Virgie M. Woods

MOMMA, GRANDMOMMIE, GREAT GRANDMOMMIE, FRIEND

Our family matriarch has been called to God’s Kingdom of Heaven. Her Legacy, Joy, Wisdom, Firmness, and Love for her family and friends will be passed on with her spirit and in her continuing presence hovering upon us all. We love you Momma, Grandmommie, Great Grandmommie and friend.

Born Virgie Mae Pierce, May 4, 1925 in Llano, Texas. She was preceded in death by Willie B (Bubba) Woods, her loving husband of 49 years. She was the daughter of Rev Homer and Virgie Pierce, sister of Roy D. Pierce and Timothy Pierce, who predeceased her.

She attended Tilliston College in Austin, Texas and later earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.

Hired by the Fontana Unified School District in 1957, she taught for 33 years. As an elementary teacher she taught all the grades 1 through 6 and several grades at a time in grade combination classrooms, at Redwood, Juniper and Maple Elementary schools. In 1965, she developed and coordinated the education curriculum for the North Fontana Head Start Program.

A life-long member of the United Methodist church (she was a preacher’s kid), she belonged to the Fontana United Methodist Church for nearly 40 years and in 2004 joined the Rancho Cucamonga United Methodist Church. As a member of the Fontana United Methodist Church she joined and participated in the WSCS, served in the Lay Ministry program, and represented the church on many occasions at the Annual Regional United Methodist Church Conference which was held in Redlands, California.

Virgie’s community memberships included board member of the Fontana YWCA; membership in the Delta Sigma Theta and Kappa Kappa Sororities; long time member of the California Teachers Association and an enthusiastic member of the North Fontana Fishing Club.

She devoted herself to her God, family, church, friends and the importance of a good education for everyone.

All those who knew her or just met her, knew that she was a passionate fan of the San Francisco Giants baseball team, especially of her “love for Willie Mays”. Over the years, her enthusiasm for baseball grew into an avid baseball card collection. Her hobbies consisted of collecting elephants, all types of elephants, figurines, brooches, necklaces, ear-rings, coffee cups, etc.; she also enjoyed crocheting while watching TV and playing the piano while singing, most of all she loved reading her Bible and writing down her thoughts about what the texts meant to her.

Virgie enjoyed spending time with her family, her grandchildren and especially her 4 great grandchildren. She enjoyed “hanging out” with her many friends at church and her Kappa Kappa sisters. Virgie was a special communicator, her fresh wit would have you laughing out loud in mere minutes after you were in her presence. She never met a stranger.

Virgie is survived by her daughters, Virginia M. Flanagin of Redlands; Sally B. Woods of Fontana; and son, John Reginald Woods of Dallas, Texas; her grandson, Franklin S Sullivan III, of Rialto; her granddaughter, Mia M Sullivan-Jackson (Darryl) of San Bernardino; her great-grandchildren Meihki McNeill, Andreas McNeill, Franklin S. Sullivan IV, and Kailey M. Sullivan; Sister-in-laws, Gloria Pierce of Austin, Texas and Evelina Pierce, Dallas, Texas and a host of friends.

Let us all join in the Celebration of Virgie’s going home. Always remembering the warmth of her companionship, her joy in life, the many smiles she bestowed on us, her strength of character, her sense of humor and most of all, the love of God that she brought to this place called Earth.