Jerry Clark Woodward

Pageland, SC

Mr. Jerry Clark Woodward, age 82, entered into rest on Sunday, June 1, 2025, at the Monroe Rehabilitation Center in Monroe, NC. The family will greet friends from 2:00 - 3:00 PM Thursday, June 5, 2025 at Smyrna Baptist Church. The funeral service will follow at 3:00 PM with burial in the church cemetery.

Jerry was born November 29, 1942, in Ruby, SC, the eldest child of the late Clark Lawrence and Martha Elizabeth “Betty” Gaskins Woodward. From a young age, Jerry had a strong work ethic, beginning with his first job at 14, filling bags with cornmeal and grits at Woodward’s Mill. He also picked cotton and worked the fields. His school year would sometimes begin a few weeks later than other kids as he had to help bring in the harvest prior to attending. He was a student bus driver as well.

As a young adult, Jerry worked at a box factory in Charlotte, NC. It was during this time that Jerry met Rachel Sims who would go on to become his wife. He and Rachel settled in Ruby, SC, where he later took a job as a mechanic at Hennis Freight Lines While there, he was drafted into the US Army. Jerry and Rachel moved to Texas, where Jerry completed basic training at Fort Hood. From there, Jerry traveled to San Francisco, where he boarded a ship to Saigon, a trip lasting about 30 days. He was stationed at the 1st Calvary headquarters in An Khe in the maintenance division. He completed his tour of duty and upon returning from Vietnam, opened his own garage in the building where Rachel had attended school in Pageland, SC. He and Rachel also operated a small grocery store in the old schoolhouse. He left the garage and grocery store after a few years to work for Johnson Motor Lines, simultaneously attending Central Piedmont Community College where he earned an associate degree. Ultimately, he returned to being fully self-employed as a mechanic and chicken farmer.

He later added cattle to the mix and in his “retirement” years, focused solely on his cows. The only thing he loved more than his farm was his family. He was a modest man except when it came to describing the accomplishments of his grandchildren whom he adored, perhaps even more than his wife and children. He was generally a quiet man unless you were talking motors, chickens, cows, or grandchildren. Especially grandchildren.

Jerry looked forward to Saturday breakfast with his brothers at McDonald’s, where they became a fixture. He didn’t care much for leisure travel but would jump at the opportunity to accompany his brothers on trucking runs, attend agricultural expos or livestock sales, or look at farms or farm equipment.

Jerry was a faithful member of Smyrna Baptist Church where he served as deacon and usher multiple times throughout the years.

In addition to his parents, Jerry was preceded in death by two brothers, William Thomas and Billy Ray Woodward; an infant sister; brothers-in-law, Arlee Gaddy and Randy Mills; and sister-in-law, Melinda Woodward.

Survivors include his wife, Rachel Woodward, with whom he celebrated his 60th anniversary last September in western NC during Hurricane Helene; children, Gloria (Andy) Woodward-Glasser of Decatur, GA, Jeremy Woodward of Monroe, NC, and Brittany (Bryan) Hayes of Pageland, SC; grandchildren, Rachel and Nealie Glasser of New York, NY, William Glasser of Decatur, GA, and Lily, Kate, and Caroline Hayes of Pageland, SC; siblings, Betty Jean Gaddy of Wadesboro, NC, John Woodward of Ruby, SC, Melvin (Dawn) Woodward of Monroe, NC, Carolyn (Junior) Sellers of Cheraw, SC, Dean (Patsy) Woodward of Pageland, SC, Peggy (Danny) Gulledge of Ruby, SC, Mickey (Michelle) Woodward of Chesterfield, SC, and Barbara (Loy) Cannon of Ruby, SC; brother-in-law, Charles Sims of Pageland, SC; sisters-in-law, Linda Mills of Ruby, SC, Beverly Sholar of Pageland, SC, and Deronda Woodward of Chesterfield, SC; and numerous nieces and nephews, including David Woodward with whom Jerry was always very close.

The family wishes to thank the many family members and friends who visited Jerry frequently during his illness, often filling his room to capacity.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Diabetes Association, Farm Aid, or a charity of one’s choice.

Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home (www.mrcfuneralhome.com) of Chesterfield, SC is serving the Woodward family.