Lydia Waynette Woods

On Wednesday, May 16, 1979, a quiet storm was born in a small town in Mississippi. It was there that Lydia Waynette Woods was born to Henry Oliver and Karen Jeanette Clark, and would begin her journey touching the lives of everyone she encountered.

Lydia worked for Greer’s Grocery for several years as a meat cutter – and was amazing at her job. Her most recent position was with Circle K, and had just passed her test in manager training.

Lydia was shy to a fault, but never met a stranger. Whether you knew her for five minutes or five years, you would walk away knowing you had a friend. She was also infallibly generous. Lydia would give you the shirt off of her back. She would often stop to help strangers on the side of the road – caring nothing for her personal safety – just to make sure someone wasn’t stranded or hurt.

One of the main things that anyone who knew Lydia would point out, however, is her undying devotion and love for Auburn University. She and her wife, Jacqueline, celebrated many life events by going to an Auburn football game. Lydia bled blue and orange – down to her very toes – and made sure everyone knew it.

Lydia and her wife Jacqueline have been together for seventeen years, and were married on October 27, 2015. Jacqueline made Lydia comfortable. She gave Lydia the strength and stability to be herself. They loved taking mini-vacations – whether it was to stay in Jacqueline’s mother’s boat for the night, take a stroll on the beach, or head to Biloxi. She adored the beach. Lydia (although self admittedly not very good at it) loved to dance, and loved dancing with her wife. For all of the trips they took, Lydia was also a homebody. She and Jacqueline would be perfectly happy staying in, dragging pallets into the living room for movie night.

On Friday, March 1, 2024, Lydia was taken from us too soon. A candlelight vigil was held in her honor, and her family was blessed to learn just how much of an impact Lydia made on the people around her. We may not be able to see her, but her legacy will always live on.

Lydia was preceded in death by her parents; and the grandparents who raised her, William and Waudenia Clark.

Left to cherish her memory is her loving wife, Jacqueline Woods; daughter, Samantha Woods (Jonathan Williams); son, Anthony Turner; son, Andre Woods; son, Jaden Turner; son, Hunter Turner; son, Johnathan Mauldin; and grandchildren, Javian Williams and Anthony Holland.

Visitation for Lydia will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2024 from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. at Pine Crest Funeral Home on Dauphin Island Parkway in Mobile, with a chapel service immediately following. Interment will be in Pine Crest Cemetery.