Dr. Richard Woods, Sr.

Dr. Rev Richard E. Woods was born in Ackerman, Mississippi on July 28, 1935 to the late John (Chief) & Lenora Woods. Richard was the seventh of eight children. He accepted Christ as his personal Lord and Savior at an early age, being baptized at Friendship Baptized Church of Ackerman, MS. He attended school through the Choctaw County school system and graduated from Choctaw County Training school. At the age of 17, he joined the US Army.

While in the service, Richard met Bertha Piper of Boyce, LA. They were married in August of 1955. They resided in various places throughout his service in the military including Stuttgart, Germany, Alexandria, LA, Fort Belvoir, VA, & Dale City, VA. He did a tour in the Vietnam War doing special intelligence. Richard retired after twenty years of service with the rank MSG E-8 and various medals and honors including the Vietnam Campaign Medal, Bronze Star Medal and National Defense Service Medal.

After retirement, Richard began a career in entrepreneurship. Along with his wife, Richard opened up two taxi cab companies in Dale City, VA and the Quantico military base. He also owned the famous Woods BBQ, being the first African American couple in Dale City to ever own a monopoly to date with three locations in Dale City, VA, Dumfries, VA, & Garrisonville, VA. The businesses were successful for many years.

Around 1990, Richard dedicated his life to ministry. He received his Bachelors Degree from Trinity Theological Seminary and his Masters and Doctorate degrees from Andersonville Baptist Seminary. He began his pastoral journey in Mechanicsville, VA before pastoring at Upper Zion Baptist Church. He retired after serving as the senior pastor at Mt Jezreel Baptist Church for over twenty years and later he and his wife moved to Mesquite, TX and joined Mesquite Friendship Baptist Church under the pastorship of Dr. Terry Turner.

Richard went to sing with the angels on August 22, 2021. Richard is preceded in death by his daughter, Debora Woods Green; his sisters, Thelma Estella & Odessa Spencer; his brothers John (Buddy) Wesley & Burton L. Woods. 

Celebrating life while mourning his death are: His wife of 66 years, Bertha L. Woods; a son, Richard E. Woods, Jr.; daughter-in-law, Diane Woods; son-in-law, Samuel Green; four grandchildren: Bobby Fields Ashley Woods, Samantha Green & Keyairah Woods; four great-grandchildren, Asante, Zuri, Messiah & Ayesha; brother, Willie Woods; sisters, Gussie Fair & Bernice Neely and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, loving relatives and friends and two loving church families.

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