Willie grew up on a farm in Loris South Carolina and is the oldest of 11 kids. As the oldest child Willie was forced to learn quick in order to help his mother around the house. He learned to cook by watching his mom and grandmom make what he calls “country food.” Willie remembers the delicious smell of family-style Sunday dinners at his grandparent’s Big White House. At an early age he recalls standing on top of a 5 gallon bucket to use the stove for his first meal which was fried chicken, white rice and fresh sweet peas. Although the chicken wasn’t quite done his mother knew that his heart was in the right place.

Willie started working in restaurants as a teenager and his most recent position was at the Ritz Carlton of Charlotte. For the past 4 years Willie has worked 2 jobs in order to make way for his dream. He is no stranger to Hard Work.

Willie started a catering service called Willie D’s Country Cooking in 2018. After he lost his mother in 2019 he renamed his business Sandra Lee’s Country Kitchen in memory of his mother, Ms. Sandra Lee Walters. Today, Willie is passionate about serving up slow cooked, perfectly seasoned food with lots and lots of love. Let’s Eat!