Wanda Rogers Woody

Wanda Rogers Woody, passed into Glory on June 5, 2025, at the age of 98. She wasn’t just “Nanny” to many but also a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, encourager, confidant, teacher, best friend, matriarch to a loving family, and most importantly a faithful follower of Jesus Christ.

Wanda was born the 10th child of 12 to the late John and Dolly Rogers of Burnette Siding in Haywood County, NC where she spent her entire life. She grew up in a hard-working Christian family full of love. She attended Cecil and Bethel Schools, graduating early. She joined her sisters in working in the mill at Dayco during wartime while her brothers and brother in-laws served in WWII. Nanny made hoses for gas masks used by soldiers. As the war ended, she attended Blanton Business School. Wanda married the late Clay Holland Woody in 1944 and welcomed their only child, Linda in late 1946. Over their nearly 57 years of marriage, they co-owned a plumbing business in which Wanda worked as bookkeeper. Wanda and Clay were servants at Laurel Grove Baptist Church where Wanda was a member for 79 years. She served as a primary Sunday school teacher, was a choir member and always helped with Vacation Bible School. She was a master seamstress and an avid gardener and canner of homegrown foods. She loved family gatherings, was a member of camping clubs and enjoyed crafts including quilting. Wanda also joined Richland Garden Club where she participated in many events and service projects. In recent years, Wanda moved closer to her family near Maggie Valley and joined Dellwood Baptist Church in March 2023. She greatly enjoyed Worship on Wednesdays and the fine singing and preaching of the Word. She was kindhearted, but she was fearless and tough as nails. An Appalachian woman through and through. She held things together, didn’t flinch in hard times, and taught her family what it meant to stand firm in truth and grace.

Most of all, Nanny was love. Summers with her were magic, picking wild blackberries on the mountain, camping trips to Pigeon Forge, and family picnics in Cataloochee. She taught grand/great granddaughters to needlepoint and crochet, and grand/great grandsons how to be creative and resourceful. Sometimes we’d let our imaginations get the best of us, (like the times we'd play a softball game against an imaginary team in the front yard). She was the best storyteller, back scratcher, and the undisputed queen of canning apple butter and grape jelly. Even as grown adults, many would still ask her to put jelly on our biscuits, because somehow, it just tasted better when she did it. At Christmas, we would bake a birthday cake for Jesus. And every year, after the gifts were opened, she would launch the first wrapping paper missile, igniting a house-wide war of laughter and flying paper wads. Throughout the year, we sometimes stumble upon those surprise wads tucked behind the furniture and can’t help but smile.

Wanda is preceded in death by her husband Clay Woody and parents John and Dolly Rogers as well as all 11 of her siblings: Garland Rogers, Reldy Revis, Viola Galloway, Mable Rogers, Paul Rogers, Frank Rogers, Baxter Rogers, Mary Rogers who she was especially close to, Eugene Rogers, Hiawatha Rogers and Betty Green.

She is survived by her daughter, Linda Woody Boyd (Charles), grandchildren Woody Boyd (Gina), Brian Boyd (Treva) and Amy Boyd Sugg (Warren). She dearly loved her great grandchildren and poured much love into their lives: Alea Boyd, Alexander Boyd, Adam Boyd, Chloe Sugg and Evie Sugg who are forever grateful and blessed to know her love and wisdom. On Sunday mornings, you would find her surrounded on the church pew by this family she created, a legacy wrapped in faith and love.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM until 12:30 on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at Wells Funeral Home in Waynesville with her funeral service immediately following at 12:30 PM. Burial will follow at Bethel Community Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Woody Boyd, Brian Boyd, Warren Sugg, Alexander Boyd, Adam Boyd, Mike Singleton and Paul Evans.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to made in her honor to Dellwood Baptist Church (https://dellwoodbaptist.org/).

Though there is no way the void she’s left behind could ever be filled on earth, we have peace in knowing she’s with her Lord and Savior with Papaw and her family that have gone on there waiting at Heaven’s gates to welcome her home. Proverbs 31: 29-31, “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

The care of Ms. Woody has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville.