Rev. Glenn Woodie

Rev. Glenn Norman Woodie, age 80, of Jefferson, N.C., was called home to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 26, 2016 while staying at The Laurels of Hendersonville Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after a recent hospitalization due to congestive heart failure. Rev. Woodie was born on November 21, 1935 in West Jefferson, N.C. to the late Edward "Ed" Hampton Woodie and Bertie "Ethel" Sexton Woodie. He was also preceded in death by 3 brothers, Quincy Woodie, Edward Hampton Woodie, Jr. (June), Clyde Woodie, and two infant sisters, Virginia Dare Woodie and baby girl Woodie (unnamed). Rev. Glenn Woodie was a member of Temple Baptist Church in West Jefferson, N.C. where he served as former Pastor for 26 years. He retired from the N.C. Dept. of Transportation after 20 years of service. He will also be remembered for working with Gambill Oil Company, along with driving a truck and selling R.C. Colas for many years.
Rev. Woodie's life was encircled around God's ministry and doing things to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was licensed to preach in 1950 and was ordained in 1951 at Mt. Olive Baptist Church. He has assisted in over 100 funerals, helped in many revivals throughout Ashe County, and conducted many weddings over the years. Many people referred to him as "Preacher Woodie".
He loved reading and studying his Bible, preaching God's word, leading people to the Lord, praying with them, seeing people get saved and then being baptized! He loved helping people, visiting and praying with the sick in the hospitals, nursing homes and out in the community. He was often called upon to go down to the hospital and nursing home to pray with people that were very sick and dying. He would try to lead them to the Lord before it was too late. He would often preach on Sunday morning, visit people all Sunday afternoon, and then preach again on Sunday night. He would get up and go to work on his public job the next day. Throughout the course of his ministry, Rev. Woodie served as pastor to 9 Ashe County churches.
Rev. Woodie had a passion to help support the young preachers that were just getting started in the ministry. He believed in encouraging them and giving them an opportunity to preach in the pulpit to others.
He especially loved to give out (and leave) gospel tracts wherever he went. He would always say, "You never know what one little tract may do to help someone come to know the Lord." He risked being told he couldn't give them out in some places, but he was not discouraged by that. Even while spending a few days at the Laurels of Hendersonville, he still gave out some gospel tracts.
When Glenn was born, he was born pre-maturely (6 months gestation) and weighed only 1 ½ pounds. His head was only the size of a door knob. His mother was told he wouldn't live because he was so little. She pinned his clothes to a bed pillow so she could carry him around. She pulled out a drawer from the chest of drawers in her bedroom for him to lay in for his protection. His dad said he was going to grow up to be a preacher someday. His mother prayed and prayed for God to let him live. As he grew into a young boy, he helped his mother by taking care of his younger siblings. She would put him in charge when she had to go to town or somewhere. Sometimes the siblings referred to him as being like a "mother hen" over them. He had to help keep up with them which was not easy!
Glenn was 13 years old when he attended a meeting at the neighbor's house while the family was living in North Wilkesboro, N.C. It was there that he was saved and gave his life to the Lord. Right after getting saved, this ordinary 13 year old boy was out in the yard when he heard and answered God's call to preach the gospel. His ministry started as he preached in some of the neighbors' homes. After the family moved back to West Jefferson, N.C., Glenn would walk to town and carry his Bible out to The Old West Jefferson Hotel that his uncle Everett O. Woodie owned. They had a special room that was just for the preachers that came in to town to stay in during revivals. Glenn's uncle, Rev. E.Z. Sexton, was also one that came to meet with other preachers. They would visit several different churches for revivals. He learned a lot by reading, studying the Bible, and going to church with the other preachers.
Glenn's uncle, Everett O. Woodie, built him a platform to stand on to preach behind the Old Hotel every Saturday. He stood by the railroad tracks in West Jefferson preaching to the passengers getting on and off the train. He preached on the sidewalk and at the street corner to whoever would listen. He shared just a simple message that Jesus loved them, and that He gave His life and died on the cross for them so that they could be saved and go to Heaven. "Ye must be born again", he would say. He said no one ever asked him to leave or stop doing what he was doing. He felt that is what God wanted him to do. His message in a nutshell to young people was, "Read your Bible, study and pray. God will give you the wisdom you need for whatever you are going through." God took an ordinary 13 year old boy who was going about doing the usual things ordinary boys do, and then used him and did some extraordinary and unusual things with his life that would be unheard of today!
Rev. Woodie once led a week-long revival in the Jefferson Courthouse! He was allowed to have a piano carried up the steps to the courtroom where they met in the evening for the services! Different preachers would preach at night from the same stand that was used by the judges of the courts during the day. Once, the janitor told him the revival services must end and all the people must be out by 9:00 PM. Rev. Woodie told him it is not possible to always know when the Holy Spirit will stop working in the services when people are getting saved. When the people in charge of the Court House were approached about it, they then gave Rev. Woodie a key so he could lock up when the services were over!
He loved good gospel singing! Many years ago he coordinated Sunday afternoon singings in the Jefferson Court House. He has also coordinated some all-day preaching and singing events with "dinner on the grounds" during summer months on top of Mount Jefferson and on White Top Mountain in Virginia. A Park Ranger at Mount Jefferson told Rev. Woodie approximately 1500 people had attended that particular event, which was an extraordinary number for that time period. He has also held singings at Shatley Springs.
Years ago, he coordinated supportive efforts for the N.C. Baptist Children's Home in Thomasville, N.C. People gathered fresh fruits, vegetables, and donated other supplies to load the truck so it would be completely full when they took it down. He loved the little children! Little children loved him!! In fact, he was "Papaw" to many. Dozens of little children that stayed at his wife's home daycare through the years referred to him as "Papaw". From time to time he coordinated "poundings" for people that were in need in the community. People donated food, clothing and supplies to help those in need and having a hard time.
Rev. Woodie dearly loved his family and referred to them as his pride and joy! He loved his wife of almost 59 years and all his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He would frequently say, "I wouldn't take a million dollars or the whole world for my children and grandchildren if somebody offered it to me. I am proud of all you children." He carried some pictures of his family in his wallet, but the first picture that was seen was of Jesus.
He also loved all of his brothers, his sister, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was very family oriented and loved it "when they would all come up", have get-togethers for reunions, and spend holidays together! He loved making videos and having pictures made to capture the memories! He loved telling the family stories about Grandma and Grandpa Woodie and Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Woodie. He liked sentimental things "that had a story behind them." He loved to walk through the cemeteries to show his family where his people had been buried. He was proud of all his family. He referred to walking down "Memory Lane" in the cemetery. He loved sharing fond memories about the "good times" when he would spend time with his family while growing up. He believed in living a humble, simple life. He believed in having a life that could be filled with joy and contentment. His philosophy was to enjoy each day!
He enjoyed being outside working in the yard and riding his mower when he was able to. He loved painting things, especially with a certain shade of green paint! The children and grandchildren now refer to this special color of paint as "Woodie Green" which always made him smile and laugh when he heard them talk about it!
Everything that Rev. Woodie has preached about and lived for all those years has now turned into reality for him when he was called home to be with Jesus Christ, his Heavenly Father, Lord, and Savior. He finally got to see Jesus face to face! He has been able to hear and join the heavenly choir and be a part of the most beautiful singing imaginable!! He is enjoying being a part of a great family reunion in heaven!! The day before he passed on to glory he shared with the nurses and his daughter that he "loved Jesus!" He wanted his blinds raised up high by his bed so he could look outside to see the sun and the sky! He received so much joy listening to the WKSK Hymn Time that day and hearing songs he was familiar with. He would tap his foot on the bed and raise his hands as he smiled!!
A Celebration of Rev. Glenn Woodie's life will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at 2:00 PM at Temple Baptist Church in West Jefferson, N.C. Officiating at the services will be: Rev. Keith Woodie, Rev. Lloyd Day, Rev. Eddie Lewis, and Rev. Guy Testerman. The body will lie in state from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Burial will follow in the West Jefferson Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday, April 1, 2016 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Badger Funeral Home in West Jefferson.
Rev. Glenn Woodie leaves behind to remember and cherish his legacy that was filled with love and compassion for others: his wife of 58 years, Mrs. Arlene Paisley Woodie, 3 daughters, Mrs. Debra Rose and husband, Robert, of Morganton, N.C., Mrs. Linda Johnson and husband, David, of Conover, N.C., and Mrs. Rebecca "Becky" Winebarger and husband, Michael, of Asheville, N.C., and 1 son, David Glenn Woodie and wife, Theresa, of Hendersonville, N.C. Surviving are 6 Grandchildren: Brian Johnson and wife, Tarin of Sugar Grove, N.C., Jennifer Rose of Morganton, N.C., Andrew Winebarger and wife, Emily, of Greensboro, N.C., Rachel Winebarger of Asheville, N.C., Michaela Harwood and husband, Jacob, of Hendersonville, N.C., and Dayna Woodie of Hendersonville, N.C.; 3 Great-grandchildren: Natalie Carswell of Morganton, N.C., Callie Harwood and Joshua Glenn Harwood of Hendersonville, N.C. and another baby Harwood is on the way!
Also surviving: 1 sister, Shirley Sheets of West Jefferson, N.C,; 3 brothers, Vance Woodie, Doug Woodie and Kenny Woodie, all of West Jefferson, N.C. Many nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive.
Memorials may be made to Temple Baptist Church c/o Jerry and Polly Gilley at 987 Old Highway 16 Jefferson, N.C. 28640 and to The Gideons International at www.gideons.org P.O. Box 140800 Nashville, TN 37214.
An online Obituary and Tribute Wall is available. Words of comfort, remembrance, and condolences may be sent to the family online at www.badgerfuneralhome.com. Badger Funeral Home was entrusted with Rev. Woodie's arrangements.

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