Paul Marshall Willett

Paul Marshall Willett passed away on Thursday morning December 28, 2006 after many years of a courageous battle with multiple sclerosis.Paul was born in Elizabethton, TN on May 31, 1955 to Dr. James M. and Lind P. Willett. In 1973, he graduated from Greeneville High School, Greeneville, TN. He attended Carson Newman College, Jefferson City, TN and received his B. S. degree from East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN. Paul went on to receive his Masters in City Management at East Tennessee State University.Paul worked for Pee Dee Regional Council of Governments in Florence, SC as a roving town manager for several small towns in the area. He then went to Laurens, SC as their City Manager. While in Laurens, Paul received his brokerage license and moved to Kingsport to open and establish Edwards D. Jones & Company. First American Bank hired him as Vice President of the Business Development Division of the Trust Department. In 2001, Paul retired as Vice President of Hilliard Lyons Brokerage firm as an investment broker.Paul was a member of First Baptist Church of Kingsport and was very active in civic organizations and city government. He was a member and past President of Kingsport Cosmopolitan Kiwanis Club; member of the Kingsport Board of Mayor and Alderman for two terms; past member and chairman of Mountain Region Speech and Hearing Board of Directors; and member of the Downtown Kingsport Association and Chamber of Commerce. Paul was recipient of the prestigious ?40 Under Forty? Award given by the Business Journal in 1994. He was past President of Kingsport Citizens Advisory Committee; on the Board of Directors for Kingsport Tomorrow and Goodwill, INC.; and received numerous awards for his outstanding leadership, salesmanship, and volunteer services.Paul played tennis most of his life and loved golf, traveling, and making furniture. His personality was priceless until the end; and he will be missed by many people.He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Dwight and Sallie Willett; maternal grandparents, Sam and Irene Prater; father, Dr. James M. Willett; uncle, Ben Parker; aunt, Virginia Egerman; and father-in-law, Harold D. Kistner.Paul is survived by his wife of 31 years, Meri K. Willett; mother, Lind P. Willett; two daughters, Sallie I. Willett and Emily L. Willett; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Dr. Dwight H. and Evit Willett of Kingston, TN, and Dr. David P. and Becky Willett of Fountain Inn, SC; three nephews; five nieces; several aunts, uncles, cousins, great-nieces, and great-nephews.The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church, 200 W. Church Circle, Kingsport, TN.Services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church with Rev. Mitchell M. Whisnant and Dr. Ron Davis officiating.Interment will follow at Oak Hill Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Ron Bedford, Charlie Burroughs, Mike Parrott, John Pridemore, Jeff Bedford, Tim Colvin, Michael O?Neill, and James Miller.Honorary pallbearers will be the staff of Hilliard Lyons.In lieu of flowers, the family requests, memorial contributions be made to an educational fund: Emily L. Willett, Beneficiary, TNUTMA by Meri K. Willett, Custodian, 1120 Radcliffe Avenue, Kingsport, TN 37664.