Doris Victoria Willis passed away on March 3 2019. Lovingly known as Di she was born on March 4, 1942 in New York, New York to Effie and Donald Willis.
Di graduated from the fashion Institute of Technology in 1974, shortly after she began her career in fashion designing Children’s wear and evening wear.
Her debut as a designer of wedding dresses came in 1978 after she was profiled at a Bloomingdale’s fashion show honoring new black designers from F.I.T. that same year the famed fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert featured Di in her “Rising Star” presentation at the Plaza.
Through Di’s career she made several television appearances and made many dresses for celebrities including Valerie Simpson of the R&B group Ashford and Simpson, her creations were also seen in the 1982 movie “Arthur”, In 1983 Di opened her own company Genesis III.
Di always said she her dresses were for “the bride who dared to be different”, her dresses were often sold in Kleinfelds, Bergdorf Goodman and Lord & Taylor’s
Di was also a devout Christian who loved her faith and spreading the good news to all, she loved her family and the holidays.
She is survived by her sister Patricia, her brother Rodney , in-laws and many nieces and nephews. Di will be greatly missed.
Family and Friends are invited to Cherubini McInerney funeral home on March 16th from 1-4
Service
Viewing
Cherubini McInerney Funeral Home
1289 Forest Avenue, Staten Island, New York 10302
Saturday, March 16, 2019
1:00pm - 3:15pm
Service
Cherubini McInerney Funeral Home
1289 Forest Avenue, Staten Island, New York 10302
Saturday, March 16, 20193:15pm - 4:00pm
Private Cremation
Liberty Grove Memorial Gardens
Old Bridge, New Jersey
Diane Blevis says
I will miss her much..especially her beautiful smile.
Didn’t know she was sick..was hoping to see her this weekend in NJ.
Will have to wait til l get to Heaven.
I extend my heartfelt sympathy to her Family.
God bless you. Diane
JOANNE says
MY TRIBUTE AND MEMORIES OF my friend DI..
I am so sad and shocked to hear that my longtime friend of 20+ years Di has gone to be with the Lord..I just found out about this actually the night of my birthday March 13th..I new she was struggling with anemia but I did not know the extent of what she was going through,..She never liked to talk about being sick or even talk about herself..She was always loved hearing about the lives of everyone else around her..I feel a huge sense of loss as no one can take her place..She had a unique purpose in my life..She was like a spiritual mom to me and was very instrumental in bringing me much deeper into the Lord way back when I was a very new Christian..I met her on a photo shoot when I used to live in NYC..I was the makeup artist and she was the designer of the dresses the models were wearing..She was a designer of bridal gowns by trade.,In fact she wound up designing my bridal dress some years later and made it custom for me..It was beautiful..She will be missed be so many..She was a true representative of the Lord and always wanted to share about Jesus with those around her…She introduced me to Times Square church in NYC which I began attending..There is so much I can say about Di..but I know she is with the Lord who she loved so so so much..She is in a happy and perfect place and reunited with her sister..and others..Please spread the word to those who know Di…
Joanne Kowalski says
MY TRIBUTE AND MEMORIES OF my friend DI..
I am so sad and shocked to hear that my longtime friend of 20+ years Di has gone to be with the Lord..I just found out about this actually the night of my birthday March 13th..I new she was struggling with anemia but I did not know the extent of what she was going through,..She never liked to talk about being sick or even talk about herself..She was always loved hearing about the lives of everyone else around her..I feel a huge sense of loss as no one can take her place..She had a unique purpose in my life..She was like a spiritual mom to me and was very instrumental in bringing me much deeper into the Lord way back when I was a very new Christian..I met her on a photo shoot when I used to live in NYC..I was the makeup artist and she was the designer of the dresses the models were wearing..She was a designer of bridal gowns by trade.,In fact she wound up designing my bridal dress some years later and made it custom for me..It was beautiful..She will be missed be so many..She was a true representative of the Lord and always wanted to share about Jesus with those around her…She introduced me to Times Square church in NYC which I began attending..There is so much I can say about Di..but I know she is with the Lord who she loved so so so much..She is in a happy and perfect place and reunited with her sister..and others..Please spread the word to those who know Di…