Josephine Mitchell Woods

Josephine “Dodie” Mitchell Woods passed away on Saturday, May 23, 2015. She was born on September 3, 1936 to Harry Dorsey Mitchell and Josephine Moyer Mitchell in Washington, DC. She graduated from the Madeira School for Girls in 1955 and was married to Lemuel P. (Phil) Woods, Jr. from Tampa on June 7, 1957. She quickly became involved in numerous philanthropic activities including the Junior League of Tampa, where she was a member for 51 years. She was a board member of the downtown YWCA and she taught art and cooking classes there to children. She was an active volunteer in Hillsborough County School’s SERVe Program during its initial years. She was gifted with an ability to use her artistic talents in different areas. She was an excellent seamstress and chef and loved to entertain and she passed these passions on to her daughters. She was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church for over 50 years. She created and painted the needlepoint canvases for the altar kneelers for several local episcopal churches. She was an avid tennis and bridge player and an accomplished sport fisherman. Dodie was a devoted mother, sister, daughter, and aunt. She was always involved in her children’s activities as a Girl Scout leader, softball team mom, ballet seamstress, and chauffer to the many activities her three daughters were involved in. She is survived by her three daughters, Julie Johnson (Jim Bowers), Betsy Smith (Arthur), Pam Keene (Bruce), three grandchildren, Ashley Messer (Steve), Travis Johnson, and Phillip Smith, her sister, Ann Brasfield, niece, Melanie Blonshine (Kevin) and great nephew, Wyatt Blonshine, and a number of other relatives and close friends. A graveside service for immediate family will be held on Saturday, June 13 followed by a private celebration of Dodie’s life. The family will also have a celebration of her life in Boca Grande at a later date. The family would like to thank Tara Holmes, Joslyn Stone, Taylee Thompson, Nicola Pascarella, Laurie Levinger, and Lifepath Hospice Burgundy Team for their loving care during Dodie’s final weeks. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Dodie’s memory may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association, The American Cancer Society, The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, or Metropolitan Ministries. The family would like to acknowledge your support and sympathy during this difficult time.