Bernice Woods

With sorrow and gratitude the Woods family announces the passing of our loving and gracious mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, Bernice Fisher Woods, on December 24th, 2023. Bernice, the ninth and final child of George and Nellie (née Cunningham) Fisher was born on September 11th, 1936 in Kenna, WV.

Bernice married the love of her life, Clifford Woods, in a modest courthouse ceremony on June 12th, 1954. Together they celebrated their union with mint chocolate chip ice cream and a honeymoon to Cincinnati, OH. Upon returning home to Goldtown, WV, Bernice moved in with her new inlaws as Clifford shipped out (albeit a few days late) on the USS Yorktown. Following that sea cruise, the newlyweds followed Clifford’s naval career on adventures across the United States.

Over the next decade Bernice and Clifford planted temporary roots across the country, each map dot holding its own special memories. In Maryland, they welcomed their first son Mike, and Bernice earned her substitute teaching certificate. A few years later, a deployment for Clifford sent Bernice and baby Mike back to WV, where she gave birth to daughter Cheryl. In Illinois, the Woods family became a family of five, as daughter Trish was born. In California, Bernice learned the recipe for what would one day become the famed “Woods taco”, and baby Debbie made her debut. Even though the four Woods children remember the Navy life with varying levels of fondness, it has been generally agreed upon they can’t believe Bernice managed to keep them all alive in the family’s 500-square-foot mobile home.

Many will remember Bernice for the millions of stitches she quilted over the years with the Watts Chapel Ladies Aid, where she also served as the secretary and treasurer. Bernice was a lover of country music, enjoying decades worth of trips to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee with her family. She was an avid basketball fan with conflicting allegiances to both Marshall and WVU as well as Kentucky and Louisville (though she could be easily swayed depending on which team her grandchildren were rooting for). Bernice was always up for a card game, from Canasta with the ladies in the mobile home parks they lived in, to Phase 10 with her grandchildren and honorary children. She couldn’t keep her hands off of a puzzle, especially word searches, jigsaw puzzles and Wheel of Fortune.

Bernice was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Clifford, her parents and her eight older brothers and sisters. She is survived by Son, Mike (Arlene) Woods/Ellicott City, MD; Daughters, Cheryl (Herb) Faber/Goldtown, WV, Trish Woods/Huntington, WV, Debbie (Rick) Schraitle/Ostrander, OH; Grandchildren: Adam (Vicky) Stover, Eric (Alisha) Stover, Andrew (Brittany) Woods, Kelsey Woods, Brynne (Jeremy) Steigerwalt, Cole Schraitle, Erin (Jason) Lambert; and Shannyn Kyle. Great-grandchildren: Nickolas, Gavan, Zane, and Silas Stover; Kamryn Stover; and Jasper Woods.

Friends and family of Bernice will gather at The Green Center in Kenna, WV, Sunday, Jan. 7th from 2:30-4:30, to celebrate the life and memory of their beloved mother, grandmother, aunt and friend. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association in Bernice’s memory.