Cumberland-Newhanover County NcArchives Obituaries.....Woodward, William Joseph October 11, 1907
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Bill Gibson bgibson@uncfsu.edu October 13, 2008, 1:07 pm

Fayetteville Observer – Thursday, October 17, 1907
COL. W. J. WOODWARD DEAD.
-----
Prominent Citizen of Wilmington – Remains Will Be Brought Here For Burial.
From Saturday’s Daily.
-----
     As foreshadowed in yesterday’s Observer, Col. William Joseph Woodward, a
prominent citizen of Wilmington, and a native of Fayetteville, passed away
yesterday evening.  The announcement of Col. Woodward’s death will cause great
sorrow to hundreds of Fayetteville people, as well as to the host of friends in
Wilmington and throughout the State.
     After brief funeral services from the residence Sunday morning by the Rev.
J. M Wells D. D., pastor of the First Presbyterian church, Wilmington, of which
Colonel Woodward was a devoted member, the remains will be brought to
Fayetteville for interment.  They will be carried direct to the cemetery, where
a short service will be held.
     Of his death, the{t} Wilmington Star of to-day says:
     “With infinite sorrow to hundreds of friends in this city and elsewhere in
the State where he was widely known and highly esteemed will come the
announcement of the death of Colonel William Joseph Woodward, which occurred
yesterday evening at half after six o’clock at the family home in Wilmington,
No. 210 North Second street, after a lingering illness since the first of
September with Bright’s Disease.
     Colonel Woodward was born in Fayetteville on the first of September 1843
and was therefore, in the sixty-fifth year of his age.  His parents were Mr. and
Mrs. A. J. Woodward, of Fayetteville, his venerable mother still surviving him
and having reached his bedside a short time after the death yesterday evening. 
At the outbreak of the Civil War Colonel Woodward cast his lot with the Southern
Confederacy and enlisted with a company which was a member of the famous Bethel
regiment.  After that he was detailed to important work in connection with the
arsenal at Fayetteville and remained at his post of duty there until the
surrender of arms at Appomattox.  He remained in Fayetteville until after the
war but very soon thereafter went to New York and was engaged in business there
for five years, later removing to Florida where he remained until 1886 when he
came to Wilmington and became connected with the large cotton exporting firm of
Messrs. Alexander Sprunt & Son.  At the time of his death, he was traffic
manager of the largest shipping interests of that house and also secretary of
the Champion Compress and Warehouse Company, an allied corporation of the firm.
 During his twenty two years residence in this city Colonel Woodward had drawn
to himself a company of friends such as few men in this time are privileged to
enjoy.  His interest in the young men was one of his distinguishing traits and
there are many of the younger generation, who feel in the death of Colonel
Woodward ## they have lost a personal friend and a wise counselor.  Kindly in
his disposition, genial and ever ready to turn his hand to the help and
alleviation of the suffering, he was a model for those who would seek to lay up
treasures hereafter.  He had a noble spirit, his integrity was never questioned
and his high character and urbanity was the remark of those who came in contact
with him.  Truly, his place in the community will be hard to fill.
     “The fraternal spirit was strong in Colonel Woodward and he took a
prominent part in the affairs of the Knights of Pythias, being one of the
founders and one of the most enthusiastic members of Jefferson Lodge No. 61, of
this city, and having at one time served the Grand Lodge of the State in the
highest office in its gift, that of Grand Chancellor.  Colonel Woodward also
took an active part in the affairs of the United Confederate Veterans, being a
prominent member and at one time an officer of Cape Fear Camp No. 254, U. C. V.,
of this city.  He was also one of the aides of the staff of General Gordon,
commanding the United Stat{e}s with the rank of colonel and was a prominent
figure in all the U. C. V. general reunions.
     “Colonel Woodward married Miss Mary Jane Worth, a daughter of the venerable
Mr. B. G. Worth, of this city, and she with the following children survive him:
 Messrs. C. W. Woodward, J. M. Woodward, of this city; Mr. Eugene S. Woodward,
of Chattanooga, Tenn.; Mrs. A. F. Bowen, of Raleigh; Mrs. John L. Hazelhurst,
Misses Cornelia, Alice Wood, Elizabeth T. and Emma M. Woodward, of this city. 
There are also surviving his aged mother, Mrs. A. J. Woodward, of Fayetteville,
and the following sisters and brothers:  Mrs. D. A. McMillan and Miss Alice
Woodward, of Fayetteville; Mrs. Hall, of Red Springs; Mrs. R. T. Whitehead, of
Enfield, N. C.; Mrs. George A. Woodward, of Durham; Mr. Pembroke W. Woodward, of
Fayetteville, and Mr. Joel A. Woodward, of Stillmore, Ga.  His venerable mother
and two sisters, Mrs. McMillan and Miss Alice Woodward, reached the city last
night from Fayetteville, a few hours after he died.  Other members of the family
arrived during the day, all having been here a few weeks ago when Colonel
Woodward was so desperately ill.”
-----
Funeral of the Late Col. W. J. Woodward.
From Monday’s Daily.
     The remains of the late Col. W. J. Woodward, who died at Wilmington Friday
evening, arrived here at noon yesterday, accompanied by members of the family
and an escort from the Knights of Pp{y}thias, of Wilmington, and were taken to
Cross Creek cemetery, where short services were held both by the church, Rev. W.
M. Fairley officiating, and by the Knights of Pythias.
     There was a large concourse of citizens present to do honor to the memory
of a native son, who in his life abroad did honor to their city.  A large number
of beautiful floral designs from many parts of th{e} State attested to the love
and esteem in which the deceased was so universally held.
     The following were the pall bearers:  Messrs. H. W. Lilly, Walter Watson,
J. W. Atkinson, R. McMillan, W. E. Kyle, A. A. MacKethan.
     It is interesting to note, and we do so with pride, that Col. Woodward’s
last requests were that he be buried in Fayetteville and in his Confederate
uniform.


Additional Comments:
While in New York, W. J. Woodward was active in the Church of Strangers.  His
name is mentioned several times in the church history, as one of the original
founding members, a board of trustees member, and Sunday School director:
A romance of providence : being a history of the Church of the Strangers, in the
city of New York

There is an excellent picture of W. J. Woodward and son, J. M. Woodward, in a
group photo of the Alexander Sprunt & Sons Company (c.1900). 
http://www.latimerhouse.org/collections/photos/573.shtml

“Cookie” Harper genealogy info regarding Woodwards/Worths (excellent group of
photos):
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/8008/photos.htm

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