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In memory of
Dr. John Henry Woods, Jr.
December 23, 1936 - January 8, 2021
Dec 23, 1936 - Jan 8, 2021
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Dr. John's obituary
Tennessee to John Henry and Beatrice Woods. John was the oldest of their three
children. As a young boy growing up in Nashville he attended Cameron Jr. High School.
John was a straight “A” student. Besides earning “A’s” in class he became interested in
playing various sports. He graduated from Jr. High and went on to Pearl High School. In
high school his 4.0 GPA continued while he played Varsity baseball and football. By his
senior year he was so beloved that he became captain of the football team. Additionally,
at Pearl High he began dating the lovely Willie Mae Pitts. John was very successful in
high school which enabled him to receive an academic scholarship to Tennessee State
University.
During his time in college John married his high school sweetheart, Willie Mae Pitts,
on June 24, 1957. John and Willa enjoyed 60 years of marriage, but knew each other
nearly their whole lives. As a child, John and his family attended Willie Mae’s father’s
Church where the two met when they were just six years old. It was God’s will for them
to be together. While he was attending college, John and Willie Mae had two sons,
Reginald and Dexter.
John finished his four years at Tennessee State and graduated in 1960 with a
Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. After graduating from college, John took his
family and moved to Grand Junction, Colorado. There, he started his first professional
job with the United States Government Interior Bureau of Reclamations. Four years
later John and Willa had their third child, Regina. In 1964, John relocated his family for
the final time to San Bernardino, California. Much later, once adjusted to living in San
Bernardino, John and Willa had their fourth child, Dominic, in 1973.
During his career, as an engineer John and his family were highly active and
involved in church. He always brought his family to church with him and they were
faithful as members. John and his family first were members of Calvary Baptist Church,
St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church and then New Hope Baptist Church of San
Bernardino.
Additionally, John was involved in politics and elected as the first black man to serve
on the San Bernardino Unified School District Board of Trustees in December 1968.
Furthermore, he served on the YMCA Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and a
committee that raised funds to erect a statue of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., still located
by City Hall in downtown San Bernardino. Not only that, John worked for Aerospace
Industrial TRW Systems in Long Beach, CA. He was chosen to work on “The
Minuteman Missile System” in the Apollo Series, a special project created to place the
first man on the moon. In 1973, John decided to further his education, hence he
enrolled in Claremont Graduate School and two years later, he received his Master’s
Degree in Corporate Management.
John always had a heart for God. Consequently, after receiving his Master’s degree,
he received a divine call on his life from God to preach God’s Word in 1974. As a result,
John enrolled in Claremont Theological Seminary School, then proceeded to Fuller
Theological Seminary. Next, he attended the American Baptist Seminary of the West in
Berkley, California. There, he received his third degree, Master’s of Divinity. His final
educational journey took him to a Doctorate of Divinity Program where he earned his
Doctorate Degree in 1980. John was very proud of his “four earned degrees”.
Following his extensive education, in 1980, John was called to pastor his first
Church, Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, in Pomona, California. John pastored
Mt. Zion for almost two years before God gave him a vision to start his own Church in
1982. He named it Pomona Valley Praise Temple. It was later changed to Praise
Christian Center and moved to Montclair, California. He served as a pastor and minister
for 40 years. He loved being a pastor to the fullest and loved God’s people. He lived for
this. Dr. John touched many lives across the United States. He believed in outreach,
fellowshipping, and giving to other pastors and ministries.
Dr. John Woods was one of the first professors at Crenshaw Christian Center’s
School of Ministry in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Frederick K. C. Price was also
Dr. John Woods’ pastor. John faithfully served on many Boards of Directors. He served
the longest on the Board of Directors with his very dear friend, Dr. Jerry Savelle of Jerry
Savelle Ministries International in Crowley, Texas. He served on the President’s Cabinet
and the Mission Boards for over 30 years. He also served as a faculty member for
American Baptist Seminary of the West, Bethel Graduate School of Theology, Ministry
Training Academy and Echoes of Faith Bible School. Dr. John Woods traveled
extensively across the United States and to foreign countries. He traveled to the Holy
Land, Africa, Germany, France, Russia, Canada, Mexico, Bahamas, Singapore, and
Japan.
Dr. John Woods was truly consistent and faithful, and was a dedicated husband,
father, grandfather, great-great grandfather and man of God. He loved his family greatly
and was always very proud of them. He had a huge heart and would give the shirt off of
his back for anyone. He will surely be missed and forever be in our hearts. Rest well thy
good and faithful servant! Well done!
John was preceded in death by his lovely wife, Willa Marie, on July 16, 2017 and
leaves to cherish in memory, his four children: Dr. Reginald Woods (Nicole) and their
children Jason (sons Andrew and Alex Woods), Brandon and Leilani Woods; Dexter
Woods; Regina Prater (Steve, Sr., departed to be with Christ) and their children
Stephen, Jr. and Raquel Prater; Dominic Woods, Sr. (Jennifer) and their children
Dominic, Jr., Joshua, Jayden, Jordan, and Jenaiya Woods; Two brothers, James
Woods (Emma) and Albert Woods; LaDonna Woods-Williams (Niece); great great
grandchildren, Aliza, Josiah, and Madelyn Woods; and a host of cousins, family, and
many dear friends. He is now reunited with his wife, Willa Marie Woods. May they both
rest in peace.
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Memories & condolences
I was sad to learn of Dr. Woods’ transition. Family, you have Anthony’s and my sincere condolences. We know to be absen…
I was sad to learn of Dr. Woods’ transition. Family, you have Anthony’s and my sincere condolences.…
I was sad to learn of Dr. Woods’ transition. Family, you have An…
My love and condolences to Regina Woods Prater and the entire Woods family. May the peace of God and sustaining power o…
My love and condolences to Regina Woods Prater and the entire Woods family. May the peace of God an…
My love and condolences to Regina Woods Prater and the entire Wo…
Dr. Reginald Woods and Family
May the tenderness and grace of God be a refuge like no other. God understands your sorrow…
May the tenderness and grace of God be a refuge like no other. God understands your sorrow…
Dr. Reginald Woods and Family
May the tenderness and grace of God be a refuge like no other. God und…
May the tenderness and grace of God be a refuge like no other. God und…
Dr. Reginald Woods and Family
May the tenderness and grace of God…
May the tenderness and grace of God…
To The Woods Family,
We know your dad would want us to be happy for him.
God will continue to be your helper to comfort…
We know your dad would want us to be happy for him.
God will continue to be your helper to comfort…
To The Woods Family,
We know your dad would want us to be happy for him.
God will continue to be yo…
We know your dad would want us to be happy for him.
God will continue to be yo…
To The Woods Family,
We know your dad would want us to be happy f…
We know your dad would want us to be happy f…
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Reginald Woods (Dr. John's son).
