Willie was born April 28, 1955, in Borger to Albert Wells and Mattie Sue Nash. The family moved to Amarillo during his childhood. He was a member of the Langston Memorial Church of God In Christ. He attended Amarillo public schools, North Heights Elementary School, Hilltop Elementary, Carver Junior High and graduated from Palo Duro High School in 1973.

While living in Natchitoches, La., he was the successful operator of Nash’s Upholstery Shop.

Survivors include his wife, Lolita Nash of Natchitoches; his mother, Mattie Sue McClendon of Amarillo; his stepmother, Velma McClendon of Amarillo; a son, Derrick Grant and wife Tracy of Dallas; two daughters, La Keitha Brooks and Qontrace Pratt, both of Dallas; five stepsons, Maurice Jones and Henry Jones, both of Dallas, Bradford Jones of Morgan City, La., Ouncre Jones of Natchitoches and Orlando Jones of Orlando, Fla.; seven brothers, Alder Ray Nash of Atlanta, Cleophus Nash of Amarillo, Jerrold McClendon and wife Betty of Augusta, Ga., John McClendon Jr. and Don Wells, both of Stockton, Calif., and Albert Wells and Robert Wells, both of Amarillo; six sisters, Violean Riley, Estella McClendon and Gwen Morris, all of Amarillo, Elizabeth Knighton and Carnie Wells, both of San Francisco and Valda Wells of Dallas.