Woods DeLay Dixon

Woods was born on January 1, 1967 in Washington, DC to Sewell Hinton Dixon, Jr., MD of Atlanta, GA and Elizabeth Denison Dixon of Roanoke, VA. She grew up in Greensboro, NC, where she and her sister Kilby enjoyed a “charmed childhood” as she described it. She naturally excelled in academic pursuits as well as sports, and spent many days making memories playing tennis, riding bikes, and having loads of fun with friends. Time spent at Kiawah Island, SC provided countless meaningful moments over the course of decades.

In every setting, Woods’s enviable beauty shined warmly. Thanks to her charismatic personality, she was always popular in social circles, and friendships blossomed easily. Woods’s parents were her anchors, and they loved and adored her unconditionally. She grew up in a loving, kind, and supportive environment, which she and her sister cherished, and independence, adventure, and excellence were forever engrained in her fabric. Choosing to spread her wings, she attended St. Catherine’s School in Richmond, Virginia, where she continued to flourish. She went on to the University of Virginia and joined Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, graduating in 1989 with a BA in Foreign Affairs and a minor in Italian, with honors. Her determination and confidence led her to Italy after college, and the years spent there further enriched her life. She eventually returned to the United States to attend graduate school, earned an International MBA from the University of South Carolina, and surprised no one by finishing at the top of her class. She relocated to Houston, TX to be near her sister and niece Elizabeth, and soon thereafter adopted her beloved dog Chase, whom, as Woods always said, was her “best friend.”

After well over a decade of working in international sales and marketing, a desire to help others stirred in Woods’s heart, and she developed an interest in mental health. She took the courageous leap to change her professional trajectory and studied to become a licensed psychotherapist, her true passion and calling. She impressively earned a second master’s degree with honors in 2014 from the University of Houston-Clear Lake in Counseling and Counseling Psychology. Since that time, Woods helped guide numerous clients, who were the light of her world. She will always be remembered as a devoted, empathetic therapist, who enriched the lives of so many.

She was diagnosed with endometrial cancer in 2024, and because her clients provided such a source of profound meaning and purpose, as well as sincere inspiration, she continued in her practice until the week before her death. She faced the reality of the disease and its treatment with incredible grace and admirable strength, setting an example for her loved ones to live by.

Woods was strong in her Christian faith, took great delight in relationships, loved to travel, and relished in sunsets, beaches, and the water. She made a conscious effort to appreciate the finer things in life and joyfully shared with others how to do the same. Many thanks go to all those who bolstered her with invaluable prayers, time, and support, especially in her last chapter of life.

She is survived by her sister, Kilby Dixon Hoskins (husband Paolo Passaro) of Houston; her niece, Elizabeth Archer Hoskins, of Brooklyn, NY; close cousins; and friends she considered family.

A small family service to celebrate her remarkable life will take place at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Greensboro, NC on April 29, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to The Denison Society, c/o The Denison Homestead; P.O. Box 42; Mystic, CT 06355. Or visit denisonhomestead.org. (Please click on the “Donate” button on the home page and indicate your memorial gift in the “Additional Information” section.)