Nell Beckett Cranford Woodard

View Video TributeMrs. Nell Beckett Cranford Woodard, 93, resident of Sewanee Circle, died Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at Signature Health Care. Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Scott Aleridge and Rev. Melinda Britt officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 4 - 7:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. The family suggests memorials to The Peoples Table, c/o First United Methodist Church, 222 West 7th St., Columbia, TN 38401, First United Methodist Church, 222 West 7th St., Columbia, TN 38401 or the charity of your choice. The Lawrence County native was the daughter of the late James Perry Beckett and Euda Reynolds Beckett. On November 27, 1941 she married William Oliver Cranford who preceded her in death on August, 26, 1979. On January 2, 1981 she married Dr. James E. Woodard, who preceded her in death on January 17, 1988. After graduating from Dupont High School in Nashville she attended Middle Tennessee State University. She worked as office manager of her husband's business, Cranford Lumber Company, in downtown Columbia. She was very active in community affairs, serving as Secretary of Maury County Visitors Bureau, Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities (APTA), Tenassee Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, Mitsis Club, Spring Hill Bridge Club for over forty years, James K. Polk Association, and first recipient of the Lucille Queener Courtney Community Service Award. She was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church. Survivors include her daughters, Janelle C. (David) Arnold of Columbia, Susan C. (Charlie Watts) Lovell of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina; granddaughters, Melissa Goolsby (Derry) Hicks of Columbia, Elizabeth Lovell (Chris) Michels of Nashville; Rebecca Lovell (Dan) Sommer of Maryland, Sarah Beckett Lovell (Josh) Stabile of Knoxville; brother, Charles Robert (Kaki) Beckett of Brentwood; sister, Margaret Ann Beckett Green of Pompano Beach, Florida; stepdaughter, Dottie Lou Woodard (Sam) Myatt of Jackson; stepsons, Andy (Susan) Woodard, DDS of Columbia, Dan (Joan) Woodard, DVM of Crossville; brother-in-law, James L. (Dorris) Cranford of Columbia; great-grandchildren, Alexandria Melissa Goolsby, Derry Alexander Hicks, Jr. and Chloe Nell Hicks all of Columbia, Joshua Luke Stabile and John William Stabile both of Knoxville. She was preceded in death by brothers, James L. Beckett, Howard Reynolds Beckett, Frank Simpson Beckett, William Thomas Beckett and sister, Martha Beckett Wright. Active pallbearers will be Chris Michels, Dr. David Williams, Dan Sommer, Josh Stabile, Jim Rodgers and Derry Hicks. Honorary pallbearers include Mr. & Mrs. Richard Brown, Mr. & Mrs. Billy Fleming, Alton Kelly, Mr. & Mrs. Richard Paulk, Mr. & Mrs. Shelby Carpenter, John Hickman, Mr. & Mrs. Dick Moore, Eddie Watson, Mr. & Mrs. Joe Pearson, Mrs. David Williams, Mrs. Robert Cathey, Mr. & Mrs. Ned Laughmiller, Mr. & Mrs. Waymon Hickman, Mr. & Mrs. James Springer, Brenda Pierce, Mr. & Mrs. Mike Bryan, Judge & Mrs. George Lovell, Mr. & Mrs. James Parker, Ms. Mavis Mall, Mrs. Berrie Boyd, Dr. & Mrs. Joe High, members of Ayres-Whitney Sunday School Class, members of Tenassee Chapter Daughters of American Revolution, and members of Mitsis Club. The family wishes to express special thanks to the caregivers at Signature Health Care.