Woods - pillar of community

One of the best loved citizens of Marshall County passed away Friday.

Tommy Woods, 86, a lifelong member of the farming community and 25-year veteran of the Mississippi House of Representatives, died at his home in Byhalia.

Woods, a lifelong member of the Byhalia United Methodist Church where he served as choir leader, is well remembered for singing the National Anthem at community events.

His first wife Jan played the organ for the church for 50 years. They had four children together.

After his wife Jan died, he married Faye St. John. Woods said he often received suggestions from his thoughts or dreams. He was led to ask Faye for a date, leading ultimately to their marriage.

Woods was the son of J.P. Woods, a former District 3 supervisor of Marshall County.

He and his father farmed together, ran Watson Gin Company, which opened in 1953, and opened Woods Farm Supply in 1975. Four generations of the Woods family have been serving Marshall County for 67 years.

Woods had a stroke in December 2011, leading to his decision to retire from elected office July 30, 2012.

One of his favorite things was to cook barbecue for local community events. Faye Woods was always by his side in helping serve barbecue and the side dishes.

And he supported Faye in her activities as one of the originators of the Byhalia Area Arts Council, helping design display boards for artwork that was often on display at the Byhalia Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon meetings and the Arts Council meetings and events.

Byhalia Area Chamber Main Street Executive Director Sarah Sawyer grew up with the Woods boys and was in the same class as Prentis Woods and close to Pat Woods, Tommy Woods' sons.

"I've known Mr. Tommy since I was a child," she said.

She also was close to Jan, Woods' first wife, and his son Ray and daughter Jeana.

"Supportive is the word that keeps coming to mind," Sawyer said of Woods' role as community leader and statesman.

"Faye and he were always giving and doing," she said.

She remembered visiting Woods at his home last Christmas when he played with his toy trains.

"He loved it," she said.

"No matter what we were trying to do, he was always wanting to make things better. He was dependable.

"There are so many Byhalia mentors that will always leave a stamp on your heart and mind. The things that we know, remember and have are influenced by them. We lost another one of the greats. Thank you to Mr. Tommy for caring and for loving us."

Charles Crain said he has been connected with the Woods family since growing up.

"My daddy and his daddy were good friends when I was growing up. Mr. Tommy got to be my friend and Pat and I became friends," Crain said. "I don't know if words could say it."

Crain said Woods loved trains and had a caboose put at the end of his pool.

"He was on the transportation committee and had a big collection of toy trains," Crain said.

Woods was a pilot as well and had a small plane at one time. Crain said he used an airstrip up on Rabbit Ridge.

"He also held religious retreats at Rabbit Ridge," Crain said.

Bob Carrington said Woods was a "very strong leader."

"He and I were real close friends," he said. "We talked almost every day. I lost one of my good friends. He was a strong leader in our community and in our church.

"His brother Jimmy Woods is a dear friend of mine, and Jimmy and his daddy J.P. Woods were real close friends with my father (R.E. Carrington Jr.).

"Our whole family was tied together. My daddy owned a business and also farmed. Everybody was thrown together. We went to church together. He was the patriarch of the whole church over the years.

"Then he got into politics and he did a good job of that. He helped the community out and our county out. Then his health got bad.

"Thinking back over the years, what he and his family have done for this community — they're progressive thinkers."

Woods, after he retired from the Legislature, was also led by his heart to preach at Fountain Head Methodist Church in the Ingrams Mill area.

He was chosen as Leader of the Year at the Byhalia Chamber of Commerce annual awards ceremony in May 2012.

He was a charter member of the Chamber and was honored at the awards ceremony with a lifetime membership.

He has been praised for his civic involvement and economic development, and promoting his district, Marshall County and the State of Mississippi.

Woods attended Mississippi State University. He was a Mason.

His son Pat said, "He loved his family more than life. He loved his Byhalia, his Marshall County, the great State of Mississippi and our country, but above all he loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

The Marshall County Board of Supervisors dedicated its Monday meeting in memory of Woods.

His obituary can be found on page 2 of this week's South Reporter.