Elizabeth Belle (Tapp) Wills

Elizabeth Belle Tapp Wills, 83, wife of 65 years to Carl Dean Wills, passed away Friday, April 12, 2024 at her home in Lexington.

Born July 17, 1940 in Nicholas County to the late Allie Francis & Bertie Elizabeth Moore Tapp, she was a 1958 graduate of Nicholas County High School and attended the University of Kentucky. Elizabeth served many years as the Head Genealogist for the Kentucky Historical Society, where she was a pioneer in genealogical research. She co-authored the book Funeral Notices: Lexington, Kentucky 1806-1887. Elizabeth was a dedicated member of Central Christian Church, where she served as a Deacon, headed the Bible School program, taught Sunday School, served on the Nominating Committee and was active in the God’s Pantry, Mother to Mother & Room in the Inn programs. She was also an Honorable Kentucky Colonel and recognized member of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America. 

Additional survivors include 2 sons, Bradford Dean (Virginia) Wills of Brentwood, Tennessee & William Brian Wills (Lexi Brown) of Los Angeles, California; 2 sisters, Phyllis (Butch) Alexander & Alice (Jim) Hughes, both of Carlisle; 7 grandchildren: Brennan, Colin, Savannah, Caroline & Wyatt Wills and Zola & Wilder Wills; and a great-grandson, Nash Wills-Poynter. 

Also preceding her in death were a brother, James Robert “Bobby” Wade, and a sister, Nancye W. Gaunce.

Services will be held 1:00 P.M. Saturday, April 20th at the First Baptist Church of Carlisle by Rev. Steve Smith and Rev. Elizabeth King with burial to follow on the family lot in Carlisle Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. Saturday until the time of service. 

In honor of Elizabeth’s courageous fight against Alzheimer’s Disease, memorial contributions are encouraged to the University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging or to Bluegrass Hospice Care. 

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