Gigi Willis

Gigi Denise Willis

April 15, 1966             August 12, 2024

 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7)

Gigi began her life journey on April 15, 1966, in Ankara, Türkiye, to the union of the late Clarence Herbert Willis, Sr. and Delores Willis (nee Garland), while they were serving abroad in the United States Air Force.  Together with her parents and older brother, Clarence “Scooter” Herbert Willis, Jr., she enjoyed many wonderful experiences traveling throughout this country and Eurasia.

Gigi attended Chicksands Elementary School at Chicksands Royal Air Force Base in Bedfordshire, England. Her formative educational years were in Massachusetts, where she attended Hanscom Middle School at Hanscom Air Force Base and Bedford High School. In 1984, Gigi graduated from North Cambridge Catholic High School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from Northeastern University in Boston in 1989. A dedicated scholar, in 2016, she returned to Northeastern to continue her studies earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Language, and Literature.

Gigi excelled in academics and sports. She was a lead cheerleader while in high school. At a young age, she had a great appreciation for the arts, fashion, make-up and stage acting and writing. Professionally, she amassed extensive experience in radio and television broadcasting working at WRBB 104.9 FM as an on-air Disc Jockey as well as with WGBH TV 2, the Boston Globe, and Broadcast Video Productions, Inc., in Boston during the early- to late-1980’s.

In 1990, Gigi relocated to Detroit. Her broadcasting and journalism expertise led her to a great opportunity with WGPR TV 62 and 107.5 FM. She worked as evening news anchor and reporter, respectively. In 1993, she joined Comcast Cablevision as a Public Access Instructor. Gigi embarked upon another career highlight in 1998, when she had the privilege of working with Martha Jean the Queen at WQBH 1400 AM radio in Detroit. She showed her skills as morning newscast producer, news anchor, and beat reporter. She joined Michigan Citizen Newspaper as Assistant to the Publisher in 2001 to refocus on her first love—journalism.

Gigi was blessed with an innovative entrepreneurial spirit. Gigi worked alongside her parents in operating the family business, Dee-lightful Enterprises in 1990’s to early 2000’s. Her passion for helping others coupled with a keen interest in the beauty industry, inspired her to become a Mary Kay Consultant. Over the years, she built a strong clientele base whom she dearly cared for. She founded and served as editor of the Tribune-Courier Press, a community relations, research, and advertising publication that reported on local and national civil, social, and political actions. Gigi was founder and executive director of Studio G Production and Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. She wrote press releases, created multimedia content and provided writing services. Gigi managed the foundation and was a freelance writer until her health recently failed.

Gigi accepted Christ at an early age with the profession of her faith as a Catholic. She loved participating in Holy Communion and supported St. Clare of Montefalco (Grosse Pointe, Michigan) as a parishioner. She expressed her love for God and would chuckle that her Big Cuz, “Dee-Dee” was her pastor. She also loved family, as she cared for her mother, brother, and nephew who she often told “I love you like a son!”

Gigi’s fun-loving spirit is going to be truly missed but her memory and spirit shall live on in our hearts forever. God smiled on her, gave her a whisper and He set her free. She leaves to cherish her loving memory, her devoted mother Dolores, her brother, Clarence “Scooter,” her nephew, James Michael Montgomery Moore Willis, a host of close cousins, family, friends, and neighbors. Special thanks to the medical team at Beaumont Hospital-Grosse Pointe and let us not forget Stanley, the family dog.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.