Mattie Woods

Mattie Woods was born January 22, 1947 in Preston, Maryland, the tenth of eleven children of the late Mrs. Jessie Turner Woods and the late Rev. John W. Woods, Sr. Mattie peacefully departed this life to be with the Lord on Monday, June 19, 2017 at the Pinnacle Health Community General Osteopathic Hospital in Harrisburg, PA after a valiant battle with multiple sclerosis. Mattie and her twin sister Hattie were the second set of twins in this close, loving, Christian family. She was 70 years old. Mattie grew up with her family in Caroline County Maryland. She graduated from Lockerman High School in Denton, MD as Honorarian in her Class of 1965. She continued her formal education at Maryland State College (now the University of Maryland Eastern Shore) in Princess Anne for one year before transferring to Virginia State University in Petersburg, VA, where in 1970 she received her BS degree in Library Science with a minor in French. She received her Master of Science degree in Library Science with a specialty in Communications/Computer based data in 1979 from Clarion University in Pennsylvania. In her youth Mattie accepted Christ as her Savior and was baptized at Harmony Missionary Baptist Church (then located in Preston, MD) under the pastorate of her grandfather, the late Rev. D. R. Turner. She was an active participant in church, whether serving in Sunday School, singing on the church choir, participating in various church pageantries, or giving impromptu inspirational addresses. She and her twin sister Hattie often sang duets at church gatherings, beginning as young as pre-school age singing such songs as “Jesus is Mine” and “Yes, Jesus Loves Me.” When she relocated to Harrisburg, PA she united with Goodwin Memorial Baptist Church, where she faithfully attended until her health began to fail her. Daily she listened to devotional passages and/or religious programs. She found great inspiration in them, with one of her favorite passages being: Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. (John 14:1). Mattie enjoyed life, learning, and being of service to others. She had a very pleasant personality, beautiful smile, a flair for fashionable dress, and a positive outlook on life. She was an avid reader. In her professional career, she was a librarian. She served as Head Librarian at John Harris High School of the Harrisburg School District from 1970-1972. Beginning in 1972 she was Circulation Services Librarian for the McCormick Library at Harrisburg Area Community College in PA. After 32 years of service, she retired as professor of Information Science and French. Once when asked why she decided on a library career, she replied, “I feel that a career in Library Science offers me humanistic fulfillment, needed variety, cultural and intellectual stimulation, and unlimited flexibility.” Among her professional affiliations was membership in the American Library Association, the Pennsylvania Library Association, Beta Phi Mu International Library Science Honor Society, the American Association of University Professors, and the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education. Included among her honors and special recognitions are biographical listings in the International Who’s Who in Education (1980) and Outstanding Contributions to Education. In the community Mattie continued active involvements. She was an advisory committee member for Hemlock Girl Scout Troops in G-9 Service Unit (Harrisburg area) and recipient of the certificate of merit for her work with Troop No. 809 of Girl Scouts of America. She was a member of the NAACP, an advisory committee member for Community Service Group in Harrisburg; a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Harrisburg Alumnae Chapter, where she served as chapter president 1997-1999. Mattie, often with her twin sister Hattie, delighted in traveling, listening to music, engaging in creative activities, and attending theatrical performances with season tickets to Hershey Theatre. They traveled across continental USA to nearly every state and to many of the historic landmarks and tourist attractions such as Niagara Falls, Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Canyons, the Alamo, Rushmore, to name a few. Mattie traveled to Hawaii and Puerto Rico, visiting aspects of non-mainland USA, as well as to places outside of the country such as Canada, Mexico, England, Germany, France, Austria, Venezuela, and cruising the Caribbean Islands. She also enjoyed watching and participating in sports, cooking, and engaging in civic activities. Mattie’s diagnosis of MS came in her later years. As the disease progressed, she never complained, but with a smile would respond, “I’m doing OK.” She found comfort in the scripture: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:4) Those preceding her in death are her parents Rev. and Mrs. John W Woods, Sr. of Preston, Maryland; her brother Benjamin Woods and her sister-in-law Shirley Carter Woods, both of Montgomery, Alabama. She leaves to cherish her memory six sisters: Hattie Woods of Harrisburg, Pa, Alice Watkins of Atlantic City, NJ, Ezola Webb of Preston, MD, Cozy (Newlin) Street of Smyrna, DE, Jessie Woods of Dover, DE, and Willie Woods of Easton, MD; three brothers, Maurice (Lynda) Woods of Cleveland, OH, Rev. Alfred (Bertie) Woods of Front Royal, VA, and John (Linda) Woods, Jr. of Chesapeake, VA; nieces, Vernell J. Watkins of Atlantic City, NJ, Rhonda Scott-Dingwall of Washington, DC, Misty Brown of Raleigh, NC, and Sherri (Jeffrey) Spratt of Gahanna, OH; Nephews, Darnell Watkins of Atlantic City, NJ, Anthony Woods and Donald Woods of Cleveland, OH, Steven Woods of Alexandria, VA.; a god-son, Jason Hutchins in NC; a host of cousins [including Robert (Clara) Turner and Martha Dickerson, all of Federalsburg, MD and Nazelle Jefferson of Jackson, MS, grand nieces and nephews, and other relatives and friends. Lovingly submitted, The Family To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mattie Woods, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

Mattie Woods

January 22, 1947 - June 19, 2017