Jewell H. Woods

Jewell Vashti Humes Woods was born on September 9, 1931 to the late Bishop Samuel L. Humes, Sr. and Bertha Holmes Humes. She departed this life for an eternal and peaceful life on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at Doctors Community Hospital, Lanham, Maryland. She was the fifth child of nine siblings and the first daughter. She is preceded in death by Samuel Jr., Melvin, Paul, Damon, Donald, Ruth, Kent and Shirley.

Jewell attended Logan Elementary School, Shaw Jr. High School, Cardoza High School, all in D.C. Jewell received a Bachelors of Science Degree from D.C. Teachers College and a Masters Degree in Administration and Supervision from George Washington University. Jewell completed Post Graduate work in Curriculum Writing at Catholic University, Trinity College, Stanford University, and University of Maryland. Jewell's teaching career began in 1954 following the Brown versus the Board of Education ruling, which means she was one of the first teachers to teach in an integrated D.C. Public School. She was very proud to be a part of the Civil Rights Movement.

Jewell met her spouse, Wilbert Thomas Woods, Sr., while standing outside a building at D.C.Teachers College. He flirted with her and he was on furlough from the Air Force at that time. The attraction was the man in the uniform. They married June 26, 1954, at the Northeast Holy Trinity Church, Washington, D.C. by the late Bishop Kent T. Holmes, and blessed by that union were Wilbert Thomas Woods, Jr., and Jacquelyn Maria Woods.

Jewell provided service to her community with excellence and dedication. She joined the sisterhood of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in 1953. She was a Golden Star member with over 25 years of continuous service in the Xi Omega Chapter where she served on the several committees. A lover of all kinds of music, she was an excellent pianist and was known for her passionate playing of Lift Every Voice and Sing,the Black National Anthem.

Our Jewell began serving the Lord at an early age and was active at Northeast Holy Trinity Church, Washington, D.C. for many years. She continued her Christian Serve as a faithful member of Zion Baptist Church, Blagden Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. as a Senior Choir Member, Pastors Circle Member, and spearheaded an outreach program for the community. Recently, Jewell came full circle by attending services at the Northeast Holy Trinity Church, where last Easter she eloquently shared testimony about how God healed her from a recent stroke.

She personified the family reunion's theme of "Rooted in Love" and held her family accountable for knowing our heritage, legacy, and bloodline. Jewell serve as source of inspiration for all.

Jewell moved from her Northwest Washington, DC residence in February 2018 to the Brookdale Estates, Bowie, MD where she was affectionately named the "Ambassador" and continued to enjoy many friends and activities.

Jewell leaves to celebrate her life a son, Wilbert T. Woods Jr., daughter, Jacquelyn M. Woods-Wallace, granddaughter, Jacqueline Noelle Woods, grandsons, Jon Woods, Andrew Wayne Levell, London Jesus Wallace, and Devin Dines, devoted niece Veronica Humes Butler, nephew Ralph Humes, sister- cousins Joan Humes Richmond (Kamaria), and Merle Humes Richmond (Nichole). Also celebrating her strong legacy of love, caring and wisdom are several sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, cousins, and devoted friends whom she touched in so many special ways.

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow for the wonderful things Our Precious Jewell has done in his name!

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