Helen E. Woods

On March 15, 2016 Helen E. Woods passed away in Fountain Hills at the age of 96.

Born March 15, 1920 to Pastor William Mathias McBroom and school teacher Eugenia Cage McBroom in Murfreesboro, Tenn. She is predeceased by three brothers, William Mathias McBroom, Jr., Jodi Clyde McBroom and Samuel Houston McBroom; four sisters, Christine McBroom, Selena McBroom Jones, Thelma McBroom Harris and Mary McBroom Dukes.

She lived with her surviving son, Paul Woods, of Fountain Hills. Her daughter, Carol J. Woods, resides in Glendale, Ariz.

She was married to her late husband, Carl E. Woods of St. Paul, Minn. Helen also lived with her family in Dickson, Tenn. where her father pastored his own church and her mother taught school.

She left Dickson for Buffalo, N.Y. to help her sister, Mary Dukes, who was sick at the time. All three sisters worked at Roswell Park Cancer Hospital in Buffalo.

While living in Buffalo she met her late husband, Carl E. Woods, who was a Buffalo policeman. Carl pursued Helen until she said yes, and they lived happy together for nearly 50 years until his passing Sept. 15, 1996.

The family decided to move to Fountain Hills after Carl retired from the federal government. She loved everyone in Fountain Hills.

Helen was always telling a joke and was always around the house singing.

There are no grandchildren, but she was called grandma by so many people and called momma by a host of others.

She has nieces and nephews including Kevin Dukes of Hollywood, Calif., Michelle Dukes of Los Angeles, David Williams of West Covina, Calif., Tony Williams of West Covina, Winfred and wife, Vera McBroom of Louisville, Ky. Sharon McCombs of Atlanta, Ga., Crystal Harris of Atlanta and Carol Harris of Atlanta.

She is predeceased by nephews Albert Harris, Carlton Harris, Lloyd Dukes and sister-in-law Geri McBroom.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, April 2, at the Mesa Palms Seventh Day Adventist Church, 6263 E. Thomas Road, Mesa at 2 p.m. Her ashes will be placed at the National Cemetery in Phoenix with her late husband.

Donations may be sent to the following account, routing number 12210002 and account number 769460783.

Flowers and cards can be sent to Paul Woods for Helen E. Woods, 14804 N. Caliente Drive, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268.

Paul and Carol want to thank all who remember their mother, who brought laughter and joy to everyone’s hearts. Helen would not want anyone to be sad in her passing. She would want you all to remember her as she was as a mother, a wife, a friend.

Helen E. Woods go with God, your loving son and daughter, Paul and Carol.