Obituary of Zella Dew Woody

COLUMBIA—Zella Dew Woody went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, June 23, 2013. Born in Vance County, NC, to the late William Thomas and Mary Grace Woody, she was known as Dew by her family and Zella or Woody by her co-workers and many friends. Predeceased by her parents, two brothers, and five sisters, she is survived by nine nieces and nephews. A Meredith College graduate, she earned her Master's in Christian Education at the WMU Training School of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY. Zella Dew retired in 1995 from the Woman's Missionary Union (WMU) of SC where she led with distinction missions education for several age-level organizations including YWA, Baptist Young Women, Baptist Women, and WMU Consultant. Prior to her 37 years with WMU, she served as Minister of Education in congregations in North Carolina and Alabama. A well-known and beloved Baptist missions speaker, retreat leader, and trainer, she spoke and taught across the southeast and other states including Hawaii and Alaska. She taught missions conferences at Southern Baptist Conference Centers: Ridgecrest in NC and Glorietta in New Mexico. An indefatigable worker, a trusted friend, a devoted servant of the Lord, she demonstrated a faithful and deep devotion to prayer and study. Friends knew her as a true prayer warrior. A member of First Baptist Church Columbia since 1957, she taught for many years in the church's Ministry to Internationals and was a leader in the congregation's Baptist Women and Woman's Missionary Union. She served many years on the Columbia Metro Baptist Association WMU leadership team, volunteered at the Women's Prison, was active in the International Education Exchange and served on the Board of the Columbia Council for Internationals. In 2009, she was Awarded Life Membership by the Board of Directors of the Columbia Council for Internationals. Woody was a world traveler who arranged and led tour groups to many places in the states and Israel. At the age of 86 she traveled to Germany attending the Oberammergau Passion Play--fulfilling a life-long desire. The family thanks Valerie Mosley and Leona Evins for their compassionate care; and expresses deep appreciation and love to her long-time friend, Nancy Brown, who provided and coordinated care as Dew's health declined. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, July 8, 2013 at Boyce Chapel of First Baptist Church of Columbia, SC, 1306 Hampton Street, Columbia, SC 29201 A graveside service and burial will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, July 12, 2013 in Island Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, 950 Stagecoach Road, Henderson, NC 27537. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her memory to the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions, First Baptist Church Columbia, 1306 Hampton St., Columbia, SC 29201; or to SC WMU, 190 Stoneridge Dr., Columbia, SC 29210.