BISHOP

D D r r. . T T i i m m o o t t h h y y J J. . W W o o o o d d s s S S r r. .

O O F F F F I I C C I I A A T T I I N N G G

Walk with Me

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighted in his way.”

Psalm 37:23

His Life

On September 13, 1933, in the East Thomas community of Birmingham, Alabama, a child was born who would grow to carry a louder voice than any obstacle. Calvin Wallace Woods, Sr., was the fourth of thirteen children born to Rev. Abraham Lincoln Woods, Sr., and Maggie Rose Wallace Woods. Though small in stature, he had a presence that could not be ignored.

From the time he was a boy, Calvin had a gift for leadership. He organized choirs, led groups in the neighborhood, and carried himself with vision far beyond his years. At Parker High School, he discovered the power of his voice, winning oratorical contests and quickly becoming known as someone who could inspire and persuade. He graduated at just sixteen years old, already walking the path of purpose.

He answered his call to ministry early, serving faithfully at Shiloh Baptist Church under his father’s guidance. By his early twenties, he was pastoring East End Baptist Church, preaching with a wisdom and fire that amazed many in the 1950s. Over time, he would serve other churches, touching lives wherever God sent him.

But his ministry did not stop at the pulpit. The late 1950s and 60s brought a storm of injustice to Birmingham, and Bishop Woods stepped into the fight. He marched, he protested, he was jailed, and he endured beatings. His voice became a weapon against oppression, and his courage caught the attention of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King trusted him to help lead efforts in Birmingham, appointing him as City Convener of the SCLC. For the next sixty years, Bishop Woods stood as a drum major for justice, not only in Alabama but across the nation.

His life was not easy; he lost jobs, had his car taken, and carried scars from police beatings. Yet, he never stopped preaching hope. He lived as a man determined to be a servant leader, no matter the cost.

His Love

“And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 13:13

During it all, Calvin found his q named Lucille Grayson. She \ wa In December of 1950, the t J o

ther, they built a famil '

, and Calvin, one of th1

• d faith. Their

only nee ut a

just a t affection, but a out 1 1

His Legeacy

“Well done, thou good and faithful servant… enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

Matthew 25:23

W W h h e e n n y y o o u u s s p p e e a a k k o o f f B B i i s s h h o o p p C C a a l l v v i i n n W W o o o o d d s s , , y y o o u u s s p p e e a a k k o o f f a a m m a a n n w w h h o o l l e e f f t t m m o o r r e e t t h h a a n n m m e e m m o o r r i i e e s s l l e e f f t t a a m m o o v v e e m m e e n n t t , , a a m m i i n n i i s s t t r r y y , , a a n n d d a a m m o o d d e e l l f f o o r r h h o o w w t t o o l l i i v v e e. . H H e e c c a a r r r r i i e e d d t t h h e e m m a a n n t t l l e e o o f f h h i i s s f f a a t t h h e e r r a a n n d d p p a a s s s s e e d d i i t t d d o o w w n n t t o o h h i i s s f f a a m m i i l l y y. . M M i i n n i i s s t t e e r r s s , , l l e e a a d d e e r r s s , , a a n n d d s s e e r r v v a a n n t t s s o o f f G G o o d d a a r r o o s s e e f f r r o o m m h h i i s s t t e e a a c c h h i i n n g g a a n n d d e e x x a a m m p p l l e e , , b b o o t t h h w w i i t t h h i i n n h h i i s s b b l l o o o o d d l l i i n n e e a a n n d d

a a m m o o n n g g t t h h o o s s e e h h e e m m e e n n t t o o r r e e d d. .

H H i i s s l l e e g g a a c c y y i i s s n n o o t t o o n n l l y y i i n n h h i i s s f f a a m m i i l l y y b b u u t t a a l l s s o o i i n n h h i i s s s s e e r r v v i i c c e e. . H H e e w w o o r r k k e e d d i i n n B B i i r r m m i i n n g g h h a a m m C C i i t t y y S S c c h h o o o o l l s s , , c c o o u u n n s s e e l l e e d d w w i i t t h h J J C C C C E E O O , , s s e e r r v v e e d d o o n n b b o o a a r r d d s s , , a a n n d d l l e e d d c c o o n n v v e e n n t t i i o o n n s s. . F F o o r r m m o o r r e e t t h h a a n n t t w w e e n n t t y y y y e e a a r r s s , , h h e e s s t t o o o o d d i i n n K K e e l l l l y y I I n n g g r r a a m m P P a a r r k k , , s s h h a a r r i i n n g g t t h h e e s s t t o o r r y y o o f f B B i i r r m m i i n n g g h h a a m m ’ ’ s s s s t t r r u u g g g g l l e e w w i i t t h h v v i i s s i i t t o o r r s s f f r r o o m m a a c c r r o o s s s s t t h h e e w w o o r r l l d d. .

. .

B B u u t t a a t t t t h h e e h h e e a a r r t t o o f f h h i i s s l l e e g g a a c c y y w w a a s s i i n n t t e e r r c c e e s s s s i i o o n n ; ; h h e e w w a a s s a a m m a a n n o o f f p p r r a a y y e e r r. . H H i i s s c c h h i i l l d d r r e e n n a a n n d d g g r r a a n n d d c c h h i i l l d d r r e e n n r r e e m m e e m m b b e e r r h h i i s s c c a a l l l l f f o o r r t t h h e e m m t t o o b b e e r r e e p p a a i i r r e e r r s s , , t t o o s s t t e e p p i i n n t t h h e e g g a a p p , , t t o o f f i i x x t t h h i i n n g g s s w w h h e e n n o o t t h h e e r r s s w w a a l l k k e e d d a a w w a a y y. . H H e e b b e e l l i i e e v v e e d d t t h h a a t t t t h h r r o o u u g g h h f f a a i i t t h h a a n n d d p p r r a a y y e e r r , , e e v v e e n n a a f f a a m m i i l l y y c c o o u u l l d d h h e e l l p p h h e e a a l l a a n n a a t t i i o o n n. . A A n n d d s s o o , , h h e e t t a a u u g g h h t t t t h h e e m m t t o o p p r r a a y y , ,

“ “ F F i i x x T T h h i i n n g g s s C C a a p p t t a a i i n n - - S S a a v v e e t t h h e e U U n n i i t t e e d d S S t t a a t t e e s s , , ” ” w w a a s s m m o o r r e e t t h h a a n n w w o o r r d d s s , , i i t t w w a a s s a a c c h h a a r r g g e e t t o o e e v v e e r r y y o o n n e e w w h h o o c c a a r r r r i i e e s s h h i i s s n n a a m m e e a a n n d d s s p p i i r r i i t t. .

O O v v e e r r t t h h e e y y e e a a r r s s B B i i s s h h o o p p W W o o o o d d s s r r e e c c e e i i v v e e d d h h o o n n o o r r s s a a n n d d a a w w a a r r d d s s , , b b u u t t h h i i s s g g r r e e a a t t e e s s t t r r e e w w a a r r d d i i s s n n o o t t h h e e r r e e o o n n e e a a r r t t h h b b u u t t i i n n h h e e a a v v e e n n , , w w h h e e r r e e h h e e n n o o w w r r e e s s t t s s w w i i t t h h t t h h e e L L o o r r d d , , r r e e c c e e i i v v i i n n g g t t h h e e j j o o y y a a n n d d g g l l o o r r y y t t h h a a t t c c o o m m e e f f r r o o m m a a l l i i f f e e l l i i v v e e d d i i n n f f a a i i t t h h f f u u l l s s e e r r v v i i c c e e. . H H i i s s s s t t o o r r y y l l i i v v e e s s o o n n i i n n h h i i s s c c h h i i l l d d r r e e n n , , h h i i s s c c o o m m m m u u n n i i t t y y , , a a n n d d i i n n e e v v e e r r y y s s o o u u l l t t o o u u c c h h e e d d b b y y h h i i s s v v o o i i c c e e a a n n d d h h i i s s v v i i s s i i o o n n. . H H e e s s e e r r v v e e d d f f a a i i t t h h f f u u l l l l y y u u n n d d e e r r t t h h e e p p a a s s t t o o r r a a g g e e o o f f h h i i s s s s o o n n , , D D r r. . T T i i m m o o t t h h y y J J. . W W o o o o d d s s , , S S r r. . a a t t H H o o p p e e w w e e l l l l M M i i s s s s i i o o n n a a r r y y B B a a p p t t i i s s t t C C h h u u r r c c h h. .

His Legwork

“How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things!”

Romans 10:15

Bishop Calvin Woods’ journey was marked not only by his words but also by his work. His “leg work” carried him across pulpits, classrooms, streets, and cities each step a testimony to his calling as both preacher and foot soldier.

Ministry & Leadership

• Pastored several churches, including East End Baptist, Roby Temple A.O.H. Church of God, Believers Temple Baptist and Shiloh Baptist Church, Norwood.

• Served more than 60 years with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) on national, state, and local levels. Held positions such as National Vice President, National Chaplain, State President, and President of the Birmingham Metro Chapter.

  *President of the New Era Baptist State Convention of Alabama.

  *Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, Birmingham Easonian Baptist Bible College.

  *Board Member of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.

  *Active member of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.

  
  

  Civil Rights Work

  -Stood on the front lines of Birmingham’s struggle for justice, working side by side with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

  -Headed the Transition Committee to ensure that various sectors were integrated following the 1963 demonstrations

• Appointed in 1966 by Dr. King as City Convener for the Birmingham Ministers Leadership Conference following the U.S. Civil Rights Commission’s findings against the city.

  -Filed the lawsuit with the United States Court of Appeals in Atlanta, GA, “Linda Cal Woods v. Theo R. Wright” after his three daughters and hundreds of other students were jailed during the Children’s Crusade in 1963—securing their reinstatement in school.

  -Was jailed, beaten, and harassed numerous times for his activism, yet never wavered in his mission.

• For more than 20 years, he shared the Birmingham Civil Rights story with thousands of out-of-state visitors at Kelly Ingram Park.

Education & Community Service

Retired from Birmingham City Schools after years of service in Discipline & Administration and as Evening Supervisor for Parker High School’s Community Education Program

Worked as a Counselor, Counselor Group Worker, and Center Director for JCCEO in assisting the poor in their quest for economic opportunity and equal justice

Honored in 2014 by the State of Alabama with a marker for more than 57 years of non- violent civil rights involvement stationed in Kelly Ingram Park

-Guided and mentored generations of young people through both education and ministry.

Bachelor/Master/Doctoral degrees include- Miles College, Universal Bible

Institute, Union Baptist Seminary, School of Truth, Birmingham Easonian Bible College, Morehouse College, Graduate studies -University of Alabama Birmingham, Urban Training Center for Christian Missions & Samford University Birmingham

Preceding him in death were his loving queen, Lucille Grayson Woods, his parents, Rev. Abraham Lincoln & Maggie Woods, Sr.; his brothers Rev. Abraham Lincoln Woods Jr., Dr. Roy Woods Sr., Franklin Delorna Woods, and Dr. Dwight Edward Woods;

his sisters Mary Ruby Woods Hutchinson, Melzer Woods Luke, and Lois Woods; his daughters Linda Cal Woods Holt and Shelia Vanessa Woods Minter; his son Dr.

Freedom Progress Woods Sr.; his granddaughter Tamecia LaShun Woods; and several in-laws, nieces, and nephews.

Left to cherish his memory are his children: Jeanette Marie Woods Smith, Judy Kay Woods, Dr. Calvin Wallace Woods Jr. (Minister Constance), Carlton Wayne

Woods Sr., Rev. Byron Elliott Woods, Christopher Wyatt Woods, Minister Joyce Elaine Woods Lewis (Dr. Tommie), Minister Angela Gay Woods McClure (Dr. Michael),

Dr. Timothy Justice Woods Sr., Dr. Quintin Prescott Woods Sr. (Tramella). Also honoring his life are thirty- seven grandchildren, sixty-eight great-grandchildren, eleven great-great-grandchildren, two daughters-in-law, two sons-in-law, thirty- three nieces and nephews, sixty-one great-nieces and nephews, Special daughter Laquetta Postell, three sisters Minister Lottie Woods Hall, Shirley Woods Simmons Minister Cathy Woods Jackson (Ralph)cousins, ministers of the gospel, faithful parishioners, and a host of other relatives and friends.

ORDER of SERVICE

Prelude

Carlton Reese Movement Choir/Celebration Choir

Processional

SCLC, Pastors & Ministers, Pallbearers and Family

Selection

Carlton Reese Movement Choir/Celebration Choir

Invocation

Dr. Wilson Fallin Jr., Pres. Bham Easonian Baptist Bible College Scripture Reading:

Old Testament; Psalm 23:1-6

Rev. Ralph Bryant, Bham Metro SCLC Chaplain

New Testament; John 14:1-7

Rev. A. D. Jackson, Bham Metro SCLC Chaplain

Selection

Carlton Reese Movement Choir/Celebration Choir

Acknowledgements Councilman Clinton Woods

Reflections (Two minutes)

Mayor Randall Woodfin

Dr. R. L. Patterson, President Bham Metro SCLC Dr. Charles Steele, President Emeritus National SCLC

Dr. Eddie Dansby Jr., Birmingham City Schools Sheriff Mark Pettway

U. S. Congresswoman Terri Sewell

DeJuana L. Thompson, Chair of Board, Housing Authority Bham District Eric Williams, Carl Covington, Bertha McCurdy

Shiloh Baptist Church Norwood Deacon John Tyus,

Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church

Selection - Children of Bishop Calvin Woods Sr.

Family - Minister Lottie Woods Hall, Sister

Dr. Calvin W. Woods Jr. & Judy K. Woods, Children Julian Woods Sr. & Jerita Smith Zellander, Grandchildren

Solo “In the Mist of It All” Minister Joyce Woods Lewis

Celebration Message

Dr. Timothy Justice Woods Sr. , Pastor Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church

Recessional Selection “We Shall Overcome”

Acronym Poem Written by Dr. Quintin P. Woods, Sr.

Entitled

“Bishop Calvin Wallace Woods Sr.”

Bishop Calvin Wallace Woods, Sr., as we know ran a good race

And although we will no longer be from a physical standpoint, able to see his face We thank God that he lived here on Earth for almost 92 years by God’s amazing grace Even beyond this we find comfort in knowing that his soul is in a better place To us and many others, he was so dear

And although he’s no longer here

We can be of good cheer and have no fear Because of the love in our hearts for him is so near

He was a servant of God who labored hard and long

We can’t help but to thank God, who for many years kept him healthy and strong He was one who was intelligent and smart

He was one who served God and his fellowman with all of his heart

He was one, alone with our dear mother, who taught us to stand for what is right No wonder for many years he stayed in the fight

In the fight, he fought for justice, freedom, and equality And for this he owed no apology

Ultimately for many years he labored in the Master’s vineyard

When he departed this life, from a human standpoint to us, it was very hard Like the Apostle Paul and many others, this Man of God fought a good fight He finished his course

He kept the faith

We find joy in that from the Lord, just a few days ago he received a well done and went on to be with the Lord because of the race that had already been won

To God Be the Glory for Bishop Calvin Wallace Woods, Sr., whose life had an amazing Story

Acronym Poem Written by Dr. Quintin P. Woods, Sr.

Entitled

“CALVIN”

C – He was Committed and Consistent to the Cause of Christ

A – He was Available, Active, and such an Achiever

L – He Loved the Lord and Labored Long

V – He was a Voice for the people, Vibrant, Visible, and a Visionary

I – He was very Intelligent, an Intercessor, and an Icon

N – He was Noble and did Not put up with any Nonsense

Mr . C . Woods Advisor

ACKOWLEDGEMENTS

Pallbearers Sons

Dr. Calvin Wallace Woods Jr. Carlton Wayne Woods Sr. Rev. Byron Elliott Woods Christopher Wyatt Woods

Dr. Quintin Prescott Woods Sr. Rev. Julian Demetrius Woods, Sr.

Honorary Pallbearers Grandsons

Flower Bearers Hopewell Missionary Baptist

Birmingham Metro SCLC Family & Friends

Interment

Elmwood Cemetery and Mausoleum Acknowledgement

The family of Bishop Calvin Wallace Woods, Sr. wish to express our deepest gratitude. and appreciation to everyone for every call, texts, visit, meal, floral arrangements, resolutions, prayers and all other expressions of love and support. Your thoughtfulness has uplifted us during this challenging time, and we are humbled.

As we navigate this journey without our loved one, we ask for your continued prayers.

Professional Service Entrusted To: Eastside Funeral Home

5523 1st Avenue North Birmingham, Alabama 35212

205-592-2233

Scan for special presentation