The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-24
MAYOR J.W.WOODS'
Of ROANOKE, DEAD
Succumbs to Complication OF Dis
eases After Twelve Weeks
Fight.
FUNERAL ON CHRISTMAS DAY
City'S Remarkable Tribute in
Popular Demand for His Ele-
walton to Chief Office.
Especial TO The Times-Dispatch.l

Roanoke. Va. December 23-John W
Woods died this morning after gal
liant fight Of twelve weeks against
heavy odds. The end came peacefully
after a long vigil OF family and friends
Last Thursday night he was at deaths
door. and II was not thought possible
that he could much longer survive the
ravages OF a complication Of diseases.
Friday. however. he rallied from a pro-
longed period Of unconsciousness. ana
from then until Sunday morning his
condition was such that physicians and
relatives experienced renewal II
hope for the Mayors recovery.
Early on Sunday Judge Woods's con-
dition took a turn for the worst. and
from that time until his death the
patient remained in a comatose condi-
ton.
Present al the bedside al the final
moment were Mrs. Woods. his wife
J. a. and J. X. Woods. brothers: Mrs. J.
a Woods and Miss Anna Woods, a sis
ter. and Mrs. John NJ Peddicord and
Miss Anna Staples. sister OF Mrs. John
". Woods. Besides DR.. T. Allen kirk.
Mr.. Woods's physician. and a nurse,
there were no others at the Clark Ave-
nue. home when the Mayor died. he
was fifty-fOur years old.
(hrlstmas
II was announced to-day that the
funeral service viii be held at Greene
Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church
at 2:3O o'clock Wednesday afternoon,
Christmas Day.
The illness which resulted IN the
death of Mayor Woods was contracted
the latter part of October, less than
two months after he had qualified as
the city's chief executive. From that
time he never left his house and was
confined TO bed many Of the weary
weeks that preceded his death.
Despite his condition. which grew
worse from day to day. Mayor Woods
found time in the early part Of Novem-
Der TO dictate a message to the Council,
which was the first and only message
that body ever received from him
Among the other things in his recon-
mendation TO the Council. he urged
that Elmwood Park be used as a site
for the proposed municipal buildings.
His idea was that a creditable CITY
Hall and jail could not be built with
the amount Of money which will re-
main when all the ground in the vicin-
ity of the present City Hall site has
been purchased.
Was siEnaIly Honored.
Mayor Woods possessed all OF char
acter and ability that is required to
mould a big man. Such honors as he
received at the hands OF the people he
regarded as trusts. and he felt a re-
sponsibility 10 those whom he served. II
probabl was this one trait more than
anything else that induced him TO be-
come a candidate for Mayor OF Roa
noke at a time when no other man
seemed able to meet the peculiar condi-
tions.
He was signally honored by his city.
in that he was sought for the highest
office IN the command Of the munic-
ipality. He showed his loyalty TO the
CITY in that he accepted the office.
though il meant TO him a sacrifice OF
time and labor II was when he really
found that the people wanted him as
a candidate being convinced of the
fact BY petitions and mass-meetings,
that he finally permitted his name 10
go before the people in the Demo-
cratic primary election OF May 4. 1912
Following his decision to enter the
primary. Mayor Woods went TO work
and took an active part and interest In
the campaign The primary was hotly
contested but Mayor Woods won out
BIZ a substantial majority over his two
opposing candidates. J. A Page and ].
the regular election last June He
qualified as Mayor September I. and
took I'd the duties which s P. Seffert
had been performing several months.
following the ousting OF Mayor CutcAin
Church Worker.
Mavor Woods was a man of integrity
and OF Christian belief and prac-
tice- He was a member Of the Greene
Memorial Methods. Church. and was
one OF the board OF stewards. an ac-
tive worker in the Sunday school. and
a liberal contributor to church and
charitable work.
He was one OF the most gifted
speakers in Roanoke. and his ready
fund Of knowledge prepared him for
almost every occasion. He was fav-
orite banquet and after-dinner orator.
and there were few occasions Of the
kind in the city at which he was not
an honoreG guest
Born in Roanoke County.
Mayor John william Woods was a
native Of Roanoke County. and all his
life was srent within the borders of
his native state He was born at Ca
tawba- Roanoke County. July -. 1858.
and was the son Of the late William
and Sarah Jane Woods. He was Of
Scotch-Trish descent. his great-great-
grandfather. Michael Woods. having
em.rrated TO America from England
in the early part OF tho eighteenth
century
In his early life Mayor Woods
studied in the county public schools.
and later attended Roanoke College al
salem. DETERMINING to study law. he
attended the University Of Virginia
and was admitted 20 the bar In 1881
lie located IN Roanoke city and began
his legal practice
His ability was soon recognized ana
IN 1853 he was chosen to represent
Roanoke city. Roanoke and Craig
Counties In the Virginia House OF Dele
gates lie served but one year OK MS
term IN the Legislature. In 1892 ne
again entered public life. and was ap-
pointed Judge % the Hastings Court
20 succeed Judge william Gordon ROB
.rtson. His decisions on the bench
we're seldom reversed by the higher
court. and he was twice reelected 10
the same position By the legislature
In All. his career as judge covered q
period % seventeen years.
After leaving the bench. MAY or
Woods engaged In the practice OF MS
profession. and also was interested ~
-. o.