Willa Jean Montgomery Moak, 90, passed into the arms of Christ on April 16, 2023 in Canton, Miss. Willa was a retired schoolteacher and talented pianist, serving as lifelong ministry partner to Tom, her husband of nearly 68 years.

Visitation and services are on Thursday, April 20 at Brookhaven Funeral Home in Brookhaven. Visitation will be from 9-11 a.m., with services following at 11:00 and graveside prayer at Johnston Station Baptist Church Cemetery in Summit.

Willa was born Nov. 12, 1932, at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, the daughter of Lucas Seymour (L.S.) Montgomery and Etta May Montgomery, both of whom preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death was a son, Randall Montgomery “Monty” Moak, and an infant sister and infant brother. She is survived by sons Thomas A. Moak III (Becky) of Dandridge, Tenn. and William D. Moak (Lori) of Madison; four grandchildren: James Lucas Moak (Andrea) of Lansing, Mich.; Andrew Wiley Moak of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Daniel Montgomery Moak of Pensacola, Fla. and Caleb Thomas Moak of Madison; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Willa made her profession of faith as a child at Johnston Station Baptist Church, beginning a lifetime of service to Christ. She attended Johnston Station School, where she was valedictorian, then went on to Copiah-Lincoln Junior College, where she earned an Associate’s Degree in English and was a Phi Theta Kappa honorary society member. Willa attended the University of Mississippi and Mississippi College, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English. Later, she earned her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Jackson State University and was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

From her earliest days, Willa loved playing the piano and organ. Music became a lifelong avocation, and she played the piano for numerous church services, weddings, funerals, and special occasions. When Willa met her future husband Rev. Tom Moak (a young minister of music) at a friend’s wedding, it was clear that God had put the young couple together, and soon they became engaged and were married in June 1955 at First Baptist Church in Brookhaven.

The couple served together at churches in Bogalusa, La. (Second Baptist); Crystal Springs (First Baptist); Baton Rouge, La. (North Highlands); Memphis, Tenn. (Temple); Jackson (Ridgecrest and Hanging Moss); McComb (South McComb); Bogue Chitto (Pleasant Hill) and Brookhaven (Pleasant Grove). Willa also frequently accompanied Tom on the piano at hundreds of revivals and special occasions.

The child and niece of educators, Willa began her teaching career in Natchez and Bogalusa, and taught high school and elementary students for over 25 years. She retired from Bogue Chitto Attendance Center in 1993 after teaching first grade there for 17 years, then lived most of the remainder of her life at her family home in Bogue Chitto.

Willa was a great storyteller, frequently appearing as “Willamena Grasshopper” in an antique dress and hat decorated with a giant grasshopper. She kept her audience laughing as she told funny stories and recited poems.

In 1976, after losing her second child Monty in an accident, Willa and Tom began reaching out to other families facing the loss of a child and made themselves available to help other grieving families. Their cake-baking ministry and the Monty Moak fund at the Mississippi Baptist Foundation continues supporting missions today. We know that she is celebrating being in the arms of our loving Jesus with her parents and Monty.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the Mississippi Baptist Foundation’s Monty Moak Memorial Fund, c/o Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, P.O. Box 530, Jackson, MS 39205.