday from the Edinburg United Pentecostal Church with graveside in the church cemetery
Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Morton is honored to serve the Reid family
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A farmer’s yearly harvest is in the crops they grow
and their lifetime legacy lives on in the family they raise
That sentiment is embodied in the life of Willard Jack, who died over the weekend after a courageous battle with cancer.
Jack is the patriarch of Silent Shade Planting Company, the 2023 Top Producer of the Year.
Shoulder to shoulder with his family across the rows of their Mississippi crops — cotton
soybeans and wheat — Jack built a farming business after immigrating from Canada in the early 1980s
He found not just farming prosperity but also a calling to advocate for American agriculture
Jack was a strong proponent of embracing technology and new practices
soy markets and advocating for sound ag policy on Capitol Hill
During his time on the American Soybean Association board of directors with ASA (2015 to 2022)
he was committed to promoting the quality and uses of U.S
France and Belgium to speak with customers abroad
Among his efforts to support soy domestically
Jack led the Biofuels and Infrastructure Advocacy Team and enthusiastically charged Capitol Hill to visit members of Congress during ASA fly-ins
“There’s a reason ASA honored Willard in 2023 with its top honor
which recognizes a lifetime of work and leadership of the highest level and dedication to soy
there’s a reason we all loved him: It includes not only the respect and appreciation of a farmer devoted to bettering his industry
but also that distinct twinkle in his eye when he was preparing to tell you a funny and enjoy a shared laugh
will remember Willard fondly and are exceptionally thankful to him and his family for all they have done
encouraging his fellow farmers to get involved by giving
which he did readily in addition to volunteering at the annual ASA SoyPAC auction and spending hours planning for SoyPAC meetings
He served as the president of the Mississippi Soybean Association and the Mississippi director of the American Soybean Association
He was appointed by three different commissioners of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce to serve on the Bureau of Plant Industry advisory board
Jack also served as the vice president of Holmes Gin and was an active member of the Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board
and the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
In addition to the 2023 recipient of the ASA Pinnacle Award
his contributions to agriculture were recognized in 2000 when he was chosen as the Mississippi Farm Bureau Farmer of the Year and in 2001 as the Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year
Farm Journal reporter Chris Bennett said: “There are millions of U.S
He cared nothing of station or status and treated all as equal
continue to lead Silent Shade Planting Company
and his seven grandchildren: Emma Grace Koger
and Laura Elizabeth “Ellie” Jack; his sister
Cattle Futures Post Another Round of New Contract Highs
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1931 to Minnie and Joseph Farmer and spent her first few years growing near Calhoun
Moving then to Kansas City she graduated from Central High School in 1947 where she met Donald Dolton and married him in 1949 and they resided in Merriam
Marjorie and Don had two surviving children
Dan and Luke Rockers and James and Chris Dolton with four surviving great grandchildren
Marjorie and Don divorced in 1976 and then she met Lloyd Willard later that year and dated him for 13 years and they were married in 1989
Lukes in 1975 and retired from there in 1990
Lloyd and Marjorie moved to Arkansas in 1991 as the both of them loved to fish but unfortunately Lloyd passed away in 1992 and Marjorie moved back to Mission in late 1992
Marjorie met Jim Cates and the two of them became Garage Sales King and Queen for the next 22 yrs as they never passed up a garage sale sign as they both enjoyed the thrill of finding a bargain until Jim unfortunately passed in 2018
Marjorie was a devoted member of Merriam Christian Church since 1954 and the church historian for many years
If someone wanted to know who someone was or when they joined the church
The church realized that Marjorie had a wealth of knowledge of the history but also realized that she never really had a talent for baking cookies for any event
A celebration of life will take place at 10:00 am on Saturday
May 3rd at Amos Family Funeral Home in Shawnee
A private interment will take place at Laurel Oak Cemetery in Windsor
memorial donations can be made to Merriam Christian Church
Make a donation to one of the following charities in remembrance of Marjorie Willard
Add to Calendar
The Amos Family Funeral Home & Crematory
playHow Villanova landed Kevin Willard from Maryland (0:59)Pete Thamel joins "College GameDay" to detail Kevin Willard's move from Maryland to Villanova
VILLANOVA, Pa. -- Kevin Willard paid homage to Villanova basketball standard-bearer Jay Wright on Wednesday and pledged to foster the Wright-built culture of attitude
hard work and toughness while he attempts to return the Wildcats to their place among the nation's elite
The school announced Willard's hiring March 30, three days after his Maryland team lost in the NCAA Sweet 16
He said at his introductory news conference he sought Wright's blessing before he accepted the job
"He sent me one of the greatest texts I've ever got: 'I am behind you 100%
You are the right guy at the right time for this,'" Willard said
Wright left coaching in 2022 after leading the Wildcats to six Big East titles
four Final Fours and two national championships in 21 seasons
was 54-47 overall and 31-29 in Big East play in three years with no NCAA appearances
2016 national championship game hero Kris Jenkins and Big East commissioner Val Ackerman were among the attendees at the news conference
"I feel like I'm in the prime of my coaching career," Williard said
I'm blessed to have two kids who are going to go off to college soon
This was my wife and I making a decision together where we wanted to spend
Willard said he has been busy assembling his roster
He said he has done about 120 recruiting-related Zoom calls in the past week
All five starters have exhausted their eligibility
and three reserves have entered the transfer portal so far
"I'm extremely confident in my staff and I about what we're going to build and how we're going to build it," he said
"We're making sure we're doing it the right way with the kids we want
We're going to lose some kids to the portal
Willard's parting with the Terrapins wasn't clean
he publicly campaigned for more resources and said Maryland's funding for name
image and likeness pay was woefully inadequate
The headline-making scuttlebutt prompted him to open his Villanova news conference with self-deprecating humor
"I'm going to be brief because I've learned over the last two weeks it's probably better to say less than it is more," Willard said
"I promised my wife I'd be on my best behavior."
Willard said the college sports environment has become "out of control" the last three years with athletes allowed to earn money for endorsements
and more challenges await once revenue sharing begins as soon as July
"The average person just doesn't understand what's going on with transfer portal
It's the best area to play college basketball
"I think we all hope there are some guardrails put in place to not only help the schools -- I think the schools are going to be tremendously challenged the next three
four years -- but also to help the players and give them some guidelines and some rules that will help them stay in school longer
Thanks for visiting
1959 the son of George and Donna (Nell) Norton
he was a resident of Ashland all of his life
Willard was a graduate of Ashland High School Class of 1978
He had previously been employed at General Hone
Ohio Tool Works and most recently Strassell’s Machine dba Hi-Point Firearms
which he considered to be his favorite and it was a privilege and an honor to be employed there
Willard was also a highly respected Harley-Davidson mechanic
and he was the owner of V-Tech Motorcycle Shop
He had a passion for Harley-Davidson motorcycles and the knowledge to work on them he was referred to as a legend when it came to fixing motorcycles
he also enjoyed riding them with his friends
He is survived by the love of his life and best friend for 30 years
Lynn Lewis of Ashland; one brother and sister
(Kathy) Michael of Ashland and Sharon (Jerry) Dever of Ashland
Jennifer Lonsway (Todd Harrison) and nephew
Willard was known to be a considerate and generous person
whether is was holding the door for a Veteran or driving two hours to pick up a broken down motorcycle for a complete stranger
He had an ornery personality and to know him was to love him
A Celebration of Willard’s life will be held on Saturday February 8
2025 at 4:00 pm at the Ashland Eagles Club
In lieu of flowers donations in Willard’s name may be given to The Cathouse Feline Sanctuary
Thanks for visiting
Jean Barlow Willard passed away peacefully at the Eddy Memorial Geriatric Center in Troy at 93 years of age on October 15
Jean graduated from Troy High School in 1949 and married the love of her life
The couple were both employed at W.T.Grants in downtown Troy before leaving the area to live in various parts of New England and NY State while Walter worked opening and managing several department stores
for which Jean is credited with naming after the town of Jamestown in the early 1960s
Her primary occupation was caring for her family until they returned to their hometown of Troy in 1965
where they opened their first beef themed restaurant
on route 9 and in the Clifton Country Mall
Upon the closing of their restaurants in 1981
Jean went on to work for her nephew Cliff Barlow at Cliff’s Country Inn on Saratoga Lake for many years
Although she had different roles in those establishments
she was known for her ability to relate to and charm everyone she met
Jean also worked part and full time for Gardenway at the Sales Department Call Center
she enjoyed activities such as her bridge club with her longtime friends
some from as far back as high school and swim aerobics at the Troy YWCA
where she formed many new loving friendships
The family would like to give special thanks to the staff at the Eddy Memorial Geriatric center who provided loving care over the last five years
Jean was predeceased by her husband of 73 years
her two brothers Lloyd and Robert Barlow and her grandson Ari Thomas Josef Willard
daughters Wendy Willard (Robert Lombardo) of Troy
her grandsons Jason Willard (Carrie) of Dexter
Jordan Willard of Rensselaer and Jeffrey Glenn (Alison) of Philadelphia
as well as the mother of her Willard grandsons Nadine Mahan and her life-long friend and sister-in-law Catherine Barlow and many wonderful nieces and nephews
Calling hours will be held at New Comer Cremations & Funerals
2024 from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm with a funeral service to begin at 6:00 pm.
Click to watch
Kevin Willard got an up-close look at Villanova at its best.
the 49-year old is tasked to try and get the Wildcats back to the top
The new Villanova men’s basketball coach had his introduction to the local media in the form of a Zoom press conference on Wednesday afternoon
three days after the school formally announced him as the 10th coach in program history
in 2017) has coached more than two dozen games against Villanova in his career
Willard comes to Villanova after three years at Maryland
which he led to a 65-39 (.625) record in his time there
including a Sweet 16 appearance this season
He spent the previous 12 years at Seton Hall
with a likely sixth March Madness bid in 2020 cancelled by the COVID pandemic.
Jay Wright took Villanova to nine NCAA Tournaments
three Final Fours and two national championships along the way
Villanova went 19-6 against Seton Hall during Willard’s tenure
the two programs developing a healthy rivalry
meeting in a few Big East championship games along the way
Willard made sure to check in with both sides.
“I talked to Jay Saturday night,” he said
I just asked him: ‘Jay would you be okay if I did take this job?’ And Jay was great
I think you’d be great there.’
“I’m still very close with a large group of Seton Hall supporters and I had to get their blessing
because we’ve had so many great battles
I talked to Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson already
we started talking automatically about how great those battles were and how much we respect each other.”
Willard admitted it was strange to put on a Villanova blue pullover — like the one he wore for Wednesday’s call — for the first time
“I’m not going to lie,” he said
“As much as I love wearing this right now
the first time I put this on was a bit of a shock.”
Williard inherits a Villanova program that spun its wheels for three seasons under Kyle Neptune
The former Wright assistant was relieved after the Big East tournament with a 19-14 (11-9) record
without an NCAA Tournament appearance.
The son of former Pitt and Holy Cross head coach Ralph Williard, Kevin Williard comes in with an extra spotlight on him after a somewhat-controversial exit at Maryland. First, he made comments during NCAA Tournament’s first-round press conferences where he called out what he felt were issues with the school’s funding of the program
then later avoided questions about negotiating with Villanova after news of that broke during the Terrapins’ Sweet 16 run.
“Everything I said during the press conference was because I loved Maryland
I was passionate about my job,” he said
adding later: “Some of my comments during the NCAA tournament could have been less abrasive
but unfortunately sometimes my passion for my program
“I’ll say that Maryland just got a great coach in Buzz [Williams] and I’m very happy for them and I’m super-excited to be at a great basketball conference here and it’s time that everyone move on.”
While Willard officially took over the ‘Nova men’s program over the week
the Wildcats aren’t fully his just yet
Villanova’s men are finishing up the 2024-25 season in the new 16-team College Basketball Crown tournament in Las Vegas
beating Colorado in the opening round Tuesday night under the guidance of interim head coach and Villanova alum Mike Nardi
They’ll play Southern Cal in the quarterfinals on Thursday night
Willard declined to comment on any personnel matters
There’s no doubt that he’s going to have plenty to do in the short term to put together a roster for next year
The program’s all-time leading scorer and the nation’s leading scorer
along with the rest of the team’s starting lineup in Wooga Poplar
Willard has to work to both keep the remainder of the roster intact — so far
no Villanova players have entered the transfer portal — while surveying the portal and remaining high school landscape to put together a roster that can be competitive in the Big East sooner rather than later
coaches used to need a few years to construct a program the way they wanted
a timeline that’s been quickly accelerated over the last few years.
Willard isn’t focusing entirely on staying as old as possible year-to-year
Villanova’s taken advantage of player development and the redshirt year to great effect — Mikal Bridges the most notable example
and it sounds like Williard wants to keep some level of that on the Main Line.
“You look at all the pros that Jay was able to bring in here and develop — I think every coach during that time
really respected what Jay was doing from a recruiting standpoint but most importantly from a player development standpoint,” Willard said
“That’s something we’re really going to focus on now that the portal is changed
we want to focus on high school kids and developing them and making them a priority again.”
During the court of Willard’s career
he hasn’t coached a ton of Philly-area talent; the closest he got at Seton Hall were Delaware’s Myles Cale (Appoquinimink) and South Jersey’s Myles Powell (Medford Tech)
But he inherited a couple locals at Maryland in Donta Scott (Imhotep Charter) and Hakim Hart (Roman Catholic)
the latter of whom went to Villanova for his final year of hoops a season ago.
playing the last two of five seasons under Williard
never an All-Big Ten performer but a reliable figure on a couple NCAA Tournament squads.
he’s super-excited so when he comes back he can come hang out,” Willard said
“Donta’s going to be a guy that I really rely on because he’s such a great kid
obviously great high school programs in this area
so I’m just excited to be part of that Philly basketball scene.”
playDeShawn Harris-Smith fired up after hitting his 6th 3 of the season (0:17)DeShawn Harris-Smith pumps up the bench after hitting a 3-pointer in Maryland's rout of Grand Canyon
SEATTLE -- Maryland coach Kevin Willard bristled at reporters' questions even as his players celebrated an 81-49 win over Grand Canyon in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday
Willard openly talked about his frustrations with the school
the changes he wants to make to the program and his relationship with athletic director Damon Evans as the two negotiate his future
amid reports that Evans is headed to the same job at SMU and Willard is a candidate for the Villanova job
the coach became visibly frustrated after a reporter mentioned "the situation" when asking players about their victory
which came by the largest margin for the Terps in an NCAA tournament game
Willard himself said a day earlier that Evans is "probably going to SMU," adding that the move made it difficult for the coach to negotiate a contract extension
"The only situation is you guys and Twitter
and I can't control you guys and I can't control Twitter
gesturing to his players in the interview room
Players shook their heads and smiled ruefully at the questions
The fourth-seeded Terps advanced to the second round on Sunday against No
Willard compared an outlet that covers his program to the tabloid TMZ a day after his initial comments
which came during a pre-practice news conference Thursday
He told reporters that he was in negotiations with Evans and was seeking several changes to increase the prominence of the program
Kevin Willard scoffed at reporters' questions following Maryland's win Friday
a day after he openly talked about his frustrations with the school and changes he feels are necessary to make. Stephen Brashear-Imagn ImagesThe comments
which were remarkably candid in the usually buttoned-down world of college athletics
made headlines across several media organizations
Willard noted that he wanted to keep his team in New York City for an extra night this season near the holidays
but was told the school could not afford the expense
you're going to write whatever you want to say anyways," Willard said
You guys just write whatever the hell you want
I'll probably get a letter from the NCAA."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report
Maryland head coach Kevin Willard reacts during the first half against Grand Canyon in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament
Maryland head coach Kevin Willard watches from the sideline during the first half against Grand Canyon in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament
Willard became visibly frustrated after a reporter mentioned “the situation” when asking players about their victory
which came by the largest margin for the Terps in an NCAA Tournament game
Willard himself said a day earlier that Evans’ pending departure made it difficult for the coach to negotiate a contract extension
“The only situation is you guys and Twitter
and I can’t control you guys and I can’t control Twitter
which came during a pre-practice news conference on Thursday
you’re going to write whatever you want to say anyways,” Willard said
I’ll probably get a letter from the NCAA.”
a beloved member of the community and devoted family man
to the late Millard Newman and Callie Mae (Moore) Newman.
Willard was united in marriage with Marcia Lou (Slagle) Newman on June 15
He dedicated a significant portion of his life to his career
proudly serving as a forklift operator for General Motors until his retirement in 1997 after 34 years of commitment and hard work
Willard had a passion for the great outdoors
as well as engaging in hunting and fishing
activities that brought him much happiness and joy throughout his life
Willard is survived by his loving wife of 62 years
and Kayla Newman; great-grandson Liam Kelly; his sister
and his brother Donald Newman; and numerous nieces and nephews
Willard was preceded in death by his parents
Millard Newman and Callie Mae (Moore) Newman; and four sisters
In honor of Willard’s wishes cremation has taken place and there will not be a service. Arrangements were entrusted to W.L. Case and Company Funeral Directors, 4480 Mackinaw Rd, Saginaw, MI 48603. Please share your thoughts and memories with Willard’s family by visiting www.casefuneralhome.com.
affectionately known as "Moose" to his friends
and lived a life filled with dedication to his work
Steve was a proud graduate of West Forsyth High School and the Career Center
he pursued his passion for heavy equipment by joining Sparks Construction Company as a skilled operator
a role that seemed destined from his childhood days spent around bulldozers and motor graders
Steve served as a Volunteer Firefighter with the Clemmons Fire Department
where he forged lifelong friendships and a commitment to helping others
he found fulfillment working as an assembly technician at Piedmont Aviation Services
where he was not only a valued employee but also a cherished friend to many
Steve was a master mechanic with a natural gift for working with machines of all sizes
He deeply loved his family and cherished his friends
always lending a helping hand to anyone in need
Wesley Wall and Noah Wall (Sarah); and his great-nephew
and countless friends whose lives he touched with his kindness and humor
The family extends heartfelt thanks to Steve's friends from Clemmons Fire Department
and the Smitherman family of Smitherman Hardware in Lewisville for their unwavering support and camaraderie
A visitation to celebrate Steve's life will be held on Sunday
from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home
memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice
honoring Steve's generous and compassionate spirit
Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com
Kinderton Chapel - Hayworth-Miller Funeral Homes & Crematory
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A ceremony celebrating the life of Willard J
Sonnier will be held on Sunday December 22
at Indian Mound Baptist Church visitation will begin at 1:30 pm until time of service at 3:30 pm
Interment will follow at Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery
LA and rested from this life on December 17
at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center Baton Rouge at the age of 79 years
a member of Operating Engineers Local 406 for sixty years
a devoted member of Indian Mound Baptist Church
He is preceded in death by his wife Linda G
Sonnier and parents Millard Sonnier and Rose Johnson Thibodeaux
Survivors include his children Angela Sasser (Jon)
memorial gifts may be given that will be used by the family to honor Willard's life and memory
at Twelve Oaks Senior Living with her loving family by her side
Willard was born in Surry County on January 20
to the late Genie Wilmoth and Letha Hicks Wilmoth
and will be deeply missed by all who knew her
Willard was preceded in death by her son-in-law
A celebration of her life will be held Friday
2:00 pm at Moody Funeral Home in Mount Airy
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday
from 1:00 PM until the time of the service
or donations may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice
Moody’s of Mount Airy is respectfully serving the Willard family
The Athletic has live coverage of 2025 Men’s March Madness
SEATTLE — Maryland coach Kevin Willard has turned heads the first few days of the NCAA Tournament by embodying the thing we ask public figures for most and are always surprised when they exhibit:
“I’m anal and I’m an a–hole,” Willard told The Athletic
“If I see something I want fixed and done better
… I grew up in New York City and spent the last 15 years in New York and New Jersey
That’s important to remember as you examine Willard’s last few days
asked before the fourth-seeded Terrapins’ first game about the rumors that he might jump to Villanova
Yes, he’s talked to his team about it. Yes, he’s been offered a contract extension by Maryland
he hasn’t signed anything yet — because things are not where they should be
“I want this program to be great,” Willard said
… I need to make sure that where we are with (name
image and likeness) and revenue share is not where we’ve been with NIL over the past two years
Then he gave a specific — and embarrassing — example that quickly went viral
“I wanted to spend an extra night in New York this year to celebrate Christmas with my team
and I was told that we can’t do that because it’s too expensive,” he said
“I don’t know how we can be a top-tier program
and I can’t spend one extra night in New York because it’s too expensive.”
He mentioned that Maryland’s athletic director
was probably headed to SMU to take the same position
SMU made Evans’ hire official less than 24 hours after Willard’s comments
After his rant made the rounds on social media
Willard went off again in the news conference following Maryland’s 81-49 blowout win over Grand Canyon
he said that his words don’t matter because people are going to write whatever they want anyway
“We have a website that might as well be TMZ,” he said
not specifying which outlet he was referring to
I don’t think anyone listens to me,” he said as his players giggled next to him
“If something’s not better and I have an opportunity to make it better
the only way to do it in college athletics is to put it in your contract
we’re going to do that.’ Next thing you know
Most coaches are strategic — about everything
Willard knows the Villanova job is his if he wants it
So it’s likely that his answer in Saturday’s press conference
roughly 26 hours before Maryland plays upset-minded Colorado State for a spot in the Sweet 16
it feels like a lot of teams have brought in as many new guys as you did
might have missed on a few just in terms of evaluations
what they expected a player to do and what they did
Are there things you feel like you valued more or less last offseason than other coaches that led to that success?”
we were selling hats at tailgates and football games
and when I found out what (our budget was)
You think Willard didn’t know exactly what he was doing by using Villanova as an example
The fourth-year Maryland coach has been in the business for nearly 30 years
It’s the rest of us who need to play catch up
“I think everyone is looking at this like I don’t like this job,” he said
He wants an associate athletic director to oversee men’s basketball specifically
I’ve been in this business — I saw how Rick Pitino did stuff at Louisville
No matter how small it is or how big it is.”
He was adamant that his “they’ll lie to you” comment was not a shot at Maryland but a generalization
I can’t expect (the AD) to run a football program
a basketball program and 17 other sports and then all the sudden remember
‘Oh the conversation Kevin and I had in March …’
then the season starts and you come back and this is still an issue.”
He left Seton Hall for this job because he grew up watching Steve Francis play and Gary Williams coach
The tradition of Maryland basketball energized him
“There are certain things I want to control as
the CEO of the company that I don’t think I should have to ask for,” he said
Should Maryland advance to its first Sweet 16 since 2016
Willard will likely be praised for his coaching
But when he signs a fat new contract littered with incentives — whether it’s at Maryland or Villanova — we’ll be reminded his true calling might have been as a master negotiator
Maryland head coach Kevin Willard watches against the Michigan during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis
Maryland coach Kevin Willard reacts to an official’s call during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game with Penn State Saturday
reportedly a candidate for the top job at Villanova
Complicating matters is that Maryland’s athletic director
is “probably going to SMU,” Willard said Thursday
Willard said Evans gave him a “term sheet” on Sunday
but he didn’t sign because his focus was on the team
Evans has since been dealing with Willard’s agent
So it’s kind of tough to negotiate with somebody that’s maybe not here
but I need to make fundamental changes to the program
That’s what I’m focused on right now,” Willard said
I wanted to spend an extra night in New York this year to celebrate Christmas with my team
“So I don’t know how we can be a top tier program
and I can’t spend one extra night in New York because it’s too expensive
So there’s fundamental things I’m fighting for
Willard said he addressed the rumors about a possible move with his players — but he seemed to indicate that he was staying put in College Park
“I want to make sure that whatever we do going forward
So I’m confident that we’ll get things done
but I’m confident that no matter who we’re negotiating with at the end of the day
this program is going to be in a great spot.”
Evans did not immediately respond to a request for comment through Maryland’s athletic department
Among the changes Willard wants to see is with Maryland’s plan for revenue sharing with athletes
He said a majority is expected to go to the football team
son of Ludie and Lorine Nipper Griggs was born on July 20
He was also a self-employed car dealer and master mechanic
Willard was preceded in death by his wife Marilyn Thompson Griggs; daughter Debera Erlinger; brothers Joda and Marcus Griggs; sister Dymple (Susie) Griggs; and grandchildren Austin Michael Million and Charles Mitchell Erlinger II
His Survivors include daughters Barbara (Jimmie) Blue
MO; nine grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends
Visitation will be from 11:00 an until 1:00 pm on April 10
2025 at Amick-Burnett Funeral Home in Chaffee
we will gather at Union Park Cemetery to say goodbye
the son of the late Bernard and Mary Davis Willard
He lived his life by the principle that “a man will be judged not by his appearance but by his character,” a philosophy that shaped how he interacted with the world
Willard was preceded in death by a grandson
Moody Funeral Services in Mount Airy is serving the family
We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file
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The family of Cyril W Willard created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories
You can reach us 24/7/365 at
De was born on September 30,1931 in Poolesville
MD 1n the home his grandparents built in 1917
De graduated from Poolesville High School in 1948
He attended the University of Maryland School of Agriculture focusing on agronomy
he launched his custom farming career; purchasing a pull type John Deere 12A combine in July 1948
This event was the beginning of his 76-year business career.
De and his siblings were raised by their aunt
She remained an important part of his life not only as a parent but as a trusted advisor
De was dedicated to Tatie’s wellbeing and cared for her until her death in 2005
De married Frances Mae Amato of Washington D.C
They raised their four children in Poolesville
where the family enjoyed the privilege of farm life
water skiing at Seneca on the Potomac River and trips to Ocean City
De converted to Catholicism and became a faithful and active member of St
Mary’s Catholic Church in Barnesville
in 1970 (later renamed Willard Agri-Service) as a companion business to his custom farming operation
Willard Agri-Service grew to become a nationally recognized agricultural retailer serving Maryland
De’s thirst for knowledge motivated him to become active in numerous ag retailer organizations across the nation
where he built a network of cherished friends
De launched a second business endeavor in the automotive industry which grew to five dealerships located in Maryland
Similar to the network of friends he developed in agriculture
he grew another network of treasured colleagues in the auto world.
never carving out significant time for hobbies and recreation
He often remarked that “if you love your job
you’re having fun every day and don’t need a hobby!” However
when he took a flying lesson at the Frederick Municipal Airport
he fell in love with aviation and the intricacies of modern aircraft
De quickly mastered the coordination of flight controls
obtaining his private pilot’s license in January 1984 and later securing an instrument rating
His favorite aircraft was his Bonanza A-36 (N345D)
He logged over 3,000 hours of flight time which included many trips to the mid-west
often with lifelong friends from the Poolesville/Frederick area
Flying was also a timesaver when De desired to visit his fertilizer plants on the Eastern Shore of Maryland or attend meetings within the flight range of his Bonanza
De was an innovator who loved traveling the country looking for new ideas and concepts
He often remarked that his network of friends and business associates he nurtured was critical to his professional success
These friendships meant a great deal to De
De fostered important relationships within the ag industry by serving on the Boards of The Fertilizer Institute
the National Fertilizer Solutions Association
and the Maryland and Virgina Milk Producers Cooperative
De never forgot those early customers that trusted his abilities and took a chance doing business with him
He stayed connected to many of them later in life and never forgot them during the holiday season
De was a huge believer in being involved and “giving back” serving on numerous nonagricultural Boards
he was a member of the Mid-Atlantic Master Farmers Assoc.
and the Upper Montgomery County Farmer’s Club
He also served on the Town of Poolesville Planning Commission
and he served on the Boards of Frederick County National Bank
Believing education is key to a strong future
De also served on the Boards of the Connelly School of the Holy Child
and as President of the Poolesville High School PTA.
He is survived by his former wife and mother of his children Frances Amato Willard; brother William G
NC; and sister Sarah Ann King (David) of Derwood
He is also survived by his four children Bobby Willard (Lynda) of Key West
sixteen grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren
The family would like to extend their sincere thanks to his friends who visited him at home and Village Crossing and their gratitude to the caregivers from Assisting Hands and the staff at Village Crossing
a heartfelt thanks to De’s coworkers at Willard Agri-Service for their support
The family will receive friends on Thursday
from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Stauffer Funeral Home; 1621 Opossumtown Pike; Frederick
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday
the family requests contributions be directed to St
John The Evangelist Catholic Church (112 E
2nd Street; Frederick MD 21701) or Frederick Health Hospice (1 Frederick Health Way; Frederick
Expressions of sympathy may be offered to the family at StaufferFuneralHome.com.
VA went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday
She was a loving mom to the joy of her life
Tammy enjoyed attending church and expressed her faith in Jesus Christ
She had a God given talent to sing using her beautiful voice
“The Old Gospel Ship” on her mother’s first C.D
entitled “He’s a Great Big God”
Her beautiful voice is now being heard singing praises to her Lord in her new home in heaven
Tammy was blessed with an amazing artistic talent and loved to paint and draw since she was a child
She will be fondly remembered as being a “ray of sunshine” to those that loved and knew her
Her vibrant smile would light up the room when she entered
Tammy would let those dear to her know their significance in her life by telling them often that she loved them.
Tammy is survived by her mother and father; Joyce P
Willard (Wanda) of Meadows of Dan; daughter
Willow Marie Davis of Ridgeway; and maternal grandparents
met her at the gates of heaven to greet her
Funeral services for Tammy will be held on Thursday
at 2:00 PM at Patrick Springs Pentecostal Holiness Church with Pastor Samuel Leonard officiating
A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church
Online condolences may be made by visiting www.moodyfuneralservices.com
Patrick Springs Pentecostal Holiness Church
Michael Brenton Willard “Tojo”
Tojo grew up in Eagle Grove and graduated from Eagle Grove High School in 2000
He played all sports growing up and was a pitcher and state qualifier golfer for EGHS
He attended college at Hawkeye Tech in Waterloo
Iowa earning a degree in Landscape and Turf Management
and he worked for the Eagle Grove Golf Course
Tojo was one of the first turf interns at The Vineyard Golf Club on Martha’s Vineyard in Edgartown
Massachusetts in 2005 and worked there for 12 years
Texas and worked as the superintendent at Waterchase Golf Club for seven years
Tojo enjoyed spending time with his family and friends
Tojo passed away surrounded by family and friends at home in Eagle Grove on February 25th
Gary Willard; grandparents: Louis and Jean Willard
Richard Loux and Pat Malaise and significant other
Tojo is survived by his daughter
Dora Willard; siblings: Bridget Willard and Brandon Willard (Karla); significant other
Bre O’Hern; nieces and nephews: Makayla Cortez (Moises)
Sydney Willard and Syrus Willard and many aunts
Maryland's Kevin Willard has been hired as Villanova's new coach
"Coach Willard quickly stood out among an impressive pool of candidates during a comprehensive national search," Villanova's president
Coach Willard demonstrated that he has the vision and experience to guide Villanova Basketball in the changing world of college athletics
we were also impressed by his ability to articulate how Villanova Basketball fits into the overarching mission of the University."
Maryland just completed one of its best seasons in the past 20 years, earning a 4-seed in the NCAA tournament and making a run to the Sweet 16 before falling to top-seeded Florida
The Terrapins finished 27-9 overall and 14-6 in the Big Ten and were ranked in the top 10 in most predictive metrics
Maryland lost just four games to Big Ten opponents the rest of the season by a combined nine points
Willard spent three seasons in College Park
going 65-39 with two NCAA tournament appearances
He made headlines before Maryland's first-round NCAA tournament game against Grand Canyon when he essentially broke the news of Maryland athletic director Damon Evans leaving for SMU and explained why he hasn't signed a new contract in College Park
"I need to make fundamental changes to the program," Willard said
That's why probably a deal hasn't got done because I want to see -- I need to see fundamental changes done
"I need to make sure that we are where we are with NIL
and rev share is not where we've been with NIL over the past two years
I also have to make a fundamental change where I can do the things that I want to do with my program
I wanted to spend an extra night in New York this year to celebrate Christmas with my team and I was told that we can't do that because it's too expensive
I don't know how we can be a top-tier program and I can't spend one extra night in New York because it's too expensive."
As Maryland knocked off Grand Canyon and Colorado State to advance to Willard's first Sweet 16 and the first for the Terps since 2016
He acknowledged after Maryland's Sweet 16 loss to Florida on Thursday that he didn't know his next step
"I don't know what I'm doing," Willard said
who failed to reach the NCAA tournament in any of his three seasons in charge of the Wildcats
Neptune took over in 2022 after the sudden retirement of Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright
who led Villanova to two national championships and four Final Four appearances
It marks a return to the Big East for Willard
native who spent 12 seasons as the head coach at Seton Hall
He led the Pirates to five NCAA tournament appearances and a share of the Big East regular-season title in 2020 -- when the program was on track for its highest NCAA tournament seed in nearly 30 years before the tournament was canceled due to the pandemic
Willard was the head coach at Iona for three seasons and an assistant coach under Rick Pitino at Louisville and with the Boston Celtics
had previously spent time on Pitino's staff at multiple stops
Bill earned a BSME from Tufts University (1953)
an MAE from Chrysler Institute of Engineering (1955) and completed the Bell Laboratories "Communications Development Training Program" in 1959
Bill was employed as a mechanical engineer at Chrysler Corp.
and Bell Telephone Laboratories where after 28 years of service
he retired from AT&T Corporation (Lucent Tech)
He had an engineering mind and loved to problem solve to make things more efficient and create new products and systems
patents for products developed with these companies.
He was preceded in death by his parents and only brother
Bill was an active member of Noblesville First United Methodist Church
He also was a 23-year member of Sounds Unlimited chorale ensemble
His community service included Meals on Wheels
Volunteering to work at the Belfry Theater was a favorite pastime and he served as a mentor in the Kids Hope program.
Bill spoke often of happy memories growing up and life on Sunrise Camp in Groton
Bill will always be remembered for his willingness to help others and for the ability to fix anything
He has left his family and friends a legacy built of faith
All who knew him considered him a truly "good guy'' and a "grand man"
at the Noblesville First United Methodist Church
All attending are invited to enjoy an ice cream social afterwards
Memorial contributions may be made to Noblesville United Methodist Church
Only one incumbent is among the three candidates vying for two open seats on the Willard school board this spring
The other candidates include John Hartley and Amanda Kastler
Hartley was first elected to the board in 2011 but stepped down in late 2015 — his term did not expire until April 2017 — due to work commitments
He is the most veteran member of the board that also includes Sutton Berry
Menditto did not respond to multiple emails since late January to be interviewed for this story
John HartleyCareer: "I am a retired public and private school teacher and coach and now am a business owner
I own 417 Youth Sports which includes under its umbrella 417/573 Missouri Juniors Volleyball
417 Baseball and The Dugout indoor training facility
District connection: "I was a teacher/coach for Willard Schools for 22 years ending in 2007 and have lived in the Willard district since 1986." He has two adult children who graduated from the district and four grandchildren
community service: "I have been elected to two previous terms on the Willard school board
I am a 2021 Missouri Sports Hall of Fame inductee
a 2019 initial inductee to the Willard Legends of Baseball Club
a 1996 Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee."
Why run this year: "I see a need and opportunity to bring an experienced voice to the board room to aid and assist with the current board
I also want to be a voice on the south side of the district for Willard Orchard Hills Elementary and Intermediate as well as South Elementary and Central Elementary."
how will you make an impact: "There are several areas of focus that I would like to review with the board
Items like the safety for all students and staff with strong discipline guidelines for administrators to use; stronger communication between the district and families/community."
Hartley said he also wants to help implement the projects on the proposed bond issue on the April ballot
District connection: "My husband and I moved into the Willard district in July of 2014
We wanted our children to go to Willard Schools." She has two children in the district
community service: Member of the Willard school facilities committee
She previously served on the Springfield Regional Board for Arvest Bank
and the board for the Greater Missouri Leadership Challenge
Why run this year: "I am proud to be a part of the Willard school district
and I want to play an active in role in ensuring the Willard school district is the best district for our students
how will you make an impact: She listed her main areas of focus
"Students — providing a positive learning environment that strives for the very best educational opportunities
and access to resources regardless of where they are at in the Willard school system
I want all our students to be proud to attend Willard schools and be prepared for their post-high school path.""Teachers and Staff — continuing the districts focus on recruiting and retaining our team
Our teachers and staff are a critical component to our success
and we need to do our best to ensure they have the tools
and facilities necessary to educate the students.""Community — continuing to engage with and seek support from our community members
and we need to make sure the amazing village of Willard surrounds our students
and staff."The other focus area was fiscal responsibility
but that doesn’t mean that business related finance principles shouldn’t apply," she said
"We need to approach our financial spending in the same manner that a business would by making sure we continue to make the appropriate investments in our students
Patsy “Jolene” Montgomery Willard
NC to the late Samuel Austin Montgomery and Mattie Lee Temples Montgomery
She retired from Wilson Covington Construction and volunteered at Forsyth Medical Center Emergency Department for over forty years
She is survived by her two daughters Terri Childress and Tracy Pickral; one granddaughter
Hannah Whitman (Andrew); three great-grandchildren
A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m
at Hayworth-Miller Rural Hall Chapel with Dr
Burial will follow at Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery
The family will receive friends an hour prior to the service at the funeral home
The family would like to give a special thanks to the staff of Priddy Manor and Mountain Valley Hospice for their loving care to Jolene