Mary Elizabeth Francis Woodford

Mary Elizabeth Francis Woodford ended her earthly journey on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 and received her crown of glory. Mary was born on September 7, 1922 to David Thomas Clark and Emma Jane Griffith in Jerusalem, Ohio. Mary is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, David and Mary Lou of Barberton; granddaughters, Elizabeth (David) Flatt, Katy (George) Begalla and Samantha (Sean) Butler and her five great grandchildren, Deacon, Brooks, Ryann, Riley and Sonny. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, George of 47 years and her sister, Addie Decker. Mary grew up in southeastern Ohio and graduated from Woodsfield High School. After graduating she moved to Wadsworth to work at The Ohio Match Company. She met George Woodford in Kenmore where her sister rented a room from Mrs. George Woodford Sr. They were married in 1946, after George served in the South Pacific, and moved to Portage Lakes where they welcomed their son David Dale in 1951. Mary loved many things and openly shared her love and her light with those who met her. She loved flowers and loved tending to her garden. She was a member of the Portage Lakes Garden Club for many years. She had a gift for flower arranging and loved showing off her blue-ribbon pieces. She used her talents to arrange flowers at Barberton Church of Christ where she was a long time member and Sunday school teacher. She loved her church family dearly. Mary loved people. She always greeted you with a “Hello!”, then a “How do you do?”, followed by an offering of whatever she had, which could be a piece of candy, or even a cough drop. Mary would show you her love with a hand squeeze, a strong hug, a kiss, or all three. She may have been 102 years old, but she had the grip-strength of a rock climber and would pull you in for a loving hug. Mary was one-in-a-million and her laugh was contagious. She would get into laughing fits and you just couldn’t help but laugh along with her. She loved to be silly and had the best facial expressions to match. Mary loved the Lord and sang His praises. She read from her extra-large print Bible with a magnifying glass and would sing hymns from her beloved song book. She would often sing, hum, and whistle. Mary enjoyed being outdoors and noticed beauty wherever she went. Above all else, Mary loved her family the most. She was so proud of her only son, David, and loved her daughter-in-law, Mary Lou, as her own. She cherished her three granddaughters and called them her “Doll-Babies” and “Sweethearts”. Calling hours for Mary will be at the Campfield-Hickman-Collier Funeral Home, 566 W. Park Ave., in Barberton on Sunday, October 27, 2024 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. A funeral service, officiated by David Flatt, will be held Monday, October 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Immediately followed by interment at Greenlawn Memorial Park. The family would like to thank everyone at Pleasant View Nursing Home for their love and care for Mary.

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