JACKSONVILLE, FL. - Mrs. Erika Maria Willingham, 85 entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at St. Vincent's Hospital in Jacksonville, Fl.

A graveside service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, April 21, 2024, at Pine Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery with Pastor Bart Grey officiating. The family will receive friends in the church social hall for lite refreshments after the service.

Erika Maria Willingham was born on June 28, 1938, in Lucerne, Switzerland. She was the daughter of Emil and Hedwig Suter Wey. She graduated from various high schools in Lucerne and received a Commercial (Business) degree from the University of Zurich. She had a deep love of music and played the Cello in the Lucerne Orchestra and later was a professional ballet dancer performing in Switzerland and Germany before starting her own school of ballet. After selling her ballet school, she joined the Swiss Reinsurance Company in Zurich where she progressed to the manager of administration of the overseas department which included operations in South America, North America (excluding the USA), Asia and Australia. She met the love of her life, her husband Ben, on a trip to Russia. They lived many years in the Zürich area of Switzerland along with homes in Savannah, GA and Jacksonville, FL. She was a member of Jacksonville's Timuquana Country Club, The River Club and Zürich's Baur au Lac Club. She traveled frequently around the world but considered the USA home.

She is survived by her husband Ben Hill Willingham of Jacksonville, FL, stepchildren Ben Hill Willingham, III of Nashville, TN and Zollikon, Switzerland, Kirby Shields Willingham of Nashville, TN and Katrina Marie Willingham of Küsnacht, Switzerland. Erika legally immigrated to the United States in 1985 and became a proud American Citizen in 1990.

You may sign the family's online guestbook at: www.reesfuneralhome.net.

Rees Funeral Home, 195 North Peachtree St., Lincolnton, GA 706-359-3222 would like to thank the Willingham family for your trust and confidence to serve you during this difficult time.