Robert Woods

Published 12:00 am Sunday, January 1, 2012

BILOXI — Graveside services with full military honors for Robert “Woody” Woods, 70, of Biloxi, who died Wednesday Dec. 22, 2011, at the VA Hospital in Biloxi, will be at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Biloxi National Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of Riemann Family Funeral Home in Biloxi.

Woody was born in Vidalia but moved to Natchez at an early age to live with his grandmother. He was a graduate of St. Francis High School where he learned to play the saxophone, basketball and broad jump. He attended Southern University in Baton Rouge and Alcorn State University in Lorman.

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Woody joined the U.S. Air Force in 1963 and served 26 years, mostly at Keesler Air Force Base. During his time at Keesler, Woody was assigned to the medical center and for 17 years held the title of medical service manager. He retired from active duty in December 1989.

Woody made his home in Biloxi and surrounded himself with a number of friends. He was widely known in the greater Biloxi community and was well liked.

He was preceded in death by his grandmother and adopted mother, Hattie B. Earls; his mother, Harriett Birdon; and his father, Master Gunnery Sgt. W. Michael Woods.

Survivors include the family matriarch, Rosa Lee Sims of Natchez; three brothers, L. Michael Woods and wife, Linda, of Grand Rapids, Mich., M. David Woods and wife, Donna, of Upper-Marlboro, Md., and Michael Wilson Woods of Savannah, Ga.; two nieces, Shona Woods and Lynette Chifton; and a number of cousins.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph’s Indian School, 1301 N. Main St., Chamberlain, S.D. 57326, www.stjo.org.

Online condolences may be sent to www.riemannfamily.com.