Linwood L. 'Woody' Ross, 76

SEAFORD - Linwood L. "Woody" Ross, of Seaford, left this earth to sing and play with our Heavenly Father's Celestial Choir on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008. He was 76.

He died of natural causes at the University of Maryland, Medical Center in Baltimore, surrounded by his wife and children.

Linwood, or "Woody," as he was affectionately called, was the son of the late William Ross and the late Helen Cannon Ross.

His childhood and young adult years were spent in Finchville, Md.

Linwood was a devout Christian and a dedicated member of Bethel United Methodist Church of the Bridgeville Charge.

He served faithfully and tirelessly as a trustee, a member of the Men's Choir, a member of the former United Gospel Male Chorus, and as one of the church pianists, and soloists.

Linwood will be well remembered for his rendition of "In That City, Where the Roses Never Fade."

From church to church and gospel program to gospel program, requests were made for him to sing.

Although a man of few words most of the time, he rarely refused to sing to the glory of God with his melodious voice.

Linwood was best described as an all-around handyman. He liked to cut hair, work in his yard, cut his own grass, tend to his garden, cook whenever the opportunity presented, "tinker" on cars, tractors, and above all, he loved to sing and play songs of Zion.

His siblings and children were also musically blessed.

Linwood worked for many years in the poultry industry and retired from Perdue Farms Inc. as a supervisor after 23 years of faithful service. He also worked at Caroline Poultry for a few years.

On June 2, 2007, Linwood surprised everyone by eloping and marrying his current wife, Agusta Carr-Ross.

On Aug. 25, 2007, they hosted their wedding reception for family and friends in Seaford.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Doretha Brown Ross, on July 30, 1992.

Linwood is gone, but thanks be to God, he will never be forgotten by the following survivors: his bride of eight months, Agusta Carr-Ross of Seaford; three sons, Linwood W. and his wife Correne Ross and Jarvis L. Ross, all of Seaford, and Lemuel L. and his wife Andrea Ross of Ellendale; two daughters, Dorlinda H. Ross and Dorcia S. and her husband David Adkins of Seaford; three brothers, Atlas and his wife Elaine Ross of Bridgeville, Ernest and his wife Mildred Ross of Greenwood, and Jerome Ross of Federalsburg, Md.; two sisters, Evelyn and her husband Ralph Fooks of Williamstown, N.J., and Dorothy Cannon of Federalsburg; seven stepchildren, Douglas "Gene" Carr of Dover, William "Donnell" Carr of Smyrna, Bernard and his wife Keisha Carr of Woodbridge, Va., Ricky Carr of Hope Mills, N.C., Andre and his wife Youmana Carr of Warner Robins, Ga., Jayne C. and her husband Michael Alexander of Hampton, Va., and Beverly C. and her husband Vaughn Banks of Dover; eight brothers-in-law, William and his wife Christine Brown, Edward and his wife Delma Williams, George and his wife Ernestine Brown, Daniel and his wife Bettye Harris, Ronald Taylor, Gary and his wife Wanda Taylor, Jerome and his wife Cynthia Jackson, and Daniel and his wife Marian Smith of Bridgeville; seven sisters-in-law, Gaynell and her husband Eugene Abbott, Audrey Fooks, Arlene and her husband Arnold Robinson, Evelyn and her husband Otha Batson, Coralie Batson, Cleo Blake, and Mary Lee Thompson; six former foster children, Dion, Courtney, and Tashiba Kellam, Andrea Mullen, April Johnson, Charles Jackson; 26 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be noon Saturday in Lifeway Church of God, Del. 404, Bridgeville, where friends may call two hours prior.

Friends may also call from 6-8 p.m. Friday in Bethel United Methodist Church, Harper Road, Federalsburg.

Flowers will be accepted from 2-5:30 p.m. Friday in Bethel United Methodist Church.

Interment will be in Macedonia Church Cemetery, Seaford.

Professional services by Deborah E. Harris-Nock Funeral Services, Greenwood.