Sister Eleanora Virginia Johnson Woody departed this life December 9, 2022, at the age of 92. She was born on January 20, 1930, the sixth of seventeen children born to Deacon William Winston and Deaconess Fannie Mae Johnson in Amherst, VA. She was baptized on September 1942 at the Shiloh Baptist Church in Monroe, VA where her family was known as "The Johnson Family Singers". Sister Woody later moved to Richmond, VA where she met and married the love of her life Deacon Lloyd Woody. After moving to Montpelier, she joined the Bethany Baptist Church in August 1957 under the leadership of Rev. Fleming. She served faithfully at Bethany as a Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School leader and in 1965 joined the Deaconess board. Seeing the need for music for Sunday School. She learned to play the piano and led the classes in song for 10 years. The Sunday School presented her with a plaque for dedicated service from 1964-1987. Having left home at seventeen because there was no bus to take her to high school, she went back to school and in June 1987 earned her GED. Mrs. Woody was named the mother of the Year for Bethany in 2015. She was a member of the Bethany Seniors Ministry and regularly attended Ebenezer Bible Study.

Deaconess Woody was blessed with a talent for reciting from memory, which she did from the age of five. She could amaze you with things like reciting the Books of the Bible. She could always be counted on to do a recital for a program. Her favorite song was "Keep Me Every Day" and her favorite scripture was Psalms 19 because it exalts the glory of God.

Deaconess Woody was very involved in community activities. She worked with the Red Cross and was a lifetime member of the NAACP and the Hanover Community Center. She could always be depended on to help and when she could not physically do so, she was always there with a financial donation. Upon leaving her family home, Sister Woody was employed in Lynchburg for two years with the Forsberg's. Once she moved to Richmond, she was employed for 35 years with the Crenshaw family, who she remained in touch with. She provided home cleaning and health care services most of her adult life.

She leaves to cherish her memories, her four surviving siblings Frances Roberta Johnson High, Robert Wilson, Bernard (Mae) and Samuel Roosevelt (Estelle); two sons Ralph L. (Barbara) and Michael (Rose); grandchildren Justice Wells, Anthony Woody (predeceased by on grandchild LaVar), nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family members; loving and caring neighbors Patti and John Nicholas; friends Gertrude Fountain, Jeanette Thomas, Jean Lee, and Arlene Derricott.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer.