Omaha, NE

Our Heavenly Father in His infinite wisdom summoned the soul of Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt) John Arthur Woods, Jr. with his immediate family by his side from CHI Health Lakeside Hospital of Omaha, Nebraska to his eternal rest on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 8:25pm CT. “Jay” as he was affectionately called, was born on July 26, 1981 in Sumter, SC and raised within the Snowhill community of Greeleyville, SC. He was the oldest child and only son of his surviving parents, Mr. John (Sylvia) A. Woods, Sr. of Greeleyville, SC and Mrs. Nancy (Matthew) Montgomery Canty of Manning, SC.

As a teenager, John “Jay” accepted Christ as his personal Lord and Savior, joining Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, served on the Youth Usher board, and cultivated a love for singing while on the Youth Choir. He lived a wholesome life of service to others, showing humility, love, kindness, faith, integrity, diligence, temperance, intelligence, and reverence to God until death. In his adolescence, Jay shared his talents winning art contests, singing tenor in Chorus, and playing on the basketball and football teams. Because of his passion for singing, he and a group of friends formed an R&B group, N’Harmony, and had the opportunity to sing in Harlem, NY at the legendary Apollo Theatre in 1997. He also sang with his cousins, The Montgomery Singers, at local churches and family events. Educated within the grade schools of Williamsburg County School District, Jay graduated from C. E. Murray High School in 1999. Later, he furthered his studies and obtained a Master of Arts degree in Homeland Security in August 2020 from American Military University and completed various leadership seminars and certified continuing education programs at the distinguished Harvard University in May 2023. In the Summer of 2023, Jay completed the Referee requirements to officiate local recreational sports and school games in Nebraska as a hobby.

John Jay’s twenty-two (22) years of service and journey to becoming SMSgt Woods began in April 2002 with his initial commitment to serve in the United States Air Force (USAF). He completed Basic Training and Security Forces Technical Training in September 2002 at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB) in Texas and was stationed at Ramstein Air Base (AB) in Germany to November 2004. SMSgt Woods was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)/ Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) to Mihail Kogalniceanu AB, Romania in 2003 and Tallil AB, Iraq in 2004 and 2007. He has served on assignment at Thule AB, Greenland in 2005, Patrick AFB, Florida in 2006, Incirlik AB, Turkey in 2013 returning to Ramstein, Germany in 2014 for 9 years, and short-lived his Active-duty status at Offutt AFB, Nebraska at the time of his earthly departure. During his tenure, he received many acknowledgements, honorary awards, and ribbons, but more recently, was selected as the 55th Wing, Senior Noncommissioned Officer (SNCO) of the Year, Offutt AFB. SMSgt Woods was proudly dedicated in his service, career driven, self-motivated and demonstrated qualities of a servant leader whose presence delicately demanded respect and yielded respect in return.

Of his many accomplishments, marrying the former Viktoria Mueller, his soulmate, in April of 2006 was his most treasured. Together, they were blessed with two children: a daughter, Sasha Mina Woods (14) and a son, Jaden Elijah Woods (12). Jay was a humbled and loving son, caring brother, adventurous and silly too, an actively present father, a providing family-man, and a dignified husband for eighteen (18) years of marriage. Along with his surviving wife, children, and parents, Jay leaves to cherish his memories: two sisters, Andrea J. Woods of Manning, SC and Adrean (Louis) J. Kennedy of Charlotte, NC; and a niece, Little Miss Ava Kennedy (5) also of Charlotte, NC; his parents by matrimony, Alexander (Anna) Mueller and a brother-in-law, Alex (Kristina) Mueller-Perlefein of Kaiserslautern, Germany; two grandmothers, Ruth Thelma Montgomery of Troy, New York and Ida Mae Woods of Greeleyville, SC; 14 maternal aunts and uncles – James Benbow, Carrie Montgomery, January (Peggie) Montgomery, Robert Montgomery, James Montgomery, Margie Dawkins, Lee Ernest (Lessie) Montgomery, Shirley (Adger) Waiters; Cindy Montgomery, Geraldine Montgomery, and Julie Hilton-Collier; 1 maternal grand-uncle, Elijah Billy; 16 paternal aunts and uncles – H. Bernice (Walter) Williams, Willie (Carolyn) Woods, Jr., Ernestine (Ronald) Nelson, Dianne (Franklin) Coard, Alphonso (Nettie) Woods, Sammie (Francina) Woods, Moses (Christine) Woods, and Janice (Christopher) Dozier; 6 paternal grand-aunts – Katherine McKnight, Mattie McKnight Mazyck, Eleanor Robinson, Lurena Turner, Louise Nelson, and Jeannette Nelson; very close first cousins reared as brothers – Anthony (Linda) Woods, Germel (Shawanda) Coard, Ronitto Dozier, Lorenza (Arlisa) Waiters, Curtis (Adenike) Dawkins, Wendell Dawkins; by marriage, two aunts - Vala (Wowka) and Mina (Jascha); one uncle, Heine (Ira); and cousins Carolina (Dany), Angelina, Sascha (Karina), Andrej, Sandra, Jan, Oxana (Jose), all of Germany; and an extremely close-knit crew of cousins, a host of classmates, friends, acquaintances, and fellow Airmen of the world’s greatest Air Force.

Public viewing will be held from 9:00AM til 6:00PM Monday, April 29, 2024, at Hayes F. Samuels, Sr. Memorial Chapel, 114 N. Church St., Manning, SC.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at Upon This Rock, 10050 US-Hwy 521, Greeleyville, SC 29056. Burial will follow in Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery, 253 Coleman Rd., Greeleyville, SC 29056.

The family is receiving friends 2:00 PM til 8:00 PM at the home of his mother and step-father Nancy (Matthew) Canty, 508 Rudy Rd. Manning, SC and at the home of his father and step-mother John (Sylvia) A. Woods, Sr., 2864 Easler Hwy. Greeleyville, SC.