A Celebration of the Life of Jolly Willingham, age 70, of Brownwood, will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, July 27, 2024, at Coggin Avenue Baptist Church with Bill Allen officiating.  The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1:00 until 2:00.

Jolly passed from this life on Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Brownwood.

Jolly Ann Allen was born on September 19, 1953, in Brownwood, to Dr. Homer B. Allen, Jr. and Carolyn “Jolly” (Jordan) Allen.  Jolly attended Brownwood schools and graduated from Brownwood High School in 1972, graduated from The University of Texas School of Nursing in Houston in 1978, and The University School of Nursing in San Antonio in 1987, with a Master of Science in Nursing with a Major in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. Jolly enjoyed being an RN for 42 years.  She started her nursing experience at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Houston in 1978, and then worked as a Psychiatric Nurse at various psychiatric hospitals.  She enjoyed being a Therapist at Central Texas MHMR and the Family Services Center where she specialized in Family, Group, and Play Therapy for clients of all ages.  Jolly finished the last 13 years of her career working for The University of Texas Medical Branch as a nurse at the Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correction Center in Brownwood.  

Jolly married Danny Willingham on April 17, 1982, in Brownwood, a union that lasted 42 years.

Jolly was an active member of Coggin Avenue Baptist Church, where she participated in Sunday School and Bible studies.  She enjoyed interior design, faux wall finishing, floral design, art, playing Bunco, and travel.  Jolly was part of Coggin Avenue Baptist Churches Jail Ministry at the Brown County Jail.

Jolly is survived by her husband, Danny Willingham of Brownwood, two sons, Daniel Austin Willingham of Lubbock and Nathan Allen Willingham and his wife Claire of Liverpool, England; two sisters, Carrie and her husband Vic Singleton and Jenny Williams, and a brother, Bryan Allen and wife Kathy, all of Brownwood.  She was preceded in death by her parents.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to “Mended Little Hearts of San Antonio” via their Facebook page. 

Condolences, memories, and tributes can be offered to the Willingham family online at heartlandfuneralhome.com