Dorothy Rose Woodward

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Collier-Butler Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation for family and friends will begin at 11:00 a.m., with the funeral service following at 12:00 p.m. with Mr. Larry Fuhrman officiating, and Collier-Butler Funeral Home will direct the service. Burial will follow at Crestwood Memorial Cemetery.

Mrs. Woodward was a native and lifelong resident of Glencoe, Alabama. She graduated from Glencoe High School and later attended Jacksonville State University, where she earned her teaching degree.

She was a member of First Baptist Church of Glencoe during her teenage years. Then after graduating from college, she worked as a secretary at First Baptist Church of Attalla before beginning a remarkable 58-year career in education. Over those years she taught and served students at East Gadsden Junior High School, Etowah High School, Gadsden State Community College, and Gadsden High School. Teaching was not just her profession but her calling, and she impacted generations of students.

Throughout those same years, Mrs. Woodward remained active in church life and ministry. She was involved in music and youth choir programs at 12th Street Baptist Church, Hopkins Baptist mission of 12th Street, and Southside Baptist Church, faithfully serving and encouraging young people.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John Thomas Raley and Mozelle Wheeler Raley; her husband of 49 years, Billy Gene Woodward; brother-in-law Robert “Bob” Barnes; and nephew Craig Robert Barnes.

She is survived by her sisters, Nina Raley Barnes and Jonnie Raley Griffin; niece Elizabeth “Libby” Barnes; great-nephew Tanner Robert Barnes; and many cousins, dear friends, and countless former students whose lives she touched throughout her many years of teaching.

Pallbearers will be Freddie Hooie, Jeffrey Hooie, Tim Hutchins, Matthew Hutchins, Kirk Street, and Steve Lee. Honorary pallbearers will be Jerry Jacobs, Johnny Lee and Liam Hutchins.

The family extends special thanks to her devoted daily caregivers (all 8 of you), the staff of Amedisys Hospice of Gadsden, Freddie and Dawn Hooie, Carla Rhodes, Grady Norton, and the many family members and friends who supported and cared for her.