Official Obituary of
Mary Lawana Woods
May 4, 1935 ~ April 27, 2024 (age 88) 88 Years Old
Mary Woods Life Story
We come together today to celebrate the life of Mary LaWana Woods, a beacon of love and creativity in her community. Born on May 4th, 1935, in Gladewater, Texas, LaWana's journey through life was marked by devotion to her family, her faith, and her passion for art and education. She passed away peacefully on April 27th, 2024 in Longview, Texas, leaving behind a legacy of kindness and inspiration.
LaWana was the cherished daughter of Merkel and LaVina Maberry. Her life was enriched by love on September 3rd, 1955, when she married Barney Woods, her beloved husband of 58 years. Together, they built a family and a life filled with joy and purpose. LaWana's nurturing spirit shone brightly as a mother to her three daughters, Leigh Ann, Kay Lynn, and Kerry Beth, and her sons, Roy and Paul. She embraced her role as a grandmother and great-grandmother with the same warmth and enthusiasm that she did everything in life. She was to best known as Grandna and Grandmommie to her Grandchildren.
LaWana's family was the center of her world, and she is survived by her loving daughters and their husbands, her son and daughter-in-law, as well as a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren who will carry her spirit forward. Each family member, from Kristen Bisgard to the youngest of the great-great-grandchild, will hold dear the memories of LaWana's boundless love and the lessons she imparted. Her brother-in-law, Don Woods, and his wife, Donna, also survive her, as do many nieces, nephews, and extended family members. LaWana was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brother Bill Maberry, and son Roy Woods.
She is survived by her children Leigh Ann Lloyd and husband Monty Lloyd of Flower Mound, Kay Lynn Sumner and husband Yancey E. Sumner of Marshall and Kerry Beth Woods of Lewisville and Paul Harris and wife Divina of Austin. She was a fun, outrageous and loving grandmother to Kristen Bisgard and husband Adam Bisgard of Argyle, Lauren Mayfield and husband Christopher of Dallas and Austin J. Sumner of Dallas, Mollie Warnick and husband Ben of Norman OK, Madeline Harris of Georgetown, Mary Harris of San Antonio, Anthony and wife Leah Lloyd of Longview, Aaron Lloyd of Lewisville, Andrew and wife Inga Lloyd of Sunset, Anson and wife Tara Lloyd of San Antonio. La Wana was also blessed with many great-grandchildren Emerson Bisgard, Ellis Bisgard, Aaleyah Lloyd, Christian Lloyd, Ryan Lloyd, Britt Lloyd, Garrett Lloyd, Savannah Lloyd, Preston Lloyd, Sydney Lloyd, Blayne Lloyd, Hunter Lloyd, Kendall Lloyd, Carson Lloyd, Skylar Lloyd, Brynlee Lloyd, Gabriella Brewer, Lackland Lloyd, Lillian Lloyd, Max Lloyd, and Lynnen Mayfield,. In addition, she was richly blessed with great-great-grandchildren Natalie Lopez, Camilo Lopez, and Freya Lloyd.
LaWana's educational journey in art and fashion design at the University of North Texas laid the foundation for a life rich in creativity and service. Her career began at Marshall National Bank. She worked alongside her husband in the family businesses. She worked as a bookkeeper for Barney's Security and Barney's Electric, they served the Marshall community for 50 years. Together with Barney, she co-owned Holiday Light Sculptures, where they created masterful light displays that became a cherished part of the Wonderland of Lights in Marshall for many years.
Beyond her professional achievements, LaWana was an extraordinary homemaker and mother to her five children. Her nurturing presence extended into her church and the community. She taught many children's Bible classes and cradle roll at South Washington Church of Christ and Eastern Hills Church of Christ. She and her husband sponsored and supported several missionaries over the years financially, spiritually, and culturally. Sharing her love for art, LaWana was a longtime supporter of the Michelson Museum of Art and volunteered as well as served as a docent for the museum for many years. She loved children and volunteered by teaching in the Head Start Program providing developmental and educational preparation for learning. She encouraged youth to explore art by provided private lessons to teens and children, fostering creativity and expression in the next generation.
In her final days, she was astounded that she lived long enough to see her beloved "Texas Rangers" win the World Series and to see the solar eclipse. After witnessing the eclipse from her hospital window, she said "God is good, what an amazing world He created".
LaWana will be remembered as a loving, kind, and faith-filled woman. Her impact on those around her was profound, and her legacy will continue to shine through the lives she touched. Her interests and passions were not merely hobbies but extensions of her generous spirit, as she sought to enrich the lives of others through mentoring young families, teaching children, fostering the love of art, and her unwavering support.
As we bid farewell to LaWana, we reflect on a life well-lived, a life that exemplified the virtues of love, kindness, and faith. Her memory will be cherished, and her influence will continue to be felt by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Mary LaWana Woods, a treasured soul, will be deeply missed but never forgotten.
LaWana was the cherished daughter of Merkel and LaVina Maberry. Her life was enriched by love on September 3rd, 1955, when she married Barney Woods, her beloved husband of 58 years. Together, they built a family and a life filled with joy and purpose. LaWana's nurturing spirit shone brightly as a mother to her three daughters, Leigh Ann, Kay Lynn, and Kerry Beth, and her sons, Roy and Paul. She embraced her role as a grandmother and great-grandmother with the same warmth and enthusiasm that she did everything in life. She was to best known as Grandna and Grandmommie to her Grandchildren.
LaWana's family was the center of her world, and she is survived by her loving daughters and their husbands, her son and daughter-in-law, as well as a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren who will carry her spirit forward. Each family member, from Kristen Bisgard to the youngest of the great-great-grandchild, will hold dear the memories of LaWana's boundless love and the lessons she imparted. Her brother-in-law, Don Woods, and his wife, Donna, also survive her, as do many nieces, nephews, and extended family members. LaWana was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brother Bill Maberry, and son Roy Woods.
She is survived by her children Leigh Ann Lloyd and husband Monty Lloyd of Flower Mound, Kay Lynn Sumner and husband Yancey E. Sumner of Marshall and Kerry Beth Woods of Lewisville and Paul Harris and wife Divina of Austin. She was a fun, outrageous and loving grandmother to Kristen Bisgard and husband Adam Bisgard of Argyle, Lauren Mayfield and husband Christopher of Dallas and Austin J. Sumner of Dallas, Mollie Warnick and husband Ben of Norman OK, Madeline Harris of Georgetown, Mary Harris of San Antonio, Anthony and wife Leah Lloyd of Longview, Aaron Lloyd of Lewisville, Andrew and wife Inga Lloyd of Sunset, Anson and wife Tara Lloyd of San Antonio. La Wana was also blessed with many great-grandchildren Emerson Bisgard, Ellis Bisgard, Aaleyah Lloyd, Christian Lloyd, Ryan Lloyd, Britt Lloyd, Garrett Lloyd, Savannah Lloyd, Preston Lloyd, Sydney Lloyd, Blayne Lloyd, Hunter Lloyd, Kendall Lloyd, Carson Lloyd, Skylar Lloyd, Brynlee Lloyd, Gabriella Brewer, Lackland Lloyd, Lillian Lloyd, Max Lloyd, and Lynnen Mayfield,. In addition, she was richly blessed with great-great-grandchildren Natalie Lopez, Camilo Lopez, and Freya Lloyd.
LaWana's educational journey in art and fashion design at the University of North Texas laid the foundation for a life rich in creativity and service. Her career began at Marshall National Bank. She worked alongside her husband in the family businesses. She worked as a bookkeeper for Barney's Security and Barney's Electric, they served the Marshall community for 50 years. Together with Barney, she co-owned Holiday Light Sculptures, where they created masterful light displays that became a cherished part of the Wonderland of Lights in Marshall for many years.
Beyond her professional achievements, LaWana was an extraordinary homemaker and mother to her five children. Her nurturing presence extended into her church and the community. She taught many children's Bible classes and cradle roll at South Washington Church of Christ and Eastern Hills Church of Christ. She and her husband sponsored and supported several missionaries over the years financially, spiritually, and culturally. Sharing her love for art, LaWana was a longtime supporter of the Michelson Museum of Art and volunteered as well as served as a docent for the museum for many years. She loved children and volunteered by teaching in the Head Start Program providing developmental and educational preparation for learning. She encouraged youth to explore art by provided private lessons to teens and children, fostering creativity and expression in the next generation.
In her final days, she was astounded that she lived long enough to see her beloved "Texas Rangers" win the World Series and to see the solar eclipse. After witnessing the eclipse from her hospital window, she said "God is good, what an amazing world He created".
LaWana will be remembered as a loving, kind, and faith-filled woman. Her impact on those around her was profound, and her legacy will continue to shine through the lives she touched. Her interests and passions were not merely hobbies but extensions of her generous spirit, as she sought to enrich the lives of others through mentoring young families, teaching children, fostering the love of art, and her unwavering support.
As we bid farewell to LaWana, we reflect on a life well-lived, a life that exemplified the virtues of love, kindness, and faith. Her memory will be cherished, and her influence will continue to be felt by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Mary LaWana Woods, a treasured soul, will be deeply missed but never forgotten.
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