DeLana Faye Wills

A Woman of Faith: A “Faith Warrior” Who Fought the Good Fight of Faith
1 Timothy 6:12
Blessed Is the Woman Who Loves God… Her Life Reflects His Love
DeLana was the precious daughter born to Geoffrey William Wills Jr. and Estella Louise Franks Elam on March 21, 1968, in Lockhart, Texas. At an early age, she gave her life to Jesus Christ, accepting Him as her Lord and Savior. DeLana was confirmed and baptized under the pastoral leadership of Reverend Houston at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas. The family later moved their membership to Christ Memorial Baptist Church in Austin, Texas. Under the leadership of Pastor James Weaver, DeLana was baptized a second time at the age of 12.
DeLana obtained her formal education within the Austin Independent School District from kindergarten through high school. DeLana grew up in a time when children were expected to be “seen and not heard.” Although her voice was quiet, her imagination was not. DeLana and her older brother, Anthony, would sit together in a room reading books side by side—sometimes for hours. DeLana was the child who always had a book in her hand, and when she finished one, she had two more waiting. Those books weren’t just entertainment for her—they reflected the love she carried in her spirit.
DeLana was a quiet but effective leader who was involved in many activities at her high school. She didn’t need to be the loudest person in the room to make her presence felt. Her curiosity led her everywhere—from foreign languages to yearbook journalism to student leadership. She served as editor of her high school yearbook and as class treasurer for her senior class.
She was never afraid to try new endeavors and belonged to both the German Club and Latin Club, winning an award for Outstanding Foreign Language Student. DeLana also demonstrated her school spirit as a member of the Spirit of ’86 Club. She excelled academically and received both the Texas Achievement Award and the Texas A&M Presidential Scholarship. Upon completing her senior year at Reagan High School, she accepted her offer to pursue higher education at Texas A&M University. During her time as an Aggie, DeLana received additional scholarships during her sophomore and junior years. She became very involved as an Aggie and continued her mother’s legacy by joining Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Xi Psi Chapter, on April 30, 1989. Through this illustrious sisterhood, DeLana forged lifelong friendships with her Epsilon line sisters, better known as the Twelve Episodes of Elegance. In 1990, DeLana concluded her tenure at Texas A&M University, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism.
DeLana carried the strong work ethic instilled in her by her parents long after completing her studies. During her postgraduate transition, she began her career at Jana, Inc., a leading engineering and technical documentation company, where she worked tirelessly for five years as a Technical Writer. As she continued to grow her career, she was given the opportunity of a lifetime to work for IBM, where she dedicated nearly three decades of service.
Over her 28 years at IBM, she worked under several managers, including Roger Bell, Gregory Guerin, and Molly Walters. She managed product life cycles for several significant IBM products, primarily Tivoli and Lotus, helping business partners bring products to market while ensuring all required components were completed. Product managers trusted her expertise and relied on her to complete tasks efficiently and on time. She was recognized as a strong communicator, skilled project manager, and collaborative team member. DeLana was known as a process expert and was repeatedly rewarded for successfully managing product first-customer shipments. She helped redefine the role of “Brand New Product Manager” during times of organizational transformation. Her peers recognized her for her “can-do” attitude, flexibility, and willingness to help during busy periods. Her sense of humor and impeccable timing brought joy to those around her. DeLana’s contributions greatly supported the success of her teams and organization.
In the midst of building her career, DeLana discovered her greatest passion and proudest accomplishment—motherhood. First and foremost, her lifelong devotion was to her children. Through her first and only marriage, she was blessed with two children, Maura Alanna Louise Mangum and Joshua Charles Mangum, who were her heart and the joy of her life.Just like the upbringing DeLana had, she provided the same for Maura and Joshua…full of academics and extracurricular activities! Their house was a home where she wore many hats and cultivated various hobbies.

Outside of her career and children, DeLana had a deep love for music, which often guided phone conversations with friends and set the atmosphere for every car ride—her radio was always off-limits, as she proudly served as the “DJ.” She later discovered a cherished niche hobby rooted in her love of Christmas and passion for thrifting. Through countless hours spent walking the aisles of Goodwill in search of “hidden gems” and collectibles, she took a leap of faith and opened her own eBay store. What began as a small side hustle grew into something she truly loved, eventually turning her home into a year-round Christmas store. If you ever needed something to make your Christmas tree stand out, DeLana’s house was the one-stop shop. Her success expanded as she sold items at the local Holiday Bazaar at her children’s high school.
DeLana’s talents also shined brightly in her favorite place—her home kitchen. Whether baking for her children’s teachers, neighbors, family, or friends, she poured love into every creation. No event or holiday was complete without her famous pound cake, banana pudding, butter pecan cream cake, chocolate chip cookies, or buttery rolls. Believing strongly in independence, she made sure her children were always by her side in the kitchen, whether at home or in Gran’s kitchen during Thanksgiving week. Celebrating the holidays was her favorite time of year, even when she carried the full responsibility of baking.
Beyond motherhood, DeLana rooted herself deeply in community. A devoted Christian, she was a faithful member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, for 33 years. While raising her children at Mt. Olive, she found her calling in serving as a Vacation Bible School teacher alongside her mother for many years. Through her daughter’s involvement in Girl Scouts, DeLana was “volun-told” to serve as Cookie Mom for Girl Scouts of Central Texas Troop 1268. In doing so, she built lasting friendships with a group of like-minded women through camping trips, cookie booths, and shared experiences. Her intelligence and organization shined in this role, as she managed inventory, finances, and booth coordination with grace. DeLana’s dedication to her children’s activities was unwavering—she rarely missed a volleyball game, choir concert, or football game.
In 2014, DeLana was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic hormone-positive breast cancer and Stage II triple-negative breast cancer. From the beginning, she was a fighter. Through multiple rounds of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgeries, she never complained. She embodied the strength of a God-fearing woman and persevered through her most difficult moments. In 2020, she beat the odds and entered remission. Though cancer-free, she continued to battle disabilities, yet this never stopped her from working or caring for her family. She remained committed to IBM and supported her children through college until her official retirement in 2022 as a Senior Product Manager within the Integrated Supply Chain supporting Software and Appliance Offerings. In her final years, DeLana embraced independence while relying on the care of her children and parents. Even when under the care of others, DeLana remained “large and in charge.”
DeLana was welcomed into Heaven by her father, Geoffrey William Wills Jr.; maternal grandparents, Rev. Hiawatha Truly Franks and Thelma Louise Franks; aunt, Gwendolyn F. Franks; sister-aunt, Simone Janice Aiken; uncles, Rev. Paul W. Franks Sr. and Hiawatha C. Franks Jr.; cousin, Stephanie Heiskell; paternal grandparents, Geoffrey William Wills Sr. and Eva Mae Wills; aunts, Alice Wills Outley, Alma Faye Wills Morgan, and Evelyn Murphy; first cousins, Thelma Renee Foote, Denise Massey, Johnny Morgan, and Richard S. Wills Jr.; and her great-grandparents.
She is survived by her daughter, Maura Alanna Louise Mangum; son, Joshua Charles Mangum; mother, Estella Louise Franks Elam; stepfather, Marvin D. Elam Jr.; brothers, Anthony C. Wills (Samantha) and Christopher S. Wills (Jessica); host of loving and caring aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins; D’vorah Schott (James), Truly Heiskell, Lora Hardway (Lawrence), Hattie Jewel Posey, Jett M. Franks Sr., Charles B. Franks (Doris), Christopher Aiken, and Richard Wills Sr., Brendon Wills, Austin Wills, Skylar Wills, Dylan Wills, Aaliyah Turner, and Hendrix Wills; dearest cousins, Selina Robertson, Hiawatha Franks Jr., Derek Franks (Katie), Andrea Aiken, Chris Aiken Jr., Briana Teall (Dustin), Danielle Aiken, Zacharias Aiken, Maury Wills, and Carlotta Outley Sinclair; a host of extended family, lifelong friends—especially Carol Carter, Vernon Hadnot, Herman Hill, Pat McClain Reed, and Michelle Milburn—and a community of IBM colleagues, sorority sisters, and neighbors.
DeLana was the supermom to all who witnessed her dedication to family, but most importantly, she will always be a superhero to her precious children. Her kindness was steady—not loud or flashy, but genuine and constant. It was the kind of kindness that strengthens families, creates safety, and leaves a lasting imprint. DeLana was not only a devoted daughter and sister, but also a loyal friend, aunt, and cousin—someone you could confide in, rely on, and trust with your whole heart.