Julian Blacklock "Blackie" Wills Sr., 76, of La Plata, Maryland died Sunday, February 14, 2010 peacefully at his home. He was born June 16, 1933 in Washington D.C.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Patricia Ann Mudd Wills whom he married September 25, 1954 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Waldorf, Maryland, three sons; Julian Blacklock Wills Jr., James Washington Wills III, Mark Reed Wills, two daughters; Helen Brooke Wills and Julia Ann Wills, three daughters-in-law; Michele Miles Wills, Susanne Lewis Wills, and Lisa Wilson Wills, and nine grandchildren. He is pre-deceased by his parents James Washington Wills Sr. and Julia Swann Blacklock Wills Lorimer, his older brother Captain James Washington Wills Jr., and his son Joseph Mudd Wills.

Mr. Wills was a 1951 graduate of Georgetown Preparatory School in Rockville Maryland, and later attended the University of Maryland. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1952 and served until 1954. He began full-time employment with the Southern Maryland Oil Company in 1955, and with the passing of his father James W. Wills in 1957 who founded the Wills Group, his mother Julia Wills became President and Blackie Wills was elected to the Board of Directors. In 1963 Blackie became President, following the dynamic entrepreneurial skills of his father and built an organization with people given authority and responsibility to carry out their task. Blackie remained the President from 1963 through 1988, and Chairman through 1998. This period included some of the company's most rapid growth years, as well as some of the most challenging years in the oil industry. However, each challenge quickly turned into opportunities under Blackie's leadership. The first corporate profit sharing plan in Maryland was established at the company in 1953. Mr. Wills' past directorships include the Bank of Southern Maryland, Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company, St. Mary's College of Maryland, Maryland Chamber of Commerce, and the Mid Atlantic Petroleum Marketers Association. He also chaired the Charles County Economic Development Commission, Governor's Task Force on Economic Development, United Way of Charles County and served on and supported many other community organizations. He was an active member of the St. Ignatius Chapel Point Catholic Church, and served on the Parish Finance Council.

Blackie, as he was affectionately known, possessed tremendous people skills with a warm demeanor and easy smile. While his leadership was recognized in growing the family business into an industry giant, his reputation for fairness, honesty, and hard work are renowned. He loved people and the Southern Maryland Community that he felt fortunate to live in. Blackie deeply loved his family and the summers he spent on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Family will receive friends for Blackie's life celebration on Thursday, February 18th from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with prayers at 7:00 PM in the St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Port Tobacco, Maryland 20677. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, February 19th at 11:00 AM at the same location. Interment will follow in the Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Julian Blacklock Wills III, Matthew Schley Wills, Joseph Mudd Wills, Michael Bryce Wills, Samantha Ann Messick, and Kendall Sydney Messick. Honorary Pallbearers are H. Furlong Baldwin, Joseph W. Bernitt, Edward T. Lewis, Van T. Mitchell, Thomas F. Mudd, Stephen L. Owen, Melvin L. Strine, Carl R. Baldus, Charles F. Boyers, and John G. Fox. Employee Representatives include Carol S. Gamble, Floyd N. Thompson, Ken J. Russ, and Francis D. Johnson.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the St. Ignatius Chapel Point Catholic Church, 8855 Chapel Point Road, Port Tobacco MD, 20677, or to the Archbishop Neale School, 104 Port Tobacco Road, La Plata, Maryland 20646.

Arrangements by the Arehart-Echols Funeral Home, P.A., La Plata, MD.