William W. "Bill" Woods, Jr. Memorial services for William W. "Bill" Woods, Jr. will be held Friday, November 30, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at First Christian Church with Dr. Tom Sikes and Reverend Brian Ponder officiating. Burial will be in Magnolia Cemetery with Robert Barham Family Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements. Mr. Woods, 89, of Meridian died on Tuesday, November 27, 2012, at Bedford Care Center. Bill was born in Ackerman, Mississippi on July 26, 1923. Throughout his life he greatly enjoyed music and was an accomplished jazz musician. He had the gift of music from his early childhood and by the age of seven he was giving concerts throughout Mississippi and Louisiana. During World War II, he served in the United States Air Force where he was a bombardier on the B-25 Mitchell. He was stationed in Tivoli, Italy and flew many missions over Italy and Germany. After returning from the service he attended Ole Miss where he was a drum major and the bandleader for the Mississippians, Proudly being known as the "Roundman" for his solos. After receiving his degree from Ole Miss School of Pharmacy in 1949, he started one of the first hospital pharmacy programs in Mississippi at Rush Foundation Hospital where he worked for fifty-five years. He loved his work and the many people he both served and worked with. He was a magnificent father and fondly known as "Pop" to everyone. During his life time he continued to entertain and perform throughout the South. A Jazz Times interview with the well known Mose Allison, a childhood friend and successful musician, who produced numerous albums over the years, gave credit to Bill as being his mentor. As Bill entertained, his bands were often accompanied by his wife Sara. He later on began playing with Carey Smith and The MCC Community Band. He was also given the honor of being selected for a solo performance at Carnegie Hall. Both Bill and Sara were inducted into the Ole Miss Jazz Hall of Fame. Mr. Woods was preceded in death by his wife, the former Sara Frances Chatham. He is survived by his sister, Kathryn and husband Pat Godwin of Costa Mesa, California; three children Donna Knight and her husband Jimmy, Dr. Bill Woods and his wife Ronda and David Woods and his wife Michelle; twelve grandchildren, Leigh Cross, William Woods, IV, Graham Woods, Clair Woods, Nicholas Woods, Henley Woods, Ashby Woods, Kelli Turbyfill, Hallie Harris, Dave Woods, Brenden Woods, Teresa Ehrman and three great-grandchildren, Cade Harbour, Chatham Cross and Blake Harris. Pallbearers will be William Woods, IV, Graham Woods, Dave Woods, Brenden Woods, Dr. David Gilmore and Wilson Stone. Honorary pallbearers will be David Bidgood, Ned McCormick, Lowry Rush, Dr. Carey Smith and Mark Wiggins. The family would like to especially thank Dr. Carey Smith and all of the many musicians along the way that added joy to his life, to all of the physicians and "his" nurses at Rush, to the wonderful people at News Restaurant where he frequented daily and to the staff at Bedford, who took excellent care of him. The family requests donations be made to the American Lupus Foundation of America, Inc., 2000 L Street, N.W., Suite 410 Washington, DC 20036 or First Christian Church Building Fund, 1301 23rd Avenue, Meridian, MS. Family and friends may sign the online guest book at robertbarhamffh.com Visitation will be held Friday, November 30, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.
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