Gloria Jean Coddington Woodson

Gloria Jean Coddington Woodson, 87, of Reems Creek Valley, died Thursday, February 16, 2023 at Aston Park Health Care Center.

Mrs. Woodson was born May 5, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois.  She was the daughter of the late Clady B. Coddington and Ruby Renfro Coddington James.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Robert M. Woodson, Sr. who passed away November 11, 1997, and her loving sister Donna Coddington Anderson of Weaverville.

Mrs. Woodson, who was called “Mimi” by her family and many friends lived most of her adult life in the Reems Creek Valley of Weaverville, NC where the family raised horses many of those years on their farm – Sundance Arabians.

Mimi enjoyed most of all sharing her life with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.  She was a member and Lifetime Elder of Reems Creek Beech Presbyterian Church.  Gloria was a 1953 graduate of Lee H. Edwards High School where she was a Majorette.

She took her first full-time job in 1965 as Head Secretary/Cashier for Sun Finance Company, Asheville, NC.  In 1969 she began her career as a NC Government Employee as the General Secretary of Clyde A. Erwin High School.  In 1971, she advanced to Head Secretary.  In 1974, she advanced again to Head Bookkeeper/Head Secretary.  In 1978, she became the Executive Secretary to the Associate Superintendent of Buncombe County Schools. In 1981, she became the very first Public Relations Director for Buncombe County Schools where over her career in this position received numerous state school press awards from the North Carolina Association of Educators, numerous national awards from the National School Public Relations School and College Publications Contests and numerous state awards from the North Carolina School Public Relations Association.  During her tenure as the Public Relations Director for Buncombe County Schools, she served as a member of the State of North Carolina Public Relations Association Board of Directors, as well as State Secretary – Treasurer and State Coordinator for this same board.

In 1987, the late Dr. N.A. Miller, Superintendent for Buncombe County Schools wrote a letter of commendation to her with the following statement - “She is always willing to help teachers and students, and some way finds time to write and produce a quarterly newsletter, an annual report, a school calendar, etc. Through her diligence and hard work, she took a program from zero to one which is respected and admired across the entire state.”  Mrs. Woodson retired from this position in the late 1980s and realized a year or so down the road that she had retired too soon.  Her position as the Public Relations Director for Buncombe County Schools was already filled so she went back to work again, this time as the Assistant Public Relations Director for Asheville City Schools.  She fully retired in August of 1992.

Surviving is her son, Robert M. Woodson, Jr., and his wife Marie of Weaverville.  Their daughter Diana Reece and her husband Travis Reece of Weaverville along with their children, Mimi’s great-grandchildren, Kate-Marie, Gavin, and Stella Mae Reece.  Their daughter Marisa Woodson of Weaverville along with her daughter, Mimi’s great-granddaughter Elliana Woodson. 

Steve Woodson and his wife Angie of Brevard, his son Brad and his wife Christy of Pisgah Forest.  Their son, Mimi’s great-grandson, Austin Woodson of Springfield, MO, and his son, Mimi’s great-great grandson Leighton James “LJ” Woodson, and their son, Mimi’s great-grandson Cole Woodson.  Steve’s son Nick Woodson Atkinson of Atlanta.  Angie’s daughter Stephanie and her husband Cory Payne of Fletcher and their children, Mimi’s great-grandsons Greyson and Thayer Payne.  Angie’s daughter Kaydelee and her husband Brandon Newman of Rosman and their children, Mimi’s great-grandchildren Alden and Lyra Joe Newman. 

Mike Woodson of New York and Asheville and his daughters Meredith Woodson of Durham and Chase Woodson of Raleigh.

Also surviving is her brother James M. Coddington, Sr. and his wife Barbara of Charleston, SC along with many nieces, nephews and cousins scattered across the country.

Her Memorial service will be held Saturday, February 25th at 11:00 AM at Reems Creek Beech Presbyterian Church with current Pastor Rebecca Gurney, former Pastor Jay Rabuck and Mimi’s cousin the Rev. Dr. Joe D. Renfro officiating.  Graveside services will shortly follow at West Memorial Park in Weaverville.

Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Travis Reece, Gavin Reece, Brad Woodson, Austin Woodson, Cole Woodson, Jeff Anderson, Keith Anderson, Jim Coddington, Jr., Jeff Coddington, and Joe Coddington.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Friday, February 24th at West Family Funeral Home in Weaverville, NC.

Mrs. Woodson requested in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Reems Creek Beech Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 4 Sugar Cove Road, Weaverville, North Carolina 28787.

Condolences may be offered to the family under Mrs. Woodson’s obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com.