Pastor Dr. M.E. "Chip" Woods, Sr.

Pastor Marvin Eugene “Chip” Woods, Sr., resident of the Bolivar Community, former resident of the Somerville Community, Pastor of Bolivar Church of God and husband of Jane Woods died Saturday evening, April 14, 2012 at the Bolivar General Hospital. He was 71 years of age and died unexpectedly after a brief illness.

Funeral services for Pastor Woods were conducted at 10 A.M. Wednesday, April 18th at the Bolivar First Baptist Church with Rev. Lee Denton Wright of Cleveland, Tennessee officiating, assisted by other ministerial friends. Interment followed in the Fayette County Memorial Park Cemetery on Highway 64 at Oakland. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes and Cremation Center — West Chapel of Oakland.

Pastor Woods was born December 7, 1940 in Lambert, Mississippi to Bolivar and Ollie Mae Self Woods, sharecrop cotton farmers. He was the tenth child of twelve. During his childhood, the family also lived in Arkansas and Arizona.

In his 71 years, he pastored eight Tennessee congregations in the Church of God, which is headquartered in Cleveland, Tennessee. He spent the last eleven years as Pastor at the Bolivar Church of God and formerly served as Pastor of the Somerville Church of God.

Dr. Woods earned his B.S. in Education from the University of Memphis, his MS ThD. from the Church of God School of Divinity as one of the first five graduates. He received his PhD. from Slidell Baptist University.

He was an avid poet and lifetime member of the Tennessee Poetry Society, singer, composer and accomplished musician. He played many musical instruments and was a luthier, having built twenty-six dulcimers. He was a roofer and builder, having built numerous houses in Memphis and Fayette County. He was instrumental in building churches and working in other mission building projects, most notably a Parsonage project in Molakai, Hawaii. He enjoyed traveling and one of his favorite trips was going to Israel. He also enjoyed gardening and working with his hands. His favorite activity of all was attending church, often mentioning how much he loved going to worship. He was very involved in the community and participating in several local civic organizations.

Pastor Woods is survived by his wife of 52 years, Jane Bingham Woods of Bolivar; three sons, Mark Woods (Kathy) of Saulbury, TN, Kevin J. Woods (Lisa) of Atoka, TN, Galen N.B. Woods of Memphis, TN; four sisters, Elise Grimes of Grenada, MS, Bernice Hall of Pope, MS, Dora McNatt of Grenada, MS, Ouida Schrader of Holly Springs, MS; two brothers, Russell Woods of Grenada, MS, Wayne Woods of Meno, OK; seven grandchildren, five great grandchildren, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, a great many nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends.

He had a GREAT passion for the Word of God and loved ALL people.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Bolivar Church of God, 15650 Highway 64 East, Bolivar, TN 38008.