Mr. Edgar Guy Woodliff III

Edgar Guy Woodliff III always made a large impression beginning on 26 July 1928 as an eleven-pound baby. He was born in Gadsden, Alabama and later attended Phillips High School in Birmingham where he was a member of the Sigma Phi Omega fraternity. He then became a true and well trained War Eagle at Auburn University where he was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and received a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and accounting. He was also a proud graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University's Graduate School of Business Administration.

His lengthy career in the manufacturing of advanced, technical medical equipment afforded him the opportunity to serve as President of numerous companies throughout the United States as well as Chairman of the Board at Mid South. His expertise led the Woodliff family from Gadsden to Santa Barbara, California, to Kansas City, to Yardley, Pennsylvania, to Scituate, Massachusetts, and back to Gadsden, allowing them to establish both life-long friends and wonderful memories throughout the country. His work in international marketing further led him to Europe, Asia, and South America. Guy was a tennis player, an avid golfer, a great lover of the arts and museums, a voracious reader, and eager consumer of all things cerebral. But most importantly, he deeply loved his Maker.

Perhaps the only task Guy did not excel at was retirement. He received a commendation from Gadsden Area All American City, Inc. for outstanding community service, and he was instrumental in establishing the Family Success Center. He was a Paul Harris Fellow of the Gadsden Rotary, and President of the Board of Directors for the Gadsden - Etowah County Industrial Development Authority. He also received awards for outstanding leadership as Chairman of the Board of Junior Achievement of Gadsden (both 96 - 97 and 97 - 98), and for outstanding service to the Riverview Regional Medical Center as a member of their Board of Trustees. Regardless of these achievements and commendations too numerous to include herein, Guy was most comfortable in the classroom sharing his vast knowledge with future generations while teaching at Jacksonville State for a decade.

Yet his family will readily concur that his sought-after corporate leadership skills and his brilliant career both pale in comparison to his guiding hand and steadfast devotion to his wife of sixty-two years, and to his family. Guy was a true original - he engaged in the opportunities of this life with great zeal while passionate for his family and friends; ever navigating through life with his Lord as his compass. Indeed he set the bar very high. Guy thoroughly relished being surrounded by his large family, which is highly symbolic of his peaceful passing at home with four generations present. Guy is survived by his beloved wife Thea, his daughter Kathi Rhodes and Tom, son Guy Woodliff IV and Cile, five grandchildren, Heather, Parker, Elizabeth, Guy and Katie, five great grandchildren, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Joe and Jean Burnett, and many nieces and nephews. We now celebrate the promise of the 23rd Psalm - Guy dwells in the house of the Lord forever.

Services will be held at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church with a visitation preceding the service. The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, Manna, or any charity of your choice.


Collier-Butler Funeral and Cremation Services directing.