Dea. Jerry Woods
06/24/1946 - 10/31/2021
Funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. EST Saturday, November 13, 2021 at Mountain Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Timothy Maddox, Sr.,pastor, officiating. Interment to follow in Roe's Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery West Point, GA. Visitation is Friday, November 12, 2021 from 2-5 p.m. EST
Dea. Jerry Woods, Sr. was born on June 24, 1946 to the union of Essie Lee Alexander and Ruben Woods, Sr. in Buena Vista, Georgia in Marion County. He was the second child born to this union. There were three older brothers and one younger. There was also one sister by previous marriages of both parents.
Jerry was educated in the Marion County school system. He graduated with honors from Buena Vista High School, completing the 12th grade in 1964. He was a star basketball player, and maintained an A and B average throughout his school years. After graduation, the opportunity came up for him to travel to Detroit, Michigan, in search of getting a good job.
Jerry found gainful employment at Chevrolet Gear & Axle in Hamtramck, Michigan, a small community within the greater metropolitan Detroit area. He later transferred to the Cadillac Division in Detroit.
Jerry soon moved in with his oldest brother, Jimmie, where he met his soon to be bride, Linda L. Etheridge. Jerry and Linda were married on April 23, 1966 after a wonderful two year courtship. He literally married the girl next door. To this union, they had two sons, Jerry Jr. and Kenneth. They continued on with a marriage that lasted for 55 years!
Jerry was drafted into the United States Army in 1966, and served two years, from February 10, 1966 to February 9, 1968. He served one year overseas, and saw combat in the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in 1968. While in the service, he earned the Vietnam Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device, and achieved the Sharpshooter (Rifle) Medals. Jerry earned the rank of Spec 4/E-4 Corporal upon discharge.
Jerry became the proud father of Jerry Woods,Jr. on March 15, 1967 and Kenneth Terrell Woods on July 11, 1972.
Jerry had an entrepreneurial spirit about him, and had several business pursuits over the years. He owned a gas station with Standard Oil in the seventies. In 1980, he opened a record shop/party store, i.e. Woods Party Store. Also, in the eighties, he owned and operated Woods BBQ Restaurant, and Jaguar Social Club. In the nineties, he went to truck drivers school, and got his CDL license, and eventually drove trucks for the city of Detroit.
After retiring, and some health issues came up, he decided to move back to his home state of Georgia for a warmer climate. Jerry and Linda found a lovely home in Columbus, Georgia where he was reunited with many family members, classmates, and old friends. Jerry loved his entire family, and his favorite thing to do was family gatherings, e.g. holidays, and especially cookouts.
He also loved watching his old cowboy and western TV shows and action movies. His favorite show was “Gunsmoke” with his favorite character, U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon. He also enjoyed riding around in his Ford F-150 pickup truck and his shiny black Cadillac. He kept them both spic and span clean!
Jerry loved The Lord, his churches and pastors, and singing and playing gospel music. He played the bass guitar, and sang professionally with a couple of well known gospel quartet groups; most notably, the “Morning Echoes” of Detroit, MI and the world famous “Pilgrim Jubilees” of Chicago, IL. He loved to travel the country, singing in many concerts, until his health no longer allowed him to. He can still be seen singing with the “Jubes” on YouTube. He loved singing, and would sing all the time, even in Walmart riding up and down the aisles.
Jerry always had a special relationship with The Lord. Prior to moving to Georgia, he was a member of Greater St. Matthews Baptist Church, under Rev. O.E Dixon (deceased); Brown’s Chapel, under Rev. Freeman Brown (deceased); Green Grove Missionary Baptist Church, under Rev. Luther A. Puckett: God’s City of Refuge, under Pastor Walter A. Steen, where he was ordained as a Deacon; then Greater Mt. Olive Baptist Church, under Rev. Johnnie Jordan, all in Detroit, MI; and he most recently served as a Deacon at Mountain Hill Missionary Baptist Church, under Rev. Timothy L. Maddox, in Hamilton, Georgia, where he served until the time of his passing.
Jerry was the type that met no strangers. He had a big grin for everyone that he met. He would greet everyone with outstretched arms or a hearty handshake; proudly introducing himself by saying “Jerry Woods is my name”.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents Ruben Woods Sr. and Essie; three brothers, Ruben Woods Jr., Jimmie L. Smith, and Albert Woods Sr.; and his sister, Mary L. Gettis.
Jerry leaves to forever cherish his memory: his devoted wife, Linda L. Woods; two sons, Jerry Woods Jr. of Gilbert, AZ and Kenneth Terrell Woods Sr. (and wife Sonia) of Detroit, MI. He had seven grandchildren: Antoine Starks, Donald Foster, Peige Starks-Foster, all of Arizona; Devon Nelms of Detroit, MI; Akirah Smith-Woods, Kenneth Terrell Woods II, and Kendall Woods, all of Detroit, MI. He had two great grandchildren: Deshaun Nelms, and Kaden Bundrent of Detroit, MI.
He also leaves a host of cherished family members, special friends, and loved ones.