Larry Woodward

Mr. George Larry Woodward, 68, passed away on Friday, March 12, 2021, in Louisville, MS. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday, March 16th, at Porter Funeral Home, with Rev. Tom Potter officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday from 12:00 noon until service time at the funeral home. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Porter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the family asks that friends wear masks and adhere to social distancing guidelines. Larry was born December 29, 1952, in Columbus, MS, to George and Mavis Woodward, the eldest of two children. The family moved to Louisville in 1955, where his father served as Sheriff and Tax Collector of Winston County, just as his father had before him. Larry grew up there on the family farm, graduating from Louisville High School in 1970 and received a degree in Political Science from Mississippi State University in 1974. After graduation, Larry began a career in sales of audio visual and office equipment, which lasted 27 years. He married Margaret Hamilton in November, 1983, and they have two children, Patrick, and Sarah. In 2011, Larry was elected Tax Assessor/Collector of Winston County, the third generation of his family to serve in this position. He served one term. Larry continued to operate the farm, which has been in his family for 150 years, raising cattle and timber. He was active in the Winston County and Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association, as well as Mississippi Farm Bureau. He was a very active member of First United Methodist Church in Louisville, where he taught Sunday School and served on various committees. He was a Certified Lay Speaker in the Methodist Church for over 25 years and was active in the Walk to Emmaus. He was past president of the Louisville/Winston County Chamber of Commerce, and was elected Winston County Man of the Year in 1999. Larry was a member of Louisville Masonic Lodge #75, F & AM, Louisville York Rite Bodies, KYCH, Red Cross of Constantine, Knight Mason and a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason. He was initiated into Louisville Chapter #60 on July 17, 1979. He served his Chapter as Worthy Patron numerous times and on a number of Grand Chapter committees. He served as Grand Chaplain in 2008-2009 and in 2011 was elected Grand Sentinel, and had the honor of serving as Worthy Grand Patron in 2013-2014. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Hamilton Woodward of Louisville; a daughter, Sarah Woodward of Pittsburg, PA; a son, Patrick Woodward of Louisville; a brother, Jimmy (Tara) Woodward of Louisville; and an aunt, Lois Woodward Pennington of Decatur, MS. Serving as pallbearers are Jim Hamilton, Scott Hamilton, Matt Woodward, Joseph Quattrochi, and Ryan Egger. Memorials may be made to The Little Red School House, Grand Chapter of Mississippi, c/o Shirley Self, Grand Treasurer, 103 Keith Lane, Clinton, MS, 39056.