Sara Gwendolyn "Gwen" Jones Woody, 77, of Culloden, formerly of Omega, went to be with her Lord, Jesus Christ on July 20, 2021. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, July 24, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. at Omega Baptist Church with the Rev. Allen Mullis and the Rev. Steve Tucker officiating. Mrs. Woody will be laid to rest at Omega Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday, July 23, 2021, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the McLeighton Funeral Service in Roberta, as well as Saturday, July 24, 2021, at Omega Baptist Church from 1:30 p.m. until the hour of the service.
Gene Hinson, Andy Hornbuckle, Jaime Patrick, Aubrey Sumner, Charles Sumner, Thomas Sumner, Lee Varnedoe, and Richard Varnedoe will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Deacons of the Omega Baptist Church, as well as honored educator colleagues and friends.
Born May 19, 1944, in Macon, Mrs. Woody later spent most of her childhood in Atlanta. After high school, Mrs. Woody attended Brenau College and graduated from Georgia Southern University. She loved to teach and spent most of her career as an educator in Tift County, teaching at Tifton Christian Development Institute (TCDI) and Omega Elementary School. Later in life, she returned to teaching, serving in schools in Allendale, South Carolina and Greensboro. She was a member of Omega Baptist Church, where she served faithfully as a children’s Sunday School teacher and choir member, among a host of other activities and mission work for the Mell Baptist Association. Mrs. Woody was also a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Barnwell, South Carolina, First Baptist Church of Greensboro, and Musella Baptist Church in Musella. Her service to Jesus was first, and He was the source of her love for family, friends, neighbors and people of all walks of life. Her love for others and her smile and laughter were hallmarks of the loyal, faithful friend she was to many.
Mrs. Woody was preceded in death by her parents, Sara Spearman and Gwynn Dent Jones and her brother, Gene Jones. In addition, she is preceded in death by her beloved parents-in-law, Roy and Alma Woody.
Mrs. Woody is survived by her husband of fifty-three years, Manson Woody and their children John Woody of Culloden; Mary Griner of Bishop; Lewis Woody of Elizabeth City, North Carolina; and Jones and Courtney Woody of Culloden; one brother, Bonner Jones of Eustis, Florida, one sister-in-love, Marilyn Bass of Savannah; eight grandchildren, Bryan Woody, Jacob Griner, John Scott Griner, Katie Woody, Laurey Grace Woody, Lily Woody, Beau Woody, and Emmy Woody; and several nieces and nephews.
As an alternative to flowers, in honor of her, donations may be made to the Children’s Christmas Fund at Omega Baptist Church, P. O. Box 368, Omega, GA, 31775.