Joshua Willis (Josh for short, as he would affectionately come to be known) was born to Susie Barnes on August 18, 1940, in the lush, garden state of Florida, and the illustrious, magnificent city of Tallahassee.  (Josh adored Tallahassee and always hoped to retire here.)  As a hardworking, single mother, with but a 7th grade education, Susie told her son: "I think I'm going to get us a house," a promise which she aptly and impressively brought to fruition.  She purchased what she referred to as their "little matchbox" and they settled in at 1607 W. Alabama Street.  In time, while residing there, Joshua would come to meet his sweetheart and future wife, Hastie Lorene Gardner, who conveniently enough, resided at 1604 W. Alabama Street.

Josh attended Griffin Elementary/Middle School and Lincoln High School.  It was at Lincoln, where he first studied and eventually mastered the art and skill of brick masonry, under the tutelage of Mr. Logan McCone, whom Josh always held in the highest regard.  Josh actually loved to teach, and In his later years, followed in his mentor's footsteps, teaching masonry to inmates at Apalachee Correctional Institute, in Sneads, FL.  After leaving the position, he would keep in touch with many of the inmates through letters.

Josh was also an "honorary alumni" of Florida A & M University and an unofficial drum major for FAMU's band, "The Marching 100."  No, he never actually enrolled at FAMU, but you would never know that, based on the sheer pride and deep reverence he exuded for all things "orange and green."  In the immortal words of Josh himself, "When you get those two colors together, boy, you got a mess!!"  And while he never attended college at all, he was still a stickler for grammar, meticulous about correct spelling and word usage, and very well read and knowledgeable on current affairs and world events.

After graduating from Lincoln High School, Josh worked at Cox Furniture Store for a number of years, before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1963.  During his military years, Josh was stationed everywhere from Missouri to Fort Hood, Texas, and beyond.  Throughout his travels, wherever he landed, he would always procure a gift for his sweetheart, Hastie, eventually bestowing her with engagement and wedding rings from Vietnam.

In 1965, Josh honorably concluded his military career, and on June 26th, 1966, he and Hastie were married.  By 1967, they had moved to Amityville, New York, where skilled construction workers were in high demand.  New York was a perfect fit for someone with his skillset and work ethic.  If Josh believed in nothing else, he believed in the value and importance of hard work, often working seven days a week.  While working full-time in the construction/maintenance and security departments of Brunswick Hospital, he frequently pulled double shifts and overtime.  When he wasn't at Brunswick, he moonlighted in the catering industry, local service stations, and additional construction work with "Kenny Herman's Sweathogs" and Brick Masons Union Local #1, which he was affiliated with for over 50 years.  He even founded a successful side construction company, J & J Masonry, with his then partner, John Schnepp, working with homes and businesses all across Long Island.

In the rare moments when he wasn't working, Josh enjoyed staying physically fit, as an extremely competitive runner and cyclist.  A gifted athlete all his life, he, honestly, excelled at any sport he played, but the sport he truly dominated was basketball!  His skill on the courts was unmatched, and most people  remarked that he could have played professionally.  He was also an active member of the Scarlet Knights of Amityville social club, an avid amateur photographer, and a professional hoarder…sorry, aficionado and collector of newspapers, coins, stamps, and…well…anything!

After saving enough money, by living with their childhood friends, Albert and Pat Williams, on Valentine's Day, 1968, Josh and Hastie moved into their own home (where he would fully embrace and cultivate his penchant for "collecting") in "the 40s" neighborhood of Copiague (Koe-Peg), and in 1972, welcomed the shining jewel of their union into the world, their son, Sean.  During his years in the 40s, Josh was a beloved friend, big brother, and surrogate father figure to all the kids in the neighborhood, often taking them to the movies, trips into the city, and of course, schooling them on the basketball courts!  He believed strongly in supporting young people, and if they were ever selling anything for any cause, he would never say no, and was quick to buy multiples of whatever they were promoting.  Josh was a man of few words…but he could often be heard whistling and singing as he worked in the yard, and he fostered this ear, love, and talent for music in his son (thanks, dad).

In 2003, Josh was diagnosed with an aggressive, extremely fatal form of cancer, known as multiple myeloma.  However, by the grace of God, and most likely a lifetime of physical fitness, he miraculously overcame his poor prognosis, and remained in remission for over 20 years.

In 2022, he entered the Northport VA Medical Center in Eastern Long Island, for long term care, where he was loved and adored by all the staff.  In the winter of 2023, after roughly four "easy, breezy" cases of COVID (again, only Josh!), the cancer did return, and he was to begin receiving end-of-life palliative care.  Once more, Josh proved them wrong, living over fifteen months with multiple myeloma, but with no need for palliative care until his last week of life.

After years of hard work, hard sports, and hard fighting, Josh finally got tired.  He hung up his sneakers, put down his trowel, and threw in the towel on his fight with cancer.  Having worked hard all of his life, he chose to "clock out" for good, and on March 11, 2025, called it a day, and went "home."

Josh is survived by Hastie, his devoted and loving wife of 59 years, son, Sean, faithful best friend, Albert "Stretch" Williams, goddaughters, Shawna Rochester, Dwana Williams, and a number of cousins, nieces, extended family members, and friends.  He will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.