Submitted by: Dan Rich

Willie Lee Dillard Jr.

Aug. 23, 1949 - Jan. 22, 2002

South Bend Tribune 1/25/2002

Mr. Willie Lee "Sunny" Dillard Jr., 52, of 2215 N. Vassar Avenue, South Bend, Ind., passed at 4:47 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, in the Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center. He was born on Aug. 23, 1949, in Earle, Ark., to Willie and Maryola Dillard. He was preceded in death by his father, Willie Dillard Sr.; and by four sisters, Emma Dillard, Rosalee Dillard, Barbra Dillard and Bernice Dillard. From Arkansas he moved to Chicago, Ill., and later moved to South Bend where he resided until death. Before retiring he was a semi-truck driver. With his spare time for 25 years he was a member of the Naptown Riders Motorcycle Club where he later became president.

He leaves to cherish his mother, Maryola Dillard of South Bend; four daughters, Kuristen Dillard, Nikki Elie, TocCara Dillard of South Bend, Tashea Douglas of Fayetteville, Ark.; one son, Demetrias Dillard of South Bend; five brothers, Jessie L. (Jeanette) Dillard of East St. Louis, Ill., Charles Dillard, Alfred Dillard, Billy Dillard and John (Katin) Dillard of South Bend; three sisters, Geraldine Banks, Pamela Dillard of South Bend and Esther Dillard of Chicago; five grandchildren, Cortez Dillard, Kazianna Dillard, Trenton Dillard, Braxton Dillard and DeVon Dillard of South Bend; one very special companion, Pamela Elie of South Bend; and a host of relatives and friends who will miss him dearly.

Funeral services for Mr. Willie Lee Dillard will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, in the Clark-O'Neal Funeral Home. Burial will be at Highland Cemetery. Friends may call from 12:30 p.m. until time of services. The Clark-O'Neal Funeral Home has been entrusted with services.