Mrs. Jane M. Hodges Woodard, age 88, of Davisboro peacefully passed away in her sleep on Sunday, August 15, 2021, at her residence. A graveside funeral service will be held on Friday, August 20th at 11:00 A.M. in the Davisboro City Cemetery. Reverend Ron Dixon will officiate. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. at the May and Smith Funeral Home in Sandersville while observing social distancing practices.
Mrs. Woodard was born in Jefferson County and reared in Davisboro, the daughter of the late Kenneth R. McNeely Sr. and the late Willie Jerigan McNeely. She graduated from the Davisboro High School prior to a lifetime of work in seametrey. Mrs. Woodard began her career with Royal Manufacturing. She also worked for Studdard Manufacturing before establishing her own business which she co-owned with Anne Renfroe, H and R Alterations, located in Downtown Sandersville. In retirement, Mrs. Woodard continued alterations in her home. She was a longtime member of the Davisboro United Methodist Church and was a faithful supporter of the Methodist Children’s Home. Mrs. Woodard was active in the Davisboro Volunteer Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary. She was considered an outgoing and compassionate person who loved to spend time in her garden tending to her roses. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Woodard is preceded in death by her first husband, Cecil Irvin Hodges; son-in-law, John M. Palmer Jr.; and siblings, Kenneth McNeely Jr., Earl McNeely, Brock McNeely, and Lois Glover.
Survivors include her husband, Samuel M. Woodard; daughter, Wanda H. Palmer; stepsons, Michael Woodard and his wife Annabell and John Woodard and his wife Mary Anne; grandchildren, John M. Palmer III, Michael Brent Palmer and his wife Anna, and Wesley Cecil Palmer; great-grandchildren, Trever Palmer, Shasha Palmer, Abbey Daniel, Dalton Palmer, and Braylynn Palmer; and sister, Lynn M. Shurling of Sandersville.
Donations may be made to Davisboro United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 237, Davisboro, Georgia 31018.
Online condolence may be expressed at mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com.
May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.