Joy Lucile Woodard

We thank God for this beautiful day. Our Mother is no longer in pain. The enemy is stilled and Mother is with our Lord and Savior. David , Lucy, and Barbara had the honor to be at her side Friday morning, Sept. 16, 2011, as she left her sick, earthly body and entered the Gates of Heaven.

Joy Lucile Register Woodard was born on Nov. 4, 1926 in Jacksonville, Florida. She was the eldest daughter of Jim and Lucile Register. She is survived by her sisters, Jeannette (George) Chrisman of Orange Park, Fl. and Patricia Haugdahl of Hollywood, Fl.

Joy is also survived by her children Barbara Harris of Jacksonville, Fl., Lucy Fellers of Katy, Tx., and David (Carolyn) Woodard of Bellaire, Tx. five grandchildren, Cathy (Scott) Hendricks of Jacksonville, Fl., Matthew (Mandy) Woodard of Richmond, Tx., Melissa Fellers of Houston, Tx., Jeremy Woodard of Houston, Tx., and Erin Sawyer of Houston, Tx., seven great grandchildren, Ethan Woodard, Cody Sawyer, Kyan Hendricks, Parker Woodard, Camdyn Hendricks, Kellen Hendricks, and Dakota Navarrete.

She is predeceased by her husband David E. Woodard, Sr., and her 1st great grandson, Tyler Woodard.

Joy was an active member of the Gibson Class and UMW at Bellaire UMC. She served on the telephone committee, delivered Meals on Wheels, and also delivered flowers to shut-ins at home and in the hospital. She had a Hospital Board displayed so that church members could see updated information of church members in the hospital. She also made contributions to the School for Little Children and purchased cribs, toys, and supplies for the nursery.

Other memberships included Bellaire Chapter #1021 of the O.E.S., auxiliary member of the Houston Retired Officers Association, Bellaire Chapter #1374 of A.A.R.P., field representative of the WIMSA, (Women in Military Service to America).

Patriotism was important to Joy. She petitioned the Bellaire City Council to replace the flag in front of City Hall. The small American and Texas flags on the City Council members' desks were placed there at her suggestion. She requested the editor of the Houston Chronicle to offer the use of the American flag emblem to families for use in their obituary.

As a field representative for WIMSA, Joy petitioned the Florida and Texas State Legislatures to pass legislation to increase state funding for the building and maintenance of the Women's Memorial in Washington, D.C. She subscribed to military newspapers to look for articles about women. She sent them to the Memorial office so these women's names could be placed in the Book of Remembrance.

In place of flowers, Joy's personal request is for donations to be sent to the Shriners Children's Hospital, Houston. www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org