Willa Prince

Willa Laura Kennedy Michaux Prince was born on May 23, 1944, in Mooresville, North Carolina, to the late Odell and Amanda Kennedy. She peacefully departed this life on May 25, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

Willa accepted Christ at a young age and joined Boyd Hill Baptist Church, where she remained actively involved in ministry. She participated faithfully in the Gospel Chorus, Sunday School, the Missionary Society, and the Usher Board.

She attended Barber-Scotia College in Concord, NC, and later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Kean College in Union, NJ. Willa taught in the Newark Public School System for several years. Her deep love for Christ continued to grow, and she found a new church home at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Newark, NJ.

After her time in education, Willa was led to work with individuals with developmental disabilities. Through this work, she discovered her life's purpose. It became clear to her—and to all who knew her-that she was fulfilling God's divine plan for her life.

Willa later joined Tabernacle Baptist Church in Burlington, NJ, where she extended her ministry by helping to establish a Sunday School class specifically for individuals with developmental disabilities ensuring that they too could learn God's word and grow in their faith.

Her favorite song, "If I Can Help Somebody," was more than a melody—it was her life's motto.

In 1998, Willa founded her own agency, The Prince Association for the Developmentally Disabled, where she served as Executive Director. Her agency supported developmentally disabled men in the community for more than two decades. Over the course of her career, Willa dedicated over 35 years to serving some of society's most vulnerable citizens with compassion, dignity, and unwavering commitment.

Her extraordinary service earned her numerous accolades, including recognition from the New Jersey State Senate, the MLK Community Service Award, the NJ Department of Human Resources, a Certificate of Appreciation from the NAACP, and commendations from the Office of the Mayor of Willingboro, NJ, among many others.

Willa was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, William Michaux; her daughter, Monique Michaux McClinton; her sisters, Mary Barber, Maggie Peoples, and Joyce Roddey; and her brothers, Donald Kennedy and Bobby Castles.

She leaves to cherish her memory: her daughter, Kendra Prince; sisters, Johnnie Ann Chisholm, Darcell Thomas, and Sandra Brown; brother, Sandy Kennedy (Barbara); sisters-in-law, Martha Kennedy and Myra Castles; brother-in-law, Al Peoples; grandchildren, WarQuisha, LaRick, JerMichael, Dennis, Imani, Sincere, Taraji, Justice, Serenity, Demetria, and Jocelyn; sixteen great-grandchildren; one great great-grandchild and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She also shared a special bond with her sister-cousins, Gloria Williams, Carolyn Lewis, and Catherine Ferguson.