Funeral Services for Robert Ellzey “Woody” Woodall of Bogue Chitto are noon on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014, at Arlington Baptist Church in Lincoln County with burial in the church cemetery. The Rev. Huey Moak will officiate. Pallbearers will be Bobby Radcliffe, Andrew Woodall, Cody Nunnery, Jeremy Brown, Scott Dunaway and Gordon Wallace. Honorary pallbearers will be Thomas Edwards and Marshall London. Jones Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation is Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014, from 10 a.m. until time of service at Arlington Baptist Church.

Mr. Woodall, 88, died Nov. 10, 2014, at his residence. He was born on Sept. 25, 1926, in Bogue Chitto to Clem and Ruth Woodall.

Mr. Woodall was reared in Bogue Chitto, where he attended Arlington High School. During his senior year of high school, Uncle Sam summoned him to serve his country. On graduation night, while his mother accepted his diploma, he was thousands of miles away in Manila. Upon discharge from the Army, he began his college education and graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. He had little opportunity to establish himself in a career, for in the fall of that year, Uncle Sam said he again needed him, this time for the Korean conflict. When he was discharged in September 1951, he chose Gulfport as his home.

While at USM, he met and married his wife, Vanga, of 55 years. He was also a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.

He began his banking carrier in 1952 as a teller for Hancock Bank. He worked in general books, purchasing and accrual, and was promoted to bank comptroller in 1965. He was responsible for financial reporting and taxes. In 1977, he was selected the “Sales Person” of the year for the bank. He is a graduate of the National Association of Bank Auditors and Comptrollers at the University of Wisconsin. He was past president of the Tri-State Chapter of Bank Administration Institute and was a member of the American Institute of Banking.

He was actively engaged in Boy Scouting activities for a number of years. He served as activities chairman and advancement chairman of Cub Pack #301 and was the recipient of the Pine Burr and Silver Beaver Awards for outstanding service.

He was very active in community affairs along the coast across the years and had the following accomplishments to his credit: past area vice president of the Mississippi Jaycees, past president of the Gulfport Jaycees, past president of the Gulfport Lion’s Club, and chairman of West Harrison County March of Dimes. He held various offices in the junior Chamber of Commerce, including the presidency of the local chapter and the vice-president of the state organization. He is also a past president of the Gulfport Chamber of Commerce.

He was a member of the Bboard of the William Carey College Foundation and was active in fundraising for other charitable causes. Robert Woodall was a long-time, faithful member of the Gulfport Noon Lions Club, where he fulfilled many responsibilities over the years, including a club presidency.

He was an avid golfer. He won the 1983 Broadwater County Club Past President’s Tournament in 1983 and once made a hole-in-one on the Diamondhead course. He was also a member of the Gulfport Yacht Club.

He was a longstanding member of the First Baptist Church of Gulfport, where his activities included teaching boys’ Sunday School for a number of years.

After retirement from Hancock Bank, Mr. Woodall and his wife moved to Bogue Chitto. He was very active in Arlington Baptist Church and particularly enjoyed his fellowship with the senior group. He raised cattle and was proud when children from his community took many of his herd to the State Fair to win awards.

Preceding him in death were his first wife, Vanga; his brothers, Clifton and Lowery; and his sisters, Winnie, Margaret and Mabel.

Survivors are his second wife, Mildred; and her sons, Sid Sasser, Danny Sasser, Larry Sasser and Bruce Forshee and her daughters, Sharon King and Sheila Carter; his sister, Alice “Dollie” Allen; three sons, Dr. Ronald Woodall of Hattiesburg, Wayne Woodall and wife, Jeannie, of Gulfport and Dale Woodall and wife, Sandra, of Madison; his daughter, Wanda Radcliffe of Pensacola Beach, Florida; and four grandchildren, Lauren, Bobby, Rebecca and Andrew.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Mr. Woodall’s caretakers, Norma Holcomb, Missy Hardin and Peggy Porter and to St. Luke’s Home Health Care and Hospice.