Sharon Woods

Obituary For Sharon Woods

Sharon Simmons Woods was born to the late Frank Simmons Jr. and Lucille Randolph on July 15, 1958, in Memphis, Tennessee; she was the fourth child born to that union. She was saved under the leadership of the late Former Chairman of the Board, Pastor J. T. McDonald, and later served under the late Superintendent Elmo Randolph for over 30 years as a faithful member of Saint James Church of God in Christ in Memphis, Tennessee.

Sharon Simmons graduated from Hamilton High School in 1976 and was married on September 6, 1986, to Gregory Woods. They were married for 38 years until her time of transition. Sharon received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Social Work from Memphis State University.

Secularly, Sharon Woods was employed by Union Planters Bank and the Department of Children Services where she served in the following areas: Child Abuse and Alcohol and Drug Abuse; additionally, in the same areas of expertise at Memphis Mental Health Institute, and finally for Memphis City Schools as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor until she retired.

Everyone who ever had the privilege of knowing or working with Missionary Woods knows that she was GIFTED, HARD-WORKING, DILIGENT and EFFICIENT. Missionary Sharon Woods was intelligent, honest, selfless, and reliable. To exemplify this phenomenal skillset, she was appointed by the leaders of the following entities, organizations, and churches to be their financial secretaries: Saint James Church of God In Christ (Superintendent Elmo Randolph, followed by her own brother, Pastor Eric D. Simmons); Grace Temple Ministries (Pastor Thomas Braden and her sister, Lady Arphelia Braden); C. C. Knox District (Superintendent Earlie Nickols Jr.); C.H. Mason Bible College (Dr. Perry C. Little); Tennessee Fifth AIM Secretary (Pastor Eric D. Simmons, Mother Georgia Lowe and Bishop Clinton Bryant); and Tennessee Fifth Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction (Bishop Jerry W. Taylor). It is evident that Missionary Woods has made an indelible imprint on countless saints of God.

Missionary Woods was a servant at heart, and she served in the following capacities: choir member, Sunday School Teacher, Usher, Evangelist Missionary, Showers of Blessing Food Pantry Intake Screener, and she could always be counted on to serve both at Grace Temple and in the Simmons/Woods family gatherings.

Although she had no children of her own, she nurtured many, including her god-daughter, Latrice Horton, along with her own nieces and nephews. Sharon was affectionately called "Aunt Sharow."

She was preceded in death by her loving father, Frank Simmons Jr., December 2, 1967; brother, Jeffery Wayne Simmons, April 9, 2022; and mother, Lucille R. Simmons, April 25, 2024. Her father and mother-in-law preceded her in death also, J. W. Woods, July 17, 1987, and Ocie Woods, September 23, 2009.

Missionary Sharon Woods leaves to cherish her memory: her husband, Gregory Woods; his brothers, Jerome (Betty), Thaddeus, and Danny (Cleather); her siblings, Reginald (Bobbye), Rita, Janice (Michael), Eric (Shelanda), and Arphelia (Thomas); aunts, Eddie Mae Blackwell and Hattie Dean, all of Memphis, Tennessee; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, acquaintances, saints and loved ones.

The family will receive friends Thursday, October 24, 2024 from 6:00pm-8:00pm at Grace Temple COGIC 2693 Park Ave, Memphis, TN 38114. Celebration of Life will be held Friday, October 25, 2024 11:00am at Gateway COGIC 2201 Ketchum, Memphis, TN 38114

Internment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery 5668 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38119