R.C. "Jack" Woodruff

Funeral services for R.C. "Jack" Woodruff, 94, are set for 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 13, 2018, at Magnolia Funeral Home officiated by Elder George Cecil Woodruff and Charlie Browning. Grandchildren and their spouses will serve as pallbearers. Burial will follow at the Dorothy Jean Bain Woodruff Memorial Cemetery at LoveJoy Baptist Church. Visitation will be at Magnolia Funeral Home on Friday, October 12, 2018, from 5 to 8 p.m. Jack passed on to Glory peacefully, with his family surrounding him, on Wednesday, October 10, 2018, at his home of over 70 years in the Leedy community near Burnsville, Mississippi. Jack was born June 7, 1924, in the Indian Springs Community in Alcorn County, Mississippi to the late Dena Burcham Woodruff and John Wister Woodruff. Born and raised during the Great Depression, Jack learned early in life to work hard and help others and it instilled in him a dependable, honest and compassionate work ethic that served him well throughout his life. He was a man of his word and his word was true and honorable, always. After honorably serving our Nation in the Navy during World War II, Jack married Dorothy Jean Bain in December 1947. From 1949 to 1962, they had six children who survive their parents: Jackie Woodruff (Sandra) of Leedy, David Woodruff (Cathy) of Corinth, Ann Ivy (Finis) of Leedy, Timothy Woodruff (Lynn) of Leedy, Jan Crawford (Ronnie) of Corinth, and Joan Mielke (Dean) of Richmond, Virginia. Dorothy Jean passed away in 1964, much too soon, and Jack became mother and father to his six children. He gave them consistent and wise counsel, guided by his enduring faith in God. Our Daddy was our rock and he will live on in our hearts and hopefully through our deeds. “The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.” Proverbs 20:7. Jack was also preceded in death by his parents, his second wife Nona Mae Woodruff, his sisters Lillian Childers, Leon Emerson, Faye Brown, Louise Bain and Dorothy Oakley, brothers Homer Ray Woodruff and Roscoe Woodruff, granddaughter Kellie Jean Bobo, and great-great grandson Charley Atticus Phipps. Jack is also survived by his brother Elder George Cecil Woodruff of Corinth and sister Lila Jean Blassingame of Booneville, special friend Rebecca Whitley of Booneville. He was beloved as “Pa Jack” to his grandchildren Amy Williams (Jeff), Jacelyn Nicole (Nikki) Smith (Brad), Matthew Thorne (Heather), Christy White (late Chris White), Jenny White (Bryan), Tina Harvey, Tony Mitchenson, Garry Dwayne “Bucky” Bobo, II (Hope), Tony Ivy (Betsy), Kim Bradley (Eric), Tiffany Cupido (Jason), Tyler Woodruff (Miranda), and Caitlyn Wheeler (Brad). His great-grandchildren Drake Williams, Magan (Matt Phipps), Kalie Beth Durham, Morgan Smith, Drew Zaccagnini, Taylor Cooper, Ryleigh Thorne, Molly White, Austin White, Robert White, Makayla Harvey, Bella Mitchenson, Eli Mitchenson and Fox Mitchenson, Nathalie Bobo, Hannah Robinson (Kyle), Morgan Morris (Brian), Paige Whitaker (Josh), Braxton Barham, Avery Wyatt Woodruff, and Jack Crawford Wheeler. His great-great grandchildren Aiydom Phipps, Willow Grace Phipps, Saylor Phipps, Caden White, Mason Whitaker, Ava Morris, Max Ivy, Macy Ivy, Garrett Haggmann and Carter Robinson. Jack was a member of North Rienzi Church of Christ, 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and York Rite Mason. He served as secretary and treasurer of the Alcorn County Water Association Board for many years. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, especially “front-porch sitting” sharing stories of times past and hopes for the future. He went fishing as often as possible and played the banjo. He loved singing and serving, for 25 years, as the song leader with the Jacinto Senior Citizen Singers, many of whom preceded Jack in death, and now they are all singing in Heaven’s choir. Most of all, Jack loved Jesus, our Lord and Savior, and dedicated his life to God, who has now welcomed His good and faithful servant to the Promised Gloryland to rejoice forever. We will miss you Daddy, but will meet again in God’s good time. The family gives very special thanks to Jack’s hospice nurse Kim Taylor and caregiver Tabitha Sharpe. Your love and compassion was tremendous. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.