REV. LAURENCE WILBUR WOODSON

OBITUARY FOR REVEREND LAURENCE WILBUR WOODSON WOODSON, Rev. Laurence Wilbur, age 87, of Lebanon, Ohio departed this life peacefully on August 13, 2015 at his home, surrounded by his loving family. He was born May 14, 1928 in Dayton, Ohio to the late Clarence Woodson and Julia Gray Woodson. Preceding him in death were his parents and three brothers, Jack, Clarence, Jr., and Walter. Participating in sports was always a part of his life, starting as a golf caddy as a child to becoming an avid golfer. By his 1946 graduation from Lebanon School, he had received numerous achievement awards in baseball, track and football. A football scholarship offer to Miami University had to be declined, though, due to a heart murmur. So he worked as a brick mason, sanitation worker, among other things and eventually retired from the Ohio Department of Transportation. Growing up in Lebanon he was an active member of the A.M.E. Church. However, it was not until 1955 at the age of 27 did he come to know the Lord as his personal Savior after reading a gospel track. That led him to start the North Lane Church of God, still in existence today. In 1965 he was ordained in the Church of God. Over the next decades, he served as associate pastor in Washington Court House and interim pastor in Hamilton and then Dayton. He also served as a chaplain at Bethesda Warren County Medical Center. Mt. Sterling, Kentucky benefitted from his street meetings there as did Bay Ridge Christian College, in Kendleton, Texas where alongside founder Rev. Horace Germany, he not only helped construct buildings on campus but also served on their board of trustees. At the inception of Camp Lebanon, Bro. Woodson was there with Bro. Tom Steenbergen, R.C. Caudill, Maurice Caldwell, and Clifford Hutchinson building the tabernacle, bridge and lodging facilities. At Lebanon Correctional Institutions many Sunday afternoons were spent having service for the inmates there. As one can see, Bro. Woodson had such a heart for missions both here and abroad and supported a number of missionaries. His international mission experiences included church construction in Jamaica, Venezuela and Peru. His current home church is First Church of God of Monroe. Bro. Woodson is survived by his wife Doris of 65 years, married since 1950, their seven children: Patricia Jackson of Lebanon, Gloria Conway of Franklin, Douglas Woodson of Seattle, Washington, Daniel Woodson of Atlanta, Georgia, Timothy Woodson of Cincinnati, Annette Jones (Captain Dr. Jeff) of Collierville, Tennessee, and Amy Woodson of Cincinnati; their 15 grandchildren: Robert Jackson III, Riaka Shackelford (Dante), Darius Woodson, Damond Rose, Danielle Jackson (Zed), Dasia Woodson, Morance Harrison, Jaimini Woodson, Jourdon Jones, Justin Jones, Jacob Jones, Josiah Jones, Jade Woodson, Nickolas Woodson, and Isaiah Floyd; and their 13 great-grandchildren: Avery Holland, Diego Shackelford, Princeton Shackelford, London Shackelford, Mahlia Woodson, Delilah Rose, Samson Rose, Zed Jackson II, Ava Jackson, Shayla Harrison, Ariyanna Harrison, Nene Harrison, and Morance Harrison, Jr.; his niece and nephews, Danita, Jason, Rick, Charles and Paul Woodson. In addition, extended family that includes numerous cousins, friends and neighbors join in this celebration of his life. After years of walking about 30 miles a week on the streets of Lebanon, Bro. Woodson is now walking on streets of gold. His calm, quiet and humble spirit will be missed by many. “Only one life twill soon be passed but only what’s done for Christ will last”. (from a poem by C.T.Studd) Visitation will be Monday, August 17, 2015 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the First Church of God, 100 East Ave., Monroe, Ohio, followed by services at 12:00 noon, with Rev. Terry Ball, Bishop Timothy Clarke Rev. Jerri Bomgardner and Rev. Dennis Kidd officiating. Interment will be at Lebanon Cemetery, Lebanon, Ohio. Arrangements by Herr-Riggs Funeral Home 210 S. Main St., Middletown. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.herr-riggs.com

REV. LAURENCE WILBUR WOODSON

May 14, 1928 - August 13, 2015