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Willie Elizabeth was born June 17, 1926 in Matthews, NC, a then semi-rural community outside of Charlotte, NC. She was the first of six daughters for her teen mom, Kate Mae McCain and the first of four children for her dad, William Sims. Willie was raised by her maternal grandparents Robert and Maggie McCain, but would frequently visit her mom step-dad, Clifford Bell, and sisters who lived nearby. At home with her also being raised by her grandparents was a first cousin, James Ross, who was like an older brother to her. Willie was just shy of 13 when her mom, Kate, died. When Willie’s grandparents passed away, she lived with James and his wife to finish high school at the Charlotte area’s one black high school, Second Ward, before moving to Washington, DC to live with her aunt, Pearl McCain Gray and her husband. Willie took classes to become a licensed practical nurse. Eventually, Willie encountered a former high schoolmate, William Andrew Allison, who had abandoned teaching science and math in South Carolina in favor of a position with the U.S. Postal Service in DC. They dated, married and had one child - Roxie Kate. In 1970, the family of three moved from DC to Maryland. Willie stopped working as an LPN so she could have a more set schedule, and keep an eye on her daughter since William was working the evening shift at the Post Office. She decided to take a sales job at the Hecht Company, where she enjoyed working side-by-side with co-workers who became close friends, until William convinced her to retire at 69. At 70, Willie, became a first time grandmother and volunteered to care for Julian Andrew, when Roxie returned to work. Three years later, Tyler Elizabeth, joined the family and Julian was forced to share the love showered by Grandma and Papa. Willie loved pampering her growing family, which came to include step-grands and step great grands, and the menagerie of pets Roxie and the grandkids adopted. She enjoyed reading, walking, working in the gardens with William, and occasional travel. She leaves behind daughter Roxie (Sanford), grandchildren Julian (JunYoung), and Tyler, four surviving sisters - Ruth, Barbara, Rita, and Grace Jean, a host of treasured nieces and nephews, beloved step-grand and step-great grandchildren, dear friends, one especially caring gem, Yohan Lee, and her last two furry lap warmers, Tuxedo and Cupcake.

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Willie Elizabeth Bell Allison

June 17, 1926 - March 4, 2025