Ted Richard Willits

Ted Richard Willits, age 41, of Benton passed away, Saturday, January 1, 2011. He was born January 21, 1969 in Pensacola, Florida to James Richard and Beverly Ann Willits. He served in the National Guard and was deployed to Iraq for Operation Iraq Freedom, from 2004 to 2006. He was in radio communications, in 212 Signal Charlie Company, but while in Iraq he volunteered for the Quick Reaction Team. He received the Combat Action Badge for his service with the team while in Iraq. For his service he received several honors, medals and awards. The military was only a small piece of Ted he was so much more than just that. People would say he was the funniest person they had ever met. He was always able to turn a bad situation around through his humor and personality. He has a strong belief in God and that there is a heaven and hell. He often called himself " a sheep in wolves clothing" because he dressed the way he did and had the tattoos and piercings so he could tell people like him and teenagers about God. He believed that no one should be judged by their looks, and wanted everyone to know God. He will be greatly missed by many people. He is survived by his parents, James Richard and Beverly Ann Willits; his children, Sean, Hunter, Hayden, and Zack Willits, grandson, Aiden Willits, two sisters, Kimberly Ryan and Shelley Cline and her husband, Donald, four nieces, one nephew, one great-niece and his cousins. Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Friday, January 7, 2011 at Second Baptist Church in Jacksonville with Rev. Steve Walter officiating. Interment will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Park. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m., Thursday at the funeral home. Funeral arrangements are by Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home (501-982-2136). Please sign oneline guestbook at www.mooresjacksonvillefuneralhome.com.