Obituary of Jessie B. Woodard

Jessie Bell Woodard was born August 23, 1938 in Greene County, North Carolina to Reverend Providence Blount and Bettie Adams Blount. She went home to be with the lord on Monday, August 24, 2020. Jessie was the fourth of nine children, and attended school in Ayden, North Carolina. She worked for Cornet Cleaners in Margate, New Jersey for 15 years, later working for various retail clothing shops. She lastly worked for Bendix Cleaners in Atlantic City and Childcare Network of Linwood, New Jersey, both for many years until her retirement. Jessie was a member of Second Baptist Church in Atlantic City, where she served faithfully in several ministries for over 63 years. She loved the Lord and her church family. She served as Youth Director of Second Baptist for over 25 years. She started the Women's Ministry in the church, for over 50 years she was a member of the Eva Pettus Missionary Society. She was a Sunday school teacher for over 66 years. Jessie was very active in the Bethany Baptist Association, having served as Youth Director. She was also very active with the Atlantic County Sunday School and BTU Congress having served as secretary. She was a longtime member of Atlantic County's Maude S. Walker Missionary Society. Jessie was a den mother for the Cub Scouts, and had taught sewing in the district of Pleasantville with her great friend, Hattie Newby. She loved to sew for everyone and loved mentoring youth and women. Jessie is predeceased by her husband, James Arthur Woodard; her parents, Providence and Bettie Blount; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Arthur and Carrie Woodard; sister and brother-in-law, Lillie Mae and Leslie Williams, brother and sister-in-law, Bishop Robert L. and Rosa Mar Blount; brother-in-law, Mike Thompson; sister Silva Jane Blount; sister and brother-in-law, Bettie Ralph Loftin; brother Providence Blount, Jr.; niece Annettee Blount; nephews, Ronald, Craig, and Rodney Blount; brothers-in-law, Jon Earl Woodard, Willie Clay Woodard, Jimmy Eugene Miller and Isaiah Mack; sister-in-law, Carrie Mack. Jessie is survived by her son, Curtis T Gunn, Jr. daughter-in-law, Melissa R. Gunn; her sisters, Hazel Grey Thompson and Susan Dorn; brother-in-law, Gene Allen Dorn; sisters-in-law, Marie Miller and Yvonne Blount; a host of nieces, nephews, longtime friends, honorary sister friend, Patricia Ashe (of 60 years), and honorary daughter friend, Andrea Atkins Turner. Lovingly Submitted, The Family