Michael Scott Wills
Sep 26, 1958 – Feb 13, 2016
Michael Scott Wills of Mineral, VA, age 57, passed away at Martha Jefferson Hospital on Feb. 13, 2016 after a short battle with cancer.He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Malcolm Wills and Mrs. Rita H. Wills all of Madison Heights, VA. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 28 years Sharon W. Wills, daughter, Mary Michael W. Cantrell and husband Kendall, son, Cameron S. Wills and grandson, Thomas K. Cantrell. He is also survived by his sister, Sheila M. Wills, of Madison Heights, VA and his uncle Raymond P. Wills of Winchester, VA.Mike was born in Lynchburg, VA on Sept. 26, 1958 and graduated from Amherst County High School. While working on his degree at Lynchburg College, he served as a relief house parent at the Presbyterian Home in Lynchburg, in-school suspension teacher and coach at E.C. Glass and Amherst High School. After graduating from LC in 1985, he began his career at E. C. Glass teaching social studies and coaching volleyball, wrestling and softball. Later he took a graduate assistantship at Lynchburg College as asst. track coach and completed his Masters in Administration. Over the past 30 years he has served as assistant principal at Nelson County High School, principal of Craig County High School, Appomattox County High School, Louisa County High School, Randolph Henry High School and finally ended his career doing a job he always wanted to try as athletic director at Culpeper County High School. He spent his life in service to the youth he loved.Elon Presbyterian was Mike’s church home. Many of his friends remember him as a master storyteller and prankster. He enjoyed fishing with his friends and family especially at the family farm in Elon.Visitation will be held on Wed., Feb. 17, 2016 at Woodward Funeral Home in Louisa from 6 to 8 pm.A memorial service will be held on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 2PM in New Life Community Church in Louisa.In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Michael S. Wills Scholarship Fund at Culpeper High School, 14240 Achievement Drive, Culpeper, VA 22701.
Will miss you, my friend.
Sharon, Mary Michael and Cameron, My deepest sympathy goes out to you all. Cherish all the good times and memories you had together. My love and prayers are with you. Karen
Sharon, Mary Michael, Cameron, Kendall, May each of you feel the love and comfort that only God can provide. Mike impacted so many lives in a very positive way. Many of us have tons of good memories of Mike, his pranks, his stories, and his love for education. He will be missed!
Mr. Wills was great fun to have as a principal! His dedication to our student body was apparent & 20 years later, I still remember jokes he made in the hallway. Prayers for peace and understanding to his family.
Mr. Wills was my principal at Craig County High School. He was a good man and will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
On behalf of Eastern View High School, we send our thoughts and prayers to the Wills family. It was an honor for me to work with Mike as my counterpart. He truly put the kids first. God Bless!
Mr. Wills was a good principal I have ever had and was fun to be around remember time at gimecoming he got a pie smashed in his face
Family and friends of Mike Wills, please know that this gentle giant” had a huge impact on my early teaching days and in my life n general. He was so kind to me and to my children. My daughter has shared so many stories of him this weekend after learning of his passing. I am sure that so many students and staff members can relate to the many stories and impact on the lives that he touched. There are no words of comfort that I can offer. I can only offer a hug from someone that appreciates his kindness and humor. I can off that I am praying for your family and friends to turn to God for His comfort. God Bless!”
Mr. Wills was such a wonderful man and we know he will be greatly missed. We are deeply sorry for loss and our prayers are with his family.
To Mike`s family and many friends, I can`t imagine the depth of your grief, but please know he was one of the BEST. I`m sure the Angels are enjoying his jokes and quick wit. He will be missed but our memories will always be vivid. God bless each of us.
Thoughts and prayers for the family during your time of loss and healing. Mr. Will`s definitely left his mark on Craig County schools and students.
To Mike`s family and many friends, may God give you peace and his blessings during this difficult time. Mike was a good friend, with a great personality and sense of humor. He will surely be missed by so many. He had a big impact on many teachers and students at Appomattox. May he rest in peace.
Davy, I received a text from Mike`s wife this morning. Your lovely prose and heartfelt statements made a great difference to him. Mike has been struggling a lot and his wife said that when she came back to the Rehab center after a quick trip home that he was as happy as she had seen him in quite a while and shared the email with her. I think that it would be a great honor to him and our school for your team to recognize his efforts in the way you offered. You are truly a wonderful person, Jeff>>> Davy Meister 1/28/2016 5:29 PM >>> I first met Mike Wills in a golf cart! On his busiest day of the year (Homecoming), he interviewed me in that cart … under the shade of a great oak. Great oak. Perfect description of Mike Wills. In more than 40 years of active involvement in scholastic sports, I have never met a more extraordinary man in charge of those activities than Mike Wills, your current AD. I should know — I have toiled for 9 different ADs! Mr. Wills hired me to be his JV girls` basketball coach last season — THE only person, since my arrival to Virginia six years ago, to take a chance on a near-60-year-old who thought he still had petrol left in his basketball tank. He believed in me, trusted me, and allowed me to fulfill one last coaching dream. For, that I shall always remember the man, a man with great integrity, faith, trust, passion, and honor. A man of honor! I miss Mike Wills … I know he is not here because he is off fighting the biggest battle of his life. That pains me the most … deeply. Our school community, without Mike Wills, will be void of a tremendous storyteller (did he ever tell how he met Michael Jordan?), a man who did all of the little things to create the perfect memories for ALL athletes, parents, and coaches. I ran the Chicago Marathon with his name written on my bib … because this man has meant so much to all of us! In a couple of weeks, I will be coaching my final game as the CCHS girls` JV basketball coach — the final chapter of a career that Mike Wills allowed me to write in his beloved Virginia. I would like your permission to dedicate that game to Mike … for Mike. I have already installed an out of bounds play called he Wills ” as well as other game day activities designed to honor our favorite AD. All of us connected to athletics at Culpeper High are better because of Mike Wills and his positive leadership. Please allow me this small token of appreciation for a great man whose defining moments are spread all over this campus! I have been dearly blessed … coaching here is a dream. A dream granted by a very special man. A mighty oak. Sincerely Davy L. Meister”
rs. Wills, Mary Michael, Cameron, and other Family Members -There are so many fond memories of Mr. Wills. He was my first Louisa County Principal upon my return from Henrico County. He nurtured my administrative growth with patience, acceptance, and a lot of coaching and coaxing. He allowed me to grow while making sure I knew all of the important things in this administrative journey. We laughed together often……I don`t think I can ever forget to remember the day there was a snake in his office — as we sat at the end of the day, I looked in the corner and asked what it was……I thought it was one of his pranks (knowing my fear of snakes)……the laugh he and I had when I realized it was not a prank — I think he beat me out of the door. Then there was the time he tried to prank me with a call from Central Office……..he laughed so hard……..my reaction was just what he expected. The breaks he cut me at football games, I would jokingly tell the other APs that I was going to get out of duty —- worked every time:-). I`ll always remember my first Administrative retreat — it was cold in the meeting room and I did not have a sweater — Mr. Wills went out and brought me the only thing he could find — a VERY warm oversized towel (don`t know where he got it but he was looking out for me). I am saddened to hear that the one I call friend will not laugh with me again. I am grateful that I have the memories of his laughter — I will carry those memories…….My heartfelt condolences to each of you……I pray God blesses each of you with sustaining comfort and peace.
Mrs. Wills, Cameron, and Mary Michael – May God`s peace give you comfort during this difficult time. You`re in my thoughts and prayers. Mr. Wills was a kind principal with a sweet spirit. God bless you! Sincerely, Jami Curry – LCHS
We are deeply sorry for the family`s loss. Lifting the family in prayer. Sincerely, Craig, Cheryl, Kayla & Andre
My thoughts and prayers are with your family. May God give you his peace and comfort. With Deepest Sympathy. Lauren
Mr. Wills hired me as his bookkeeper in 1995 at Craig County High School. I am still there. He was my first boss. He will be missed he was great to work for he was always kidding around. I will miss him.
Mr. Wills was my activities director for the school at Culpeper County High School. I`m sorry for your lost, he was a great man, but he`s in a better place now.. I pray for the family as this is a terrible lost and unexpected.. I will always love him even tho I don`t know him as well.. Glad he was part of the CCHS staff.
Sharon, Mary Michael, Cameron and Family, Wishing we could find the words to comfort each one of you at the present time. Mike was a great person with a huge heart. He was blessed with a loving, devoted family. Please know that our family will continue to pray for God`s grace and strength. What a tremendous legacy that Mike left behind. So very grateful that God allowed our paths to cross. From our family to yours, may God wrap his loving hands around each one of you.
Sharon, Mary Michael, Cameron- Words can never express how truly sorry I am for your loss. I am however truly gratefule for the time that you shared him with us at CCHS. As the cheer coach here I worked with him everyday, planning a new event, scheduling gym time – whatever needed to be done for our kids. The stories he shared with me and anyone he came in to contact with in regards to all of you will stay with me forever. From Mary Michael graduating high school, college getting married moving to California ( I don`t think he was too happy about that one:]) to the excitement of you moving back and giving him his First grand child. Cameron- your dad was sooo proud of you and your accomplishments in the classroom and the young man that you had become. By the way he did show me the pictures from the school play you recently were in, he was asking me if we could print them off as he wanted to frame them. Sharon- Oh how he loved you. When it was your birthday or anniversary I recall him saying make sure I leave by such and such time I have to stop and get Sharon flowers and a card or I`m going to be sleeping with the dog. He then would say maybe I`ll see if she wants to go to Dover. I would simply reply Now is that really for Sharon?” He would just have that big old grin his face. While I consider myself a good person something about our conversations just wanted me to be that much better. He will forever have a very special place in my heart and he will be truly missed. We love all of you and you will ALWAYS be part of our family here at CCHS. Hugs and prayers to you all.”
Mr Wills was my principal at Craig County High School.
Sharon, Mary Michael, Cameron and family, I am very sorry for your loss and will pray that you find peace during this difficult time. I really enjoyed working with Mike while he was in Louisa. He always had a way of knowing when I needed a good laugh. I really appreciated that. God bless.
We are shocked and so sorry for the loss of our dear friend Mike. We all worked together at Craig County High School, where he was the principal. Mike always has a smile on his face and laugh that was contagious. He will be missed by many. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
Dear Sharon,I hardly know what to say. You have my prayers, my friend, for you and your children,God be with you.Love,Kathy Fralry
Mr. Wills was principal at CCHS when I was there – I am SO sorry to hear of his passing (much too early). My thoughts and prayers are certainly with you!
My first job interview was with Mr. Wills in 1998 teaching Agriculture at Appomattox County High School. If I remember correctly he was only hired a few days before myself. At your first job interview your always nervous, but it didn`t take long to connect and we were laughing and talking about farm life. Mike genuinely cared and it showed in everything he did. Daily in the halls we`d pass and I`d ask how are you today? His answer was always Better and Better.” Mike made everyone around him better! I`m thankful for the opportunity to have a boss and friend like Mike. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. Todd Scott”
i will miss the blue golf cart with you checking on all of us! I will also remember when I coached basketball and we won the JV championship you came in our locker room and congratulated us and I was truly impressed. We got free ice cream?When we won the championship softball(JV) you have us T-shirts which never happened before. Mike you will be missed by so many! Sharon and family God Bless you and cherish your memories!!
Mr. Wills, in my opinion, was a wonderful principal. As a student at Craig County High School, I knew he loved working with students and helping them achieve their dreams. I had many wonderful teachers who encouraged me along the way, but Mr. Wills stands out in that group because he made it a point to know me. He wasn`t my teacher, and he had so many other responsibilities, but he took time to know me and to listen, encourage, and guide. Mr. Wills was a good man and he will forever hold a treasured spot in my heart. I am very sorry to hear of his passing and hope that his family and loved ones will find peace and comfort in the memories they hold in their hearts.
Mike Wills was one of my closest and most loyal friends I ever had. I moved to Lynchburg from Pittsburgh in 1987 and was a young teacher at EC Glass High School. Mike welcomed me with open arms and it wouldn`t be long before we would be doing most everything together. He showed me the ropes at Glass and even got me involved in a number of practical jokes that I still talk about to this day. Mike was always extending himself to others and was an easy guy to get solid advice from. What was nice about our friendship is that our wives were just as close as we were. I can`t tell you how many times we got in hot water with Sharon and Judy. Our friendship extended into the birth of our children both born a month apart. Mike realized that we didn`t have family close to Lynchburg and always included us in holidays we couldn`t get home to celebrate. Even after we left Lynchburg we periodically would touch base and exchange visits. I am so sad today because I realize that you can honestly say that there are few people outside of your family you can count on and Mike was without a doubt one that I could always count on anytime. Mike was a gentle, but strong willed individual that always would strive to better himself with each step in his life. I will miss my friend and will forever think about the times our families shared.
The first time I met Mike, I was newly married and it was late summer of 1987. We just moved to Lynchburg, Va from Pittsburgh, Pa. My husband walked through the door and said, Honey I brought someone home for dinner.” Now I could barely boil and egg (not a good cook)! I thought oh my what am I going to do? I ended up making steak-um sandwiches which Mike thought were just fantastic! He always had a way of making others feel good about themselves. He and Sharon welcomed us into the community and treated us like family. We shared so many wonderful times together and have so many fond memories of our times spent in Lynchburg. Sharon Mary Michael and Cameron may God`s love peace and warmth surround you and comfort you during this difficult time. We will all miss Mike and will remember his kindness laughter and generosity.”
You were one of the best principles that LCHS had and you will surely be missed and may you RIP.
I am so sorry to learn of the passing of Mike. We worked together many years ago at the Presbyterian Home in Lynchburg. I remember Mike as a kind and gentle person who genuinely cared about the young people. It was a pleasure to have known him. May God bless all of you in this sad time.
Our deepest condolences, you will be greatly missed. Our blessings and prayers will be with your family
To Mike`s family, I am so sorry for your loss. Mike and I went to Amherst High School together and enjoyed chorus together. I pray that your pain will get easier in time as he was taken way to soon. Our loss is heaven`s gain.
Mrs. Wills & Family, We are so very sorry to hear of your loss. We are lifting your family in prayer!Donald, Laurie, Hannah, Jaycee, Izzy & Lucy Ward
Mr. Wills, You are the one that graduated me 2008 at Louisa County High School. I pray for your family. I have many of good memories of Mary Michael and I on the soccer fields and much more other memories I will cherish. So glad I was able to meet you and knw you for a period of time.
Rest in paradise, we know your looking down on all of those you mentored, coached, and advised. In the short time knowing you, you were always smiling. Even when you were disappointed in some of us. You were the best, turned culpepers athletic program around! That`s for sure. Rest easy Mr. Wills
Dearest Ones, Please know that Rachael, Sarah, Hannah, Abi and I are lifting you up before the Father. He is the only way to peace as He is the Great Comforter. He is Husband to the widow and Father to the fatherless. He keeps His promises and is always faithful. We love your beautiful family and pray that you will find great comfort knowing Mike was in a saving relationship with Jesus! He is now part of the great cloud of witnesses who will cheer us all on to the finish line! We love you.
Mike was truly one of the good guys” that I`ve worked under in my teaching career. He knew when to make us laugh and when to get us really down to business. He did a lot for the programs at Appomattox Co. High School and will be long remembered.”
Always welcome is how Mike made us feel… like Bill and Judy we were transplants to Lynchburg. Friday nights watching E.C. Glass football and then onto the best pizza in Lynchburg was a tradtion we will always cherish. My 1st exposure to a potato cannon was on Mikes front deck ( he was always teaching something new !) Mike`s warm sense of humor was always there no matter what.. One of my favorite pictures is from our trip to Williamsburg years ago were he is apparently trying to strangle me, probably for some rude Yankee comment of mine but his face has such amusement that no one looking at it could ever do anything but laugh ! The world has lost a wonderful man but the many people he touched in his life are all that much better for their good fortune to have known Mike Wills. Cindy`s and my hearts ache for Sharon and all of his family.
Sharon,My heart goes out to you and your family.Mike will always be a part of the E. C. Glass family. I have so many great memories of working with Mike. as a fellow coach, teacher, and friend. He will always be remembered as a person that would find a way to achieve the goals he set for himself. I will always cherish our friendship.Fred
Sharon and family,I was so saddened to hear of Mike`s illness. He touched so many lives and the memories are long-lasting. I saw Mary Micheal several years ago at LC when Ran was performing with the Brookville Band. I hope that we could connect when you come this direction.You are in my thoughts and prayers. May God continue to comfort you and the family,Kathy
I`m so sorry for your loss . I worked with him at E.C Glass High School . He was great around people and will be missed.
On behalf of the Lynchburg College Alumni Association, I extend sympathy to Michael`s family. Although it was not my pleasure to have known him, it makes me proud to read of his life`s accomplishments and to know that he was a part of the LC family. May you be strengthened by the thoughts and prayers of all who knew and admired him.
Sharon, Mary Michael, and Cameron, Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. We have such fond memories of your time in Keysville, Mr. Wills as principal at Randolph-Henry, and many nights in the Central Middle School gym at volleyball games. My most favorite memory, however, is of the seniors passing across the stage to shake his hand and receive their diplomas, each one placing a plastic fork in his hand 🙂 It was obvious in everything that he did that he was there for the students. He was a great educator and a great man, and he will be truly missed.
To the Wills family, THank you for sharing your loved one with us here in Culpeper. The environment at CCHS has been forever changed for the better in what he brought to the table. He will be missed by all. Our prayers are with you daily.
Mr. Wills was a fun principal and went out of his way to make everyone feel involved. He loved to joke around and seemed to enjoy working with the student body. CCHS `99
I had the good fortune to be able to call Mike a colleague and friend these last 6 and one half years. I enjoyed just sitting and talking about school, family, and life. I will miss the after game meals at IHOP and wish I had just one more time that I could enjoy his company. Thanks for the wonderful memories. Sharon, you and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Praying for your loss. Hoping you find strength and comfort in the days ahead.
Sharon, Mary Michael, Cameron, and Kendall, Our thoughts and prayers are with each of you….It is truly an honor and privilege to have known Mike and to know the legacy he leaves behind. We love you, Angie (Scalf) and Mikki…
Dear Sharon,I was shocked and saddened to hear of Mike`s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
I was Mikes Scoutmaster. I knew even way back then. He would make a impact in this world. He was an exceptional young man. By what I have read in this guestbook he did not stop being exceptional. He made a great deal of difference in peoples lives around him. What better legacy in life. To see what he has done with his life makes me very proud to have known him. I`m very sorry for your lose.
There aren`t too manybteens who van day they like their principal. That`s usually where teachers sent the bad kids. Mr. Wills was different. He took the time to talk to the students and more importantly, he was there to listen. I feel fortunate that he was my high school principal from 1995 – 1998 RIP Mr. Wills
Todd and I were heartbroken when we heard the news. We are so sorry for your loss. Sending love and prayers to the entire family.
Mike had a big heart for kids. I knew him when we both worked at the Presbyterian Home in Lynchburg. A sad loss, but so many lives were impacted by his big heart. Prayers to the family from the Alexanders.
To Mrs. Wills and all of your family, our deepest sympathy goes out to you, and our prayers go up to God for you in this time of great loss and sorrow. For a man who was so great, kind, and loving, this life was far too short for Mike.I had the great honor to work with Mike for two summers, and many other weekends, at the Eagle Eyrie Baptist Assembly, located between Big Island and Lynchburg. Within the first hour after I arrived on our first day there, Mike had already established that he was there to be my brother, teammate, comrade, and friend, from then and forever on. Mike was a great encourager and team builder. I can read here how he used those same great talents and qualities in his career as teacher, coach, athletic director, and principal. Besides being a great friend and brother, Mike was also a man of honesty, integrity, and character. He was a ig brother” to just about everyone on our summer staffs at Eagle Eyrie. As a lifeguard there he made everyone`s experience enjoyable yet when he had to administer discipline he did so with as much kindness as he could muster yet got the job done.I can remember one particular weekend at Eagle Eyrie when on a long weekend mid-summer we were between conferences and all of the other staff went home for the weekend Mike and I had the whole hill to ourselves and the managers fully trusted us even though we were just teenagers to take proper care of the place and be there alone without getting into trouble. Mike and I had such a great quiet weekend swimming relaxing cooking up our favorite foods and just enjoying the quiet and each other`s company.Mike was a man who left a lasting loving impression to everyone he met and I will be ever grateful to God for having met and worked with him. When my day comes to reach Heaven I know that after meeting my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ face to face and meeting my parents again Mike will be right there next.We pray that God will grant all of Mike`s family and friends peace and love at this time and that His hand will be there to guide and comfort you as life goes on.”
Sharon and family: You have my deepest sympathy. May God be with you all providing comfort and strength. Keeping you all in my prayers.
We are so sorry for your loss. Mike was such a fun guy…always enjoying life. He was a great assistant track coach at Lynchburg College and was gifted in working with young people. Jack and Theresa
I met Coach Wills at the Presbyterian Children`s Home the summer of 1986. He promptly talked me into joining the volleyball team at EC Glass… Best team and Coach I ever played for. He had always been apart of my stories from he days”. Now we are all blessed to have him as an angel watching over all of us. ….. Angela Arsenault Class of 1988″
I would not be the person I am today with out the advice Mike had giving me at the home. He was more like one of the kids and not a house parent.
To the Wills Family,I am very sorry to hear of your loss. Mike Wills was my principal at Appomattox County High School where I was a social studies teacher. On behalf of the Appomattox School Board, I wish to express our condolences.
My prayers go out to the Wills family, I am an official that officiates at Culpeper High School. Mike was professional in every way and always wanted to make sure everything was running smoothly. Quite a guy. He truly will be missed.
I met Mike briefly, not because it was recent but because I didn`t have the chance to share more. I had this great opportunity to share lunch duty at CCHS`s cafeteria some time ago. Out of all the times I can add up, I can tell Mike Wills was a good man, full of love for what he did, for his family and friends. What else can one expect to be? Outstanding. He made a difference in our community and he is sorely missed. Buen viaje maestro.
Our first encounter with Mike was when he became the principal of Appomattox County High School. At the time our business, School Pictures, Inc./K & M Senior Portraits, had the contract for the school photography at ACHS. Mike became a very loyal customer and really supported our business. When he was selected the principal of Louisa County High School, Mike called our company in order for us to be the contracted photographer for Louisa. He was always very gracious, kind and helpful and, as we mentioned, very supportive of our company. The entire educational community mourns the loss of such a gentle giant. God Bless You, Mike.
I am so sorry to hear about Coach Wills. He is an amazing man that shaped many lives! He was my volleyball coach from 1986-1990 at EC Glass and my economics teacher. I can still remember having to present a project in his class. I did my presentation and he looked at me with that smile and said good job, now do it again with your hands behind your back. Apparently, I use my hands to talk!! He was wonderful and I honestly think aboutb him every time I give a presentation now.I will keep his entire family in my prayers. He will me missed!
I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Mike. We were in the same Boy Scout Troop in Elon Virginia 36 years ago. When reading other Guestbook entries, it great to see Mike did not change over the past 36 years. Great guy. Always the great prankster. I often remember when he would bet unsuspecting individuals that he could eat a whole 8oz block of cream cheese, which seem gross to our teenage taste palettes. Of course the normal response wasNo Way”. I was always amazed how he could eat the block of cream cheese in five or less bites. He had an infectious laugh which made his face turn red. Another benefit of being around Mike was to see his sister Shelia who I had a huge teenage crush on. Mike was a great guy and my thoughts goes out to his family. He was a super person who will be missed greatly!”
Sharon, Mary Michael and Cameron-On behalf of the entire Charlotte County community where we still permanently reside, we send you our deepest sympathy and love. Mike truly was a gentle giant” and we will always remember our time together at CCPS. I have so enjoyed reading all the tributes to him…what a blessing he obviously was to the Culpeper community where he ended his career. He loved athletics so much. Mike and I shared a love of eating and he used to bring me fried gizzards routinely. I fried some this past week and couldn`t help but think of him and smile. You all will be in my prayers. The angels are singing and thankfully the promise of our faith assures you will one day be reunited with him again…forever…in eternity. Thinking of you all.”
Hello Sharon, I just want to say that we are so saddened to learn that Mike is no longer with you. May the many wonderful memories help and support you at this difficult time. We certainly have fond memories of him and do appreciate the fact that he was in our lives for a time. We are thinking of you and will keep you in our prayers. Love, Esther