John Phillip Woods, Sr., fondly known as “Toe-Toe” by family and friends, was born May 7, 1943, to Julia Pleasant Woods and Lawrence Woods and reared by his Uncle and Aunt Aaron and Clara Fisher. He was a lifelong citizen of Rayne.

He died on Friday, March 18, 2011.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, March 25, 2011, at Starlight Baptist Church, with Rev. Mason Jack, pastor officiating.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until time of services at the church.

Interment will follow in Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Cemetery in Rayne.

At an early age he became a member of Starlight Baptist Church, where he remained a dedicated member until his untimely death.

He attended Acadia Parish Training School (now Armstrong Middle) and was a graduate of the class of 1962. While there he met the love of his life, Delores Sias, they were united in Holy Matrimony on October 3, 1965.

To this union of 45 years, five children were born, John, Jr., Christopher, Julia, Victoria, and Nicolette.

Over the tenure of his life he was a dedicated employee of the Rayne Rice Mill, Sunbeam Bakery, and Lafayette Woodworks until each one closed their doors.

He leaves cherished memories with his loving and devoted wife, Delores-Sias Woods of Rayne; two sons, John Woods, Jr. of Rayne and Christopher Woods of San Antonio, TX; three daughters, Julia Woods and Victoria Woods, both of Beaumont, TX, and Nicolette Woods of Dallas, TX; two sisters, Ora Lee Smith of Pittsburg, PA and Vivian Woods of Houston, TX; one brother, Lennis Woods of Medesto, CA; one sister-in-law, Deanna Sias-Leopaul of Lafayette; one brother-in-law, Curley Sias of Rayne, a host of loving nieces who took excellent care of him, nephews, cousins, other relatives and numerous devoted friends. His legacy will live on through his ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Julia Woods; Aaron and Clara Fisher; a son, Ken Woods; sister, Mary Louise Skillman; brother, Lawrence (Denny) Woods; and three very dear cousins, Aaron Fisher, Jr., Jerry Otis Skillman, and Junius (Popcorn) Pleasant.

Pallbearers will be Avery Woods, Kenneth Woods, Carlton Mouton, Terry Augustus, Donald Smith, Jr. and Michael Sias.

Honorary pallbearers will be Willis Minix, Earnest Augustus, Warren Buchanan, Robert Wiley, Curly Sias, Lionel Pleasant, Christopher Woods, Jr., and Dietrick Turner.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Syrie Funeral Home of Lafayette.