John “Manson” Willis Woody Sr. (86) of Culloden, GA formerly of Omega, GA went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, May 3, 2025. Born December 22, 1938, in the Saint Paul Church community of Colquitt County, he was the son of the late L. Roy Woody and late Alma Francis Jones Woody. Mr. Woody was a 1957 graduate of Omega High School. While in school he was a Future Farmer of America (FFA) member and possessed a love for farming, furthering his education at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton. Having been abled by his father to begin farming in high school, Mr. Woody’s farming career alongside his father, spanned more than 45 consecutive years. Mr. Woody’s passion for agriculture led him to other career endeavors as well. This included serving as Historical Farm Director at the Georgia Agrirama (now ABAC’s Georgia Museum of Agriculture) from 1973 to 1979, working in Horticulture and Plant Pathology at UGA Coastal Plains Experiment Station, and other ventures in farm equipment sales. Retiring from his own farming pursuits in 2000, Mr. Woody spent several years working semi-retired in farm and plantation management. In 2018, he ceased all outside work activities to care for his aging and beloved wife until 2021.
Above all, his greatest loves were his faith and family. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at the age of thirteen, joining the Omega Baptist Church, where he was a member for more than 50 years. He served the church faithfully in many roles of service and leadership. Church life was important; central to his life, and regardless of where he resided, he was a member of a local church. Beyond his first church of Omega Baptist, he was also a member of First Baptist Church, Barnwell, South Carolina; First Baptist Church, Greensboro, Georgia; and Musella Baptist Church, Musella, Georgia. His last Sunday with his last church family, Musella Baptist, was on December 22, 2024, celebrating his 86th birthday.
He was a loving husband to his wife of 53 years, the late Sara Gwendolyn Jones Woody. He is survived by their four children, John Woody Jr. of Culloden, GA; Mary Griner of Watkinsville, GA; Lewis Woody of Elizabeth City, NC; Jones Woody (Courtney Woody) of Culloden, GA; and eight grandchildren, Bryan Woody, United States Air Force, Tokyo, Japan, Jacob Griner of Athens, Georgia, John Scott Griner of Athens, Georgia, Katie Woody, United States Army, Fairbanks, Alaska, Laurey Grace Woody, Lily Woody, Beau Woody, Emmy Woody, all of Culloden, GA, one sister, Marylin Woody Bass of Savannah, GA; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.
The family will receive friends at Mcleighton Funeral Home in Roberta, Georgia on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, from 6:00-8:00pm.
A memorial service celebrating his life will be held on May 7, 2025, at the Omega Baptist Church, Omega, Georgia at 3:00 PM. The family will receive friends and loved ones for visitation in the sanctuary one hour prior to the start of the service. Following the service, Mr. Woody will be laid to rest in Omega Cemetery. Officiating the service and graveside will be the Reverend Jimmy Hinson, Andy Hornbuckle, and Jones Woody.