William Woodson Sr. dies at 78

Renowned minister and Bible educator William Edgar Woodson, Sr. died in a Columbia, Tenn., hospital Sept. 4 — five days before his 79th birthday.
Funeral services are at 6 p.m. today at the Pulaski Street Church of Christ in Lawrenceburg, Tenn. A graveside service is set for 11 a.m. tomorrow at Ridgecrest Cemetery in Jackson, Tenn. Notes of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.oakesandnichols.com.
A preacher since 1950, Woodson taught Bible for 22 years at Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tenn. For 14 of those years, he chaired the university’s Bible department. He also taught at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., and served as the first chair of Lipscomb’s master’s degree program in Biblical studies. For 14 years he was pulpit minister for the Granny White Church of Christ, next to Lipscomb’s campus.
Woodson retired in the mid-1990s but continued to speak at gospel meetings and workshops for preachers and elders. He is listed as a faculty member at Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver. He enjoyed fly fishing, carpentry and was a die-hard fan of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Jeanne, two daughters, a son and six grandchildren.
Read the complete obituary.

• Feedback
  I considered Bro. Woodson the greatest scholar on earth and went to hear him every opportunity I had. Sat at his feet many Thursday evenings in Winfield, Ala. The Lord has enriched Heaven but his kingdom here has suffered a tremendous loss. May God bless his family/church in this time of mourning.

  Tom Treadway

  September, 7 2010

  A great preacher indeed and a man full of God’s wisdom. From Ghana I read some of his teachings in the Spiritual Sword publications. What a blessing it was to learn from him. God be with the family/church in this time of morning.

  Amos Aidoo

  September, 7 2010

  My heart is full of deep sorrow to hear the death of this great servant of Jesus Christ. Brother Woodson defended the truth, and the church which his Lord Jesus Christ had purchased with his own blood.
  My condolences goes to his wife and the integral beareved family.

  Laws kandamwala

  September, 8 2010

  I met William in late 60s through Junior and Gladys Smith of Guin, Ala., while he was a professor at Freed-Hardeman and he subsequently conducted the marriage ceremony of the Smiths’ daughter, Jerry Lynn and me in March 1968. We always talked Crimson Tide football! He conducted meetings for our congregation in N.J. He was a genuine Bible scholar and a really good man. He will be missed.

  Max Lancaster at Princeton, NJ

  September, 8 2010

  I was saddened to learn of William’s death. We were students together at Freed-Hardeman and through the years we had him in Gospel Meetings at Gloster Street Church of Christ in Tupelo, MS, where I preached.
  He was an excellent student of the Bible and will be greatly missed.

  Joe Connell

  September, 8 2010

  every time i got a Spiritual Sword, i opened brother Woodson aricles, and i must say i have benefited extremely from brother Woodson.

  mduduzi sibeko

  September, 8 2010

  I don’t know of a teacher or man I admired any more than I did William Woodson. He was a lover of puns and had a new one for his students every week. I am a better man and a better preacher today because of the influence and teaching of this man. I will miss him.

  Paul (Dick) Whitehead

  September, 9 2010

  I had an opportunity to study the word of God with brother Wiiliam Woodson for a whole day in the year 2008, when he, along with our chancellor, brother John R. Vaghuan, visited our bible college (The National Bible College) which is in Chennai, INDIA.
  I consider it was the opportunity given to me by GOD to hear Bro. Woodson the great Bible professor. We miss a great fellow soldier of Christ on this earth.

  PRABHU D.IMMANUEL

  September, 9 2010

  Bro. Woodson was a great man of God and a wonderful teacher of God’s word. I was fortunate enough to be in his Greek class at Freed-Hardeman back in the mid-’60’s. I somehow got a “B” in his class, but I think a lot of it was his “grace”! I was so glad I got to see him one more time at the FHU Lectureships back in 2007. He even remembered me and was so kind and so nice. As others have said, it’s a great day in Heaven, but a great loss for the Kingdom here on earth. Our best wishes and prayers go out to his fine family. He will be missed so much.

  Steve Nesbitt

  September, 11 2010