Maurice Woods

Maurice Woods Obituary MAURICE WOODS LIVESTREAM THE SERVICE WILL BE LIVESTREAMED. CLICK ON THE LINK ABOVE. Maurice Woods was born in Yazoo City (Yazoo County), Mississippi to the late Rev. John W. Woods, Sr. and the late Jessie Turner Woods on February 17, 1933. He was the oldest of the eleven children (4 sons and 7 daughters) born to his parents. At age 91, Maurice departed this life on August 12, 2024, resting peacefully at the University Hospital in Willoughby, Ohio. Maurice accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age, was baptized, and became a member of the Harmony Missionary Baptist Church in Harmony, now Denton, Maryland where his grandfather, the late Rev. D. R. Turner was the pastor. He loved music and was very active in the church where music was involved. He sang in the church choir and with the family singing group named The Heavenly Keys, where he was also the guitarist. He was an original member and guitarist for the Mighty N.T.S. Singers who traveled up and down the east coast singing on programs with such gospel greats as the Soul Stirrers, the Pilgrim Travelers, the Dixie Hummingbirds, CBS Trumpeters, and more. When he relocated to Ohio, he also sang with several quartets in the Cleveland area. When not singing with gospel groups, he enjoyed blowing the harmonica, performing as a soloist, or playing the piano as an accompanist. In Ohio, he affiliated with the Christ Land Church. Maurice began his formal education in the state of Mississippi, where he attended public schools in Yazoo City and in Jackson, Mississippi. In 1945, the family moved to Harmony/Preston, Maryland in Caroline County. There he attended Lockerman High School in Denton, Maryland where he graduated in the Class of 1952. After high school, he enrolled at Hampton Institute, now Hampton University, in Hampton, VA, graduating in 1957 with his Bachelor of Science degree in Auto Diesel Mechanics. Maurice was a United States Army veteran. He served a tour of military duty in Germany and was honorably discharged. He was an industrious worker in the world of work in Maryland and in Ohio. He served as a long-term Industrial Arts substitute teacher at Lockerman High School in Denton, MD, before relocating in the late 1960s to the Cleveland/Euclid, Ohio area. In Ohio, he was a manager and later president of a Miles Shoe Store, a security officer and later police officer at the Cleveland Clinic where he retired. He was self-employed as a part-time tax return preparer. Maurice Woods lived a full and rewarding life, surrounded by family, friends, and a strong sense of community. Born to Rev. John and Jessie Woods, Maurice was raised with strong values that shaped his caring and generous spirit. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Benjamin Woods; his two sisters, Mattie Woods and Alice Woods Watkins; his sister-in-law, Shirley Carter Woods; his brother-in-law, Murell Watkins; and his nieces, Vernell Watkins and Rhonda Dingwall. Maurice was the proud father of two sons, Anthony Woods and Donald Woods, from his first marriage. In 1986, Maurice married Lynda Crockett Woods, and together they shared many joyful years until his passing. Their union also extended Maurice’s family with the addition of his stepchildren, Andrea Carter (Larry) and Gary Carter. Maurice had a passion for bringing people together and took great pride in the Woods Family Reunion when it was held in Cleveland, where multiple generations gathered for memorable events. In his free time, Maurice could always be found watching sports—whether it was football, basketball, or baseball, he enjoyed those games 24/7, 365 days a year. Beyond family, Maurice was dedicated to his community. He was an active member of the Fraternal Order of Police, where he took great pleasure in helping prepare and serve meals to those in need. He also stayed involved in organizations such as the Hampton University Alumni Association, the Omicron Social Club, the Lockerman Schools Association Incorporated, and the NAACP. Maurice’s memory will be cherished by his loving wife, Lynda Woods; his two sons, Anthony Woods (Tara Carter, Jasmine Smith, Justin Smith, Shakeila Smith, and Anthony Woods) of Bedford Heights, OH, and Donald Woods (Shaun Woods and Donald Woods Jr.) of Cleveland, OH; his stepchildren, Andrea Carter (Larry) of Aurora, OH, and Gary Carter of Buffalo, NY; his two brothers, Rev. Alfred Woods of Front Royal, VA, and John Woods, Jr. (Linda) of Chesapeake, VA; his sisters, Ezola Woods Webb and Dr. Willie G. Woods of Easton, MD, Cozy Woods Street (Newlin) of Smyrna, DE, Jessie M. Woods of Dover, DE, and Hattie Woods of Harrisburg, PA; along with many nieces, nephews, and other beloved relatives and friends. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Maurice Woods, please visit our floral store. Read More

Maurice Woods

February 17, 1933 - August 12, 2024