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Loria Mae Johnson Woods

12/24/1945 - 01/14/2025

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE so beautifully lived.

Loria Mae Johnson Woods was born December 24, 1945, to the late Promise and Rosilee Johnson in Church Point, LA. She was raised in a loving home with nine siblings including a twin sister, Gloria. The family later moved to Lake Charles, LA where their home became a strong cornerstone in the community. The family joined Mt. Olive Baptist Church where Loria was baptized at the age of twelve.

As a teen, she moved to Los Angeles, CA, to live with one of her older sisters, Bessie Rosamore. She graduated from Manuel Arts High School and attended L.A. City College. While in high school, she met Everette Woods and they were married on February 29, 1964. To this union were born two beautiful children, Nancy and Everette II.

Loria had a long career working for Xerox Corporation and Hughes Aircraft Company while living in California. Loria worked for a short time at Hughes Helicopter. She quickly found her calling while caring for her grandchildren. This calling expanded to a full daycare called PeeWee’s Playhouse, mainly caring for children of Boeing employees. After 12 years as a daycare owner, she continued to work with children at the Gilbert Public Schools where she finally decided to retire.

In her mid-twenties she received Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord. They joined the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church pastored by Dr. E.V. Hill, where Loria was an active usher and church school member. They were members until 1986 when the family moved to Mesa, AZ.

 

Upon arriving in Arizona, they joined First Institutional Baptist Church, Dr. Warren H. Stewart, Sr., Senior Pastor. She was a Deaconess, and served on the Pastor’s Aid Ministry, Evangelism Commission Ministry, Church School Ministry, Disciple Maker and Operation Homebase (Street Witnessing). On September 15, 1996, the Lord called her to preach. She preached her first sermon and was licensed on December 17, 1997. Her sermon was taken from Luke 2:8-20 entitled, “Your Guest Has Arrived”. Her passion was witnessing and preaching in the park to all who would hear.

She later joined the New Beginning Fellowship Church pastored by the Reverends Tommy and Nancy Reynolds. She continued to Evangelize, teach and preach the Word of God. After the pastor’s failing health, they joined the New Home Baptist Church in Phoenix under the leadership of Pastor Darryl Jackson. She was an active member at the East Valley campus where she loved to hear the preaching of Pastor Jackson and the singing of Lady Ericka Jackson. After the pandemic and her failing health, she enjoyed watching service from home.

She departed this life on Tuesday morning, January 14, 2025. She was preceded in death by her parents, Promise and Rosilee Johnson; brothers, Johnnie Johnson, LeRoy Johnson, Rodney Johnson, Cooper Johnson and sister, Bessie Rosamore.

She leaves to mourn her absence, a loving husband of 60 years, Everette Woods; two children, Nancy Reynolds (Tommy), Mesa AZ and Everette Woods II, Mesa, AZ; five grandchildren, Vanessa Reynolds, Atlanta, GA; Portia Reynolds, Chandler AZ; Thomas Reynolds (Jasminn) Phoenix, AZ; Nathan Woods, Spavinaw, OK; Arianna Woods, Mesa, AZ; five great-grandchildren, Tianna Alyse, Riot Noble, Franswah LaVaughn, Kairo Noble, and Phoenix Ever; one brother, Linton Johnson, Lake Charles, LA; three sisters, Mary Lou Hanchett, Lake Charles, LA; Gloria King, Atlanta, GA; and Norma Cotton (Melvin), Carson, CA; and a host of adopted sons & daughters, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

 

Donations to honor Loria can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at : https://act.alz.org/site/TR;jsessionid=00000000.app20007b?pxfid=934156&pg=fund&fr_id=1060&NONCE_TOKEN=E27875FBA57C4EC8A66BF4D55EEEA975

 

 

Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.

 

Condolences

  • May God comfort the Family during this difficult season…She fought a good fight…

  • Rev. Joshua Hanchett and Elder Sherry L. Hanchett

    To my beloved God mother. She was truly a woman of faith. She preached and walk a faith life her entire life. She gave me words of wisdom each time we talk. She and my wife would testify with each other for hours. God mother you will truly miss. I am not able to attend your service because of caring for Elder Sherry K. Hanchett and mom, Joerine Jackson

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