Obituary of Randolph Marshall Woody

Randolph Marshall Woody joyfully transferred his residence to the Golden City in Glory, after a protracted illness, on the evening of December 3rd, 2020 with his daughter and son-in-law by his side. Graveside Funeral Services will be conducted, Sunday, December 6, 2020, at 3 PM, in Harmony Baptist Church Cemetery with Bro. Bob Connerley officiating. Burial will follow. He was born in Wichita, Kansas on March 14, 1935 to Wayland Bryan & Mary Virginia Marshall Woody. He lived briefly in Kansas and then grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, graduating from Will Rogers High School in 1953. He attended both Rice University and the University of Oklahoma, studying English and Geology. While in between colleges, he met the love of his life and wife of over 63 years, Nyla Bryan Woody, recently deceased. While he was serving in the United States Army, they married August 3,1957 in Augusta, GA. Together, they shared two children: a son, Edwin Marshall Woody, of Pottsboro, TX, also recently deceased, and their surviving daughter, Ronda Elaine England, of Whiteville, TN. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Nyla, his honorable parents, a brother, Bryan Woody, a sister, Donna Woody Matthews, his beloved son, Edwin, four precious grandchildren, Mariah Gabrielle England, Gabriel Jedidiah England, Nathaniel Elijah England, and Heather Marie England. He is survived by his devoted daughter, Ronda and son-in-law, Darrin England, daughter-in- law, Kimmy Woody, beloved grandchildren, Owen Marshall Woody with fiancé Natasha Kingston, and Bryanna Asriel England Ruesche with husband Brendan Ruesche. Also a dear brother-in-law and wife, Jedwin and Patricia Bryan, and beloved niece Laura Bryan, as well as other extended family and friends, who were as family. Randy enjoyed a long and interesting career as a draftsman working on special projects for several companies, most notably for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Manned Spacecraft Center, during the height of the space race of the 1960’s which involved the first moon landing. He later worked on some other important projects and was a dedicated worker and steady provider for his family until retirement. In addition to his work, Randy was both a cat-lover and a proficient musician; he played the piano throughout his life and was a gifted tenor in his church choirs for more than 40 years. He had a rare and endearing ability to remember practically any song he had ever heard. He knew thousands of songs and jingles. He had a song for every occasion and every event. He was sharing obscure and nearly forgotten ditties even to his last days. This is something everyone who shared time with him will miss. Randy endeavored to develop interests and hobbies with his best friend and lifelong companion, his wife Nyla. Together they shared many activities including motorcycling, hiking, bicycling, birding, and impressively, a love of knowledge, diligently studying, often to a scholarly level, anything they found interesting and time-worthy. Of those interests, Randy was knowledgeable about a broad range of topics, including such areas as trains and railroads, Civil War, World War I & II, Hi-Fidelity electronics, cars & motorcycles, Great Composers, Oklahoma history areas such as the Oil industry and Indian art and folklore, just to name a few. And along with serious study, he knew a library of random trivia information and won first place every time he played Trivial Pursuit! In as much as he was a gifted musician, he was a sincere and devoted worshipper of Christ Jesus. This is the most important and notable aspect of his stalwart character. Randolph Woody loved the God of the complete Bible, the God of the Old and New Testament, Who is revealed in the whole breadth of scripture. As a young man and a new believer in Christ, having repented and believed that the sacrifice of Christ was the only and all sufficient way to God the Father, he devoted himself to memorizing scripture and thereby knowing God. A rare and beautiful intimacy with Christ developed and everyone who spent time with Randy can attest to this fact. It was a supernatural and holy relationship. Randolph Woody’s faith is his greatest legacy and the heritage his daughter and son-in-law treasure most. Randy was a kind and compassionate soul. He was a life-long learner. He was a humble man and valued faith, hope and the transformation of the heart. He was content in all circumstances, including the most difficult aspects of his significant life, and he was sincerely grateful for the mercy and grace of God. Randy was worth knowing and loving. His well-lived life reminds those of us who knew him to keep faith in Christ alone, pursue things that matter and allow for music to enrich your soul every day of the life you’ve been given. The family request in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Gideons, P.O. Box 544, Brownsville, TN 38012. All arrangements and services will be under the direction of the Lea & Simmons Funeral Home in Brownsville, TN.