Pastor Gary Bernard Woods

WOODS, Pastor Gary Bernard - Age 55, passed away Thursday, February 2, 2017 at Kith Haven Nursing Home. Family hour 10:00 AM Friday, February 10, 2017 at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, 2120 N. Saginaw Street, with funeral service commencing at 11:00 AM Pastor Keith J. Bigelow officiating. Interment Gracelawn Community Cemetery, G-5710 N. Saginaw Street. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10:00 AM Friday. Pastor Woods will lie in state and may be viewed in the Sanctuary of Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church, 502 W. Flint Park Blvd. from 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM Thursday. Pastor Gary Bernard Woods was born July 26, 1961 in Flint, Mi. the son of the late Willie Woods and Lillie Mae Cook. He confessed Christ at an early age, he sang in the Choir and served on the Usher Ministry, he was called to preach in January of 1979 and he preached his first sermon at the age of 17 under the leadership of his spiritual father, Bishop M.C. Akins of the Heavenly Host Baptist Church, his first sermon was titled “True Worship” found in John 4:24. Rev. Woods attended the Flint Public Schools where he graduated from Flint Northwestern “Class of 1979.” He attended Wilberforce University and is a graduate from the American Baptist College with a B.A. Degree in Bible Theology. While attending Wilberforce, he was called to pastor Greenhill Baptist Church in Clarksville, TN. He later served as Pastor at Christ Temple a small family church he started in Flint, after serving at Christ Temple, Rev. Woods then moved to Sandusky, OH to pastor Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church. Years later, Pastor Woods returned home to Flint to serve as Assistant Minister to his spiritual father at Heavenly Host Full Gospel Church. In 2013, God led Rev. Woods to pastor Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church in Flint where he served faithfully until he fell ill. Pastor Woods loved to read, preach God’s word and listening to anointed preaching. He also loved to hear good old choirs sing, especially his choir at Rising Star. Pastor Woods absolutely loved and adored his grandchildren, he was a very proud grandpa, and he loved to let everyone know he was a grandfather to quadruplets as well. He loved him some Barbeque Ribs. Pastor Gary Bernard Woods leaves to cherish his memory; wife, Elizabeth “Betty” Woods of Flint Twp., MI; 4 children, Gary Woods Jr., Shateka Woods, and Adrian Woods, all of Indiana, and Taylor Woods of Pensacola, FL; 2 step-children, Hamilton Alexander of Flint Twp., MI and Deshon Alexander of Phoenix, AZ; 7 grandchildren, Trinity Willett, Gabriel and Gabrielle Woods, Maliyah and Micah Woods, Jemere Woods and Keyvionta Woods, all of Indiana; brother, Sylvester (Mary) Mott of Detroit, MI, 3 sisters, Carolyn Clark of Detroit, MI, Beverly Clark of Flint and Sandra Holbrook of Lansing, MI, 4 sisters-in-law, JoAnn Mitchell, Rita, both of Jersey City, NJ, Joyce Rasul of Detroit, MI, Annette (Kenneth) Conley of Detroit, Mi. and special sister/sister-in-law, Letisha (Thaddeus) Conner of Flint; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends, including special friend, Ms. Jacqueline Scott and god-daughter, Kendall Wilson. Pastor Woods was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Woods and Lillie Mae Cook; baby brother, Tracy Smith, several aunts and uncles. The family would like to express special thanks to “Gary’s Girls” Shell, Wanda, Jackie and Riea, The ENTIRE Scott Family, his personal barber, Alvin Pollard, Pastor Keith J. Bigelow and the Morning Star Baptist Church family, Pastor Patrick Sanders II and the Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church family, and Min. Delrico Loyd.

Pastor Gary Bernard Woods

July 25, 1961 - February 2, 2017