FOR Deacon Woodie Marshall Lane, Sr. \ 1939 ~ 2013 Friday, March 15, 2013 1:00 p.m. Fellowship Presbyterian Church 3406 Meridian Street Huntsville, Alabama 35811 Pastor Gregory J. Bentley, Officiating
Obituary W oodie Marshall Lane, Sr. was born to the late Reverend Charlie Lane and Bessie Lightfoot Drake Lane on June 2, 1939 in Madison County, Alabama. He made his eternal transition on March 3, 2013 at Huntsville Hospital (Madison, Alabama). Woodie attended Indian Creek Church School, Toney Jr. High School and graduated from Councill Training School in 1957. He was so proud of his school and genuinely loved his classmates. He frequently talked about the plans and activities they shared. He eagerly anticipated the reunions held every three years. He also attended Savannah State College, Armstrong State College in Savannah, Georgia, the University of Maryland in Nuremberg, West Germany and the Drake State Technical College. At Drake State, he learned skills which enabled him to become proficient in Automotive Technology. Brother Lane confessed hope in Christ in the late 1980 s under the pastorate of Reverend William Robinson at St. James Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America in the Jeff Community. He was ordained as a deacon in 1990. He united with the Fellowship Presbyterian Church in 2001, under the pastorate of Reverend Dr. John Herndon, where he remained a faithful member. He served with the Deacons Ministry, the Fellowship Presbyterian Men, and the Usher Board. He also worked with the Reevis Hill Benevolent Fund. Woodie was a member of Temple Lodge #98. He was a life member of the alumni associations of Savannah State University and Western Michigan University. He was also a member of the Disabled American Veterans Huntsville No. 26, Alabama and a long standing member of the East Cemetery Improvement Association. Woodie had an abundance of knowledge relative to the location of slave graves. In 1963, Woodie was drafted into the United States Army - a career that would span 21 years. During those years of military service, some of his assignment experiences occurred in Japan, Turkey, Germany, Vietnam and Fort McClellan. Among his decorations, medals, badges, citations and campaign ribbons are the following: National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal (7 th Award), Army Service Ribbon, Oversea Service Ribbon (1), Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm and Expert Badge. SFC Woodie M. Lane, Sr. was honorably discharged on May 15, 1984. In 1965, Woodie and Barbara Bigbee were united in Holy Matrimony. To this union, one son, Woodie, Jr. was born. This birth completed the family unit that also included older siblings Connie and Freddie Bigbee. Barbara (1971) and daughter Connie predeceased Woodie, Sr. On December 6, 1985, Woodie was united in Holy Matrimony to Rosalie Jones. As a result of this union, two daughters, Regina V. and S. Yolanda Jones, were merged into the Lane family. In 1994, Woodie s entrepreneurial spirit manifested itself when he decided to open a restaurant, Campus Take-Out Deli. He relinquished the business in 1997. One of Woodie s first loves was auto mechanics. While a student at Councill Training School, he studied under the late Mr. Jesse Daniels. He acquired his first job repairing cars at Daniels Garage. Even during his army career, two of his Military Occupation Specialties were Tank System Mechanic and Aircraft Components
Repair Supervisor. Following his military years, he was employed by Southside Motors, Incorporated in Huntsville, Alabama as Manager of the Rebuild Shop for foreign cars. His telemetric skills were utilized as the Vehicle Plant Manager and Instructor for the Alabama State Department of Corrections in Springville, Alabama. This was Woodie s second retirement. Woodie was preceded in death by eight sisters (Clara, Hazel, Lois, Margaret, Mary, Martha, Lela and Josephine) and four brothers (Andrew, Frank, Charles, and Herbert). Those left to cherish the memory of Woodie are his loving and devoted wife, Rosalie Lane; his affectionate children, Woodie M. Lane, Jr. (Connie), Freddie Bigbee, Regina V. Jones and S. Yolanda Jones; a doting grandson, Ryan Gordon and a sweet granddaughter, Lurlie Crutchfield; a loyal brother, John Amos Drake, Sr., attentive twin sisters, Helen Burwell and Ellen Walton; three fond brothers-in-law, Alfonso Alvin (Barbara), Freddie Middleton (Robin) and Ulysees Middleton (Valencia); a special cousin/sister, Marjorie Looney; a caring first cousin, Reverend James Lane (Mary); a host of other cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and the Fellowship Presbyterian Church Family whom he dearly loved. Woodie My Love, You will always be in the hearts of each of our blended family members. You helped us and many others to be the best that we can be and to love the Lord always. God bless you from all the big family too. Love, Your Wife Rosalie Never did we imagine that God would call you, our baby brother, before calling us. We already miss you; as the days, weeks, months and years go by, we will miss you all the more. We thank God for the wonderful brother that you were the way you loved us, respected us, enjoyed being with us, looked up to us and looked out for us. We will always cherish the beautiful memories. Love, John Amos ( Bo ), Helen and Ellen
Order of Service PRELUDE... Mrs. Antoinette Franklin PROCESSIONAL... Sweet, Sweet Spirit SELECTION... In the Beauty of Holiness... Fellowship Presbyterian Church Unity Choir PRAYER... Reverend Dr. John L. Herndon Pastor Emeritus SOLO... A City Called Heaven... Brother Tommie Lockhart Center Grove United Methodist Church Huntsville, Alabama SCRIPTURE OLD TESTAMENT... Pastor Theodore Bone Beaver Dam Primitive Baptist Church Toney, Alabama NEW TESTAMENT... Pastor Derrick Walton New Greater Love Missionary Baptist Church Detroit, Michigan SONG... No Trouble at the River... Choir REFLECTIONS (Please limit to two minutes) As a Church Member/Neighbor... LTC (Ret.)Thomas Ross As a Classmate... Brother Robert L. Langford, Sr. Bicentennial Chapel Redstone Arsenal, Alabama As a Family Member... Sister Carol Drake-Harris Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church Harvest, Alabama SOLO... Center of my Joy... Brother Calvin Drake Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church Harvest, Alabama EULOGY... Pastor Gregory J. Bentley PRAYER... Pastor Endia Scruggs Madkins Chapel Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America Huntsville, Alabama MORTICIAN...Royal Funeral Home, Inc. RECESSIONAL... Come and Go With Me
Beautiful Memories Will Last Forever!
Dad, We love you and miss you and will always carry you in our hearts. You taught us to love our family and help those in need. We were blessed to have you and thank God for you. A man of few words, you showed us that love is an action word. Rest in Peace, Woodie Jr., Regina, Yolanda, Ryan (grandson) One More Day If we could have one more day, There s so much we would say. We love you. You know we do. We will miss you. You know that is true. For all that you have done for us; we would say thank-you. If we could have one more day, There would be more hugs and not tugs. More smiles that would last for miles. Unfortunately, we don t have one more day, For all of the things we would want to say. As we try not to cry, Today, we will say good-bye, Knowing that we will see you again someday. The Family Author ~ Phyllis Looney-Jones
ACTIVE PALLBEARERS Nephews HONORARY PALLBEARERS Fellowship Presbyterian Men Temple Lodge #98 Councill Training School Class of 57 Childhood Friends of the Indian Creek Community Mr. Charles Hall ACTIVE FLOWER BEARERS Nieces HONORARY FLOWER BEARERS Fellowship Presbyterian Women Councill Training School Class of 57 Mrs. Judy Edmond, Mrs. Susan Glover, Mrs. Mary W. Hurt and Miss Riane Perry USHERS Fellowship Presbyterian Church INTERMENT Meadowlawn Garden of Peace 450 Mt Lebanon Road - Toney, AL 35773 REPAST Fellowship Presbyterian Church ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The Lane Family acknowledges every act of kindness and sympathy shown them during the brief illness and passing of their loved one. They are grateful for gifts, flowers, cards, calls, deeds and especially your prayers. May God richly bless each of you. Funeral Arrangements Entrusted To Royal Funeral Home, Inc. Over 95 Years of Dedicated Service 4315 Oakwood Avenue, Huntsville, Alabama 35810 256-534-8481 www.royalfh.net "When only memories remain, let them be beautiful."