Obit – Mr. Frank Woodard
Longtime Smith County Commissioner, Mr. Frank Woodard of the Conditt Hollow Community, died at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday evening May 8, 2024 at the Lebanon Center for Rehabilitation and Healing where he was admitted April 5th suffering from a malignant neoplasm of the brain. Mr. Woodard was 74.
His cousin, Bro. Jackie Dillehay and his pastor, Bro. Lanny Thomas will officiate at the 1 p.m. Monday afternoon May 13th funeral services from the Carthage Capel of Sanderson Funeral Home. Burial followed beside his beloved wife, Polly, in section five at the Ridgewood Cemetery in Carthage.
There was Masonic Chapel Services at 7 p.m. Sunday evening by the Carthage Benevolent Lodge # 14.
Mr. Woodard was initiated to the degree of Apprentice Mason in November of 1974, passed to the degree of Fellowcraft Mason on January 7, 1975 and raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on February 4, 1975. In February of 2025 Mr. Woodard would have been a Mason for fifty years.
Mr. Woodard was the eldest of four sons born to the late George Thaxton “Shack” Woodard who died January 7, 1985 at the age of 64 and Hildegard Kaindl Woodard who died May 3, 1978 at the age of 58 and was born Frank Eldon Woodard at the former McFarland Hospital in Lebanon on March 12, 1950.
The brother born after Frank was James Ward Woodard, who died as a result of cancer at his Pea Ridge Community home on April 9, 2022 at the age of 69.
On July 3, 1970 Mr. Woodard was united in marriage at the Elmwood United Methodist Church Parsonage by then pastor, the late Bro. Sammy Cherry, to Lafayette native, the former Polly Ann Trent. She preceded him in death on July 4, 2013 one day after the Woodard’s forty third anniversary.
Mr. Woodard was a 1968 graduate at Smith County High School where he majored in building trades. His freshman and sophomore years he was in the agriculture classes under then vo-ag teacher, Nate Bastian, and his senior year he was a member of the Pep Club.
It was stated in the “68 Owl” annual about him to: “Push on, keep moving”, and that he did throughout his adult life.
Mr. Woodard was a longtime employee of the Ross Gear Division of the T. R. W. Company in Lebanon and was a self-employed tree trimmer and concrete mason. He also assisted his brother James in his roofing business.
Mr. Woodard ably served as a Commissioner representing the Elmwood-Chestnut Mound residents and perhaps was the most conservative member of the court and was instrumental, through his efforts and persistence, in bringing the Dollar General Store to the Elmwood Community.
Mr. Woodard was a member of the Carthage Benevolent Lodge #14 of Free and Accepted Masons.
He is survived by his daughter Sandie Woodard Buck and her husband Douglas of the Hillsboro Community in Coffee County, Tennessee, a son, Bryan Woodard & wife Jennifer of Athens, AL; and by two brothers, Jerry Woodard, Gary Woodard and wife Faye, all of the Elmwood Community; eight grandchildren, Sarah Downs and husband Ryan, Caleb Buck, Aaron Buck, Anna-Charlotte Buck, Phoebe Buck, Noah Buck, Bryana Brown and Jordan Holmes; two great- grandchildren Henry and Jack Eldon Downs.
SANDERSON of CARTHAGE
