Final Salute

WILMINGTON — Jesse Wilbur Willett, age 96 passed away Friday, January 15, 2024 at the Lower Cape Fear Hospice Center, Wilmington, NC.

He was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, the son of the late William Jesse Willett and Bertha Skipper Willett. He proudly served in WWII as a Navy Seabee stationed on Guam. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge 319. Jesse was a member of Devon Park United Methodist Church for over 30 years. He loved the Lord and his church and enjoyed participating in barbeques for the church twice a year.

Jesse retired as a dispatcher for Hess Oil Company in Wilmington at age 55. He started his own interior/exterior painting business and worked along with his son, Gary for 30 years. He enjoyed doing leatherwork and woodwork as hobbies during his lifetime.

The love of his life, Edna Grace Richardson Willett predeceased him in April 2017. Together with his parents, he is predeceased by his siblings: Marvin Willett, Blaine Willett, Elvera Willett, Erma Stewart, and Jerry Willett. He is survived by his children, Wayne Willett and his wife, Claudia; Gary Willett, Rhonda Willett, and his devoted cats, Batman and Zachary.

Please share memories or condolences with the family by clicking on the Andrews Mortuary and Crematory Website. Memorials in honor of Jesse may be made to Paws for People Foundation (paws4people.org) and/or Lower Cape Fear Hospice Center.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Wrightsville United Methodist Church, 4 Live Oak Drive, Wrightsville Beach, NC, Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 1 p.m.

Share online condolences with the family here.