Background
Willis was born in 1937 either on April 20th, or August 3rd.
Willis was born in 1937 either on April 20th, or August 3rd.
He was locally known mostly in the 1970s, 1980"s, and 1990"son He went by the name Cardell socially and professionally, but used his formal name legally. The discrepancy is due to the remoteness of his hometown of Forest, Mississippi, and that births had to reported in the capital of Jackson at the time.
He was mentor to Will Durst before his eventual fame in San Francisco, and Dobie Maxwell, as well as Richard Halasz, and Chris Barnes, all of whom are natives to Milwaukee.
He eventually developed Alzheimers which robbed him of his ability to tell the storied jokes he was known foreign He died on February 10, 2007 in a group home at age 69 after suffering two strokes.
He was buried at Graceland Cemetery in Milwaukee. A tribute show occurred to honor Willis" contributions, and generosity to his peers, and community.
According to onmilwaukee.com, Mayor Barrett designated April 22, 2012, as Cardell Willis Day.