Pemiscot Press, Steel, MO, Wednesday, April 4, 2018

PATRICIA ANN BURTON WOODY

Patricia Ann Burton Woody, 85, of Steele, MO passed away Monday, March 26, 2018, in Memphis, Tenn. She was born November  16, 1932, in Steele to Harry Hartry Burton Sr., and Kate Cunningham Burton. She was united in marriage to Edward Milton Woody on April 10, 1958, in Caruthersville, MO. She was a graduate of Steele High School class of 1951. Her junior year in high school, she left to play baseball for the Fort Wayne Indiana Daisies with the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She returned home to graduate from Steele High School. She left Steele again, but this time to play basketball for Holmes Community College in Goodman, MS. While there, she was recruited by the All American Red Heads. She was among the elite professional athletes of her generation. After leaving the Red Heads, she went to nursing school. She later decided teaching and coaching were her ultimate calling. She graduated from Arkansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and a master’s degree in special education. She started her coaching career at South Pemiscot in 1980, retiring in 2004. She was inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, and the Basketball Hall of Fame for Holmes Community College in Goodman, MS.

Mrs. Woody was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Kate Burton; husband, Edward Woody; one son, Thomas Pinnell Woody; three sisters, Katherine Burton, Thelma Carter and Betty Burton, and six brothers, Joseph, Harry, Samuel, William, Adolphus and Jack Burton.

Survivors of Mrs. Woody include two sons, one daughter-in-law, eight grandchildren, and one great-grandson.

Funeral services for Mrs. Woody were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 31 at South Pemiscot High School Gym with Rev. Aaron Burton and Mr. John Mundy officiating. Interment followed at Mt. Zion Cemetery. Visitation was held from 11 a.m. until the time of the service. Pallbearers were Eric Woody, Evan Woody, Jeremy Patton, Anthony Patton, Brett Burton and John Woody. Honorary pallbearers were Bobby McCulloch, Sam Billington, Bill Crowder, Phillip “Sonny” Laden Sr., Phillip Laden Jr., David Burton, Mike Burton, Victor Burton, George Burton and Joe Beck Burton.

Powell Funeral Home of Steele was in charge of arrangements.