Grace Woody

Maggie Valley, Grace Leigh Finger Woody, age 91, passed away on Thursday, March 24, 2011 at Haywood Lodge and Retirement. A native and lifelong resident of Haywood County, she was the daughter of the late John Calvin and Sarah Eliza Mehaffey Finger. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur D. Woody, who died in 1983, and three sisters, Ruth Finger, Wilma Sease, and Georgia Clark. She retired from Haywood Community College where she had worked in the Human Resources Department. Grace was a member of Maggie Valley United Methodist Church where she was a pillar of the church. She was instrumental in all aspects of the church, especially developing many programs including the youth program. Grace was also the supervisor of the Haywood County Schools Food Program and also part of the home extension office teaching communities the art of cooking. Grace was known for her delicious cooking and baking pies. She is survived by two sons, Michael S. Woody, and Larry M. Woody and his wife, Barbara, all of Maggie Valley; one daughter, Judy A. Woody-Patterson; three sisters, Hattie McCall of Balsam Grove, North Carolina, Mary Greer of Waynesville, and Frances Smith and her husband, Dr. Heyward Smith of Lake Junaluska; two brothers, Lee Finger and his wife, Susan, of Asheville and Jack Finger and his wife, Olin, of Waynesville; four grandchildren, Michael Shannon Woody, and Chip, Skip, and Tip Patterson; and nine great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, March 28, 2011 in the Waynesville chapel of Wells Funeral Home with Reverend Richard Buff, Reverend Jerry Nelson and Reverend Erma Bond officiating. Entombment will be at Garrett-Hillcrest Memorial Park Mausoleum. Serving as pallbearers will be Scott Sutton, Carroll Mehaffey, Tyker Russell, Douglas Messer, Tim Carter, Don Carpenter. The family will receive friends from Noon until 2:00 p.m. prior to services at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Maggie Valley United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 112, Maggie Valley, NC 28751.

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