James Larry Woodard

Services

Friday, March 7, 2025Public Viewing: 4:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M.Held atNelson & Sons Memorial Chapel824 Lipscomb StreetShelbyville, Tennessee
Saturday, March 8, 2025Family Visitation: 12:00 NoonFuneral Service: 1:00 P.M.Held atBird Street Church of Christ428 Bird StreetShelbyville, Tennessee
IntermentMorton CemeteryBell Buckle, Tennessee

James Larry Woodard was born on Nov. 10, 1950, to Lillie Mai Woodard and Henry Bonner, otherwise known as “The Pepsi Cola Kid,” in Shelbyville, TN.

Larry, as he was affectionately called, was a member of the Shelbyville Central High School graduating class of 1968. Larry attended Harris High School, where he played football and basketball. He also attended Tennessee State University (TSU), and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in 1972 with a degree in psychology.

Larry has held various jobs throughout his career. These include selling life insurance, working for South Central Human Resource Agency (SCHRA), Job and GED Training at Motlow State Community College, and as a Supervisor of Instruction of night school at Bedford County Vocational Center of Shelbyville, otherwise known as Tennessee College of Applied Technology.

He married the love of his life, Mary E. Morton-Woodard, on March 23, 2002, but unfortunately lost her to illness in 2004.

During the later part of his life, he stepped into a new hobby of picking turnip greens for family, friends, and neighbors. This, he found to be as relaxing as fishing and headed to the turnip patch at EVERY opportunity.

Larry was preceded in death by his mother and father; Lillie Mai Woodard and Henry Bonner; and his mother and father-in-law; Josephine Lock Morton and Rufus E. Morton.

He will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him. He was a bright light and friend to all.

Larry is survived by his brother, Brent Woodard (Ann) of Murfreesboro, TN; sisters, Sonya Walls and Mary Buchanan of Shelbyville, TN; sisters-in-law, Sandra Lock of Bell Buckle, TN, Jo Butler of Winchester, TN, and Kim Sanford of LaVergne, TN; brothers-in-law, Michael Walls of Shelbyville, TN, Nathan Butler of Winchester, TN, Jimmy Sanford of LaVergne, TN, and Charles Morton of Bell Buckle, TN; aunt, Margaret Holman of Shelbyville, TN; a HOST of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.

Larry had a uniquely special bond with his nephew, Anthony, who began calling him “Uncle Warry,” at the age of nine. Anthony thought “Uncle Warry” could perform miracles, and spent countless hours with him doing yard work, playing with Tonka Trucks, and Power Ranger- fighting. Larry has always been a major influence in Anthony’s life, for the good.