Nellie (Nell) Woodall

On Sunday, June 28, 2020, Nellie (Nell) Paul Dodson Woodall passed peacefully into the arms of her awaiting Savior.  She died in her home in Bay Springs, MS, surrounded by her family.  She was 89.

Nell was born to loving parents, Rufus Melton and Katie Tyner Dodson, on October 4, 1930.  She was the eldest of 5 children.  She adored her siblings.  Most of her childhood until early adulthood was spent in Harperville, MS.  Their home was the center of activity amongst their peers and surrounding family.  Nell and her siblings had a wonderful time reminiscing and sharing with those around them the splendid memories of pulling taffy candy and rolling the rug back for dancing.  It was truly and an incredible era of great responsibility and hard work, yet that atmosphere of hardship perhaps generated the most enduring relationships and moments of fun and celebration no matter how small.

Nell enjoyed a fulfilling career as a secondary education teacher having received her degree from the University of Southern Mississippi.  Even though she chose to stay home during the early years of raising her four children,  Nell still taught almost 30 years influencing and training young hearts and minds.  She retired in 1993 from Bay St. Louis, MS, school district.  She was a leader and mentor of her peers often acting as the liaison between teachers and administrators in important matters.  Nell always had the strength and wisdom of a leader both professionally and personally.

Nell grew up in a loving Methodist church in Harperville, but she always expressed that her faith in Christ was made real while at East Central in Decatur, MS, around 1950.  There she was both a beauty queen and campus leader.  She led campus-wide devotions and singing during assemblies.

After retirement, Nell spent a year or more traveling to her children’s homes, watching grandchildren in various sports activities and school programs, and helping with those grandchildren just arriving.  When she settled back home, it became a place of Bible studies and ministry, especially to the unchurched, hurting, and rejected.  Numerous lives were touched and changed by her courageous, sacrificial, and loving response to God’s call on her life.  Even after her health declined, from her bed, she was a source of love and strength and encouragement to everyone who visited and spent time with her,

Nell was preceded in death by her father and mother, her husband, Donald Ray Woodall, and two brothers-in-law.    She is survived by her 4 children:   Kathy (Buck) McDonald, Decatur, MS; Dr. Bill (Wanda) May, Baton Rouge, LA;  Bob (Cheryl) May, Picayune, MS; Sally (Jeff) Sherwin, Bay Springs, MS; and one daughter in the faith, Marie (Jeff) Clark, Biloxi, MS.  In addition to her children, Nell is survived by 9 Grandchildren: Shannon McDonald Massey, Jonathan McDonald, Brian McDonald, Lauren McDonald Alford, Aaron May, Lauren May Mohler, Katie May, Whitney May Knowles, and Samuel Sherwin; 14 Great-grandchildren and 4 siblings:  Nett Dodson Madden, Forest, MS; Dot Dodson Broussard, New Albany, MS;   Dr. M.L. (Dee) Dodson, Gulfport, MS; Jackie (Joe) Dodson White, Blairsville, GA, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 2, 2020, at 3:00pm at Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Forest, MS.  The immediate family will greet other family members and friends for visitation one hour before the service at 2:00pm.  Burial will follow at Harperville Cemetery, Harperville, MS

Services by Ott & Lee Funeral Home of Forest

Tel. (601) 469-3412