New life Donna Willis pets her new filly, Canny Annie, who was born May 21. The filly's mother is seen at right. Comet photo by Jennifer Archibald A lot of area children and adults have learned to ride on a horse owned by Donna Willis of rural Camden. The Morgan Walker mare, called Candy Ann, was also a regular in area parades.

On May 21, the 39-year old mare died. She was kicked by another mare, breaking her leg in two places. Willis had to make the difficult decision to put her down.

Willis offered Candy Ann free to anyone who wanted to learn to ride. Willis and other family members rode her in Flora's annual Christmas Parade and the annual Carroll County 4-H Fair Parade.

"Candy Ann was in 12 parades in the 16 years I had her," she said. "I put a lot of miles on my mare."

"She was a good old mare," added Willis, who had quit riding Candy because the mare had an arthritic leg. An adult's weight was too much for the mare, so Willis had given her to her granddaughter, Carly Sparks.

But Willis and her granddaughter had little time to grieve. Candy Ann died between 10:30 and 11 on that Sunday morning and 12 hours later, there was new life. One of Willis's other mares gave birth to an all black filly, very much like Candy Ann.

Last Christmas parade Donna Willis's mare, Black Licorice, knick-named Candy Ann, (right) appeared in Flora's Christmas Parade for the last time Thanksgiving weekend, 2004. She is seen being ridden by two of Willis's grandchildren. Willis, riding another mare, is at left. Comet photo Willis named her new filly, Canny Annie, after her beloved mare. Her official name is Beauty's Hard Rock Candy.

"The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh," said Willis. And so life goes on for the Willis family.