Robert Wayne Woods, 88, of Athens, passed away peacefully on May 6, 2025, lovingly surrounded by family, rejoining his beloved wife of 57 years, Carolyn, in Heaven.
Respected and appreciated by all who knew him, Wayne, as he was known, was born in Atlanta to Carl Hubert Woods and Elizabeth Coke Arline Woods. He was the youngest of his four siblings, Elizabeth Woods Thompson Hughes, Carl Hubert Woods, Jr., William Franklin Woods and Harold Eugene Woods.
At sixteen, Wayne moved with his family to Athens. He attended the University of Georgia and earned a Bachelor’s of Food Science/Chemistry Degree. He was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. After working first for Minute Maid in Lakeland, Fl, he began his thirty-one year career working for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), first in Chicago, then St. Louis, and finally as a Chemist in Charge for the Food Safety and Inspection Services at the Russell Research Center in Athens.
With his first wife Rose Lovett, Wayne had two sons, Anthony Wayne Woods and Wesley Robert Woods. After Wayne and Rose divorced he married Carolyn Sophie Brandt Woods, who had three children from her previous marriage – Cheryl Lynn Baker McGill, Kerri Marie Baker and Martin Kurjian Baker II. In 1970, Carolyn and Wayne had their daughter, Melissa Beth Woods (Hendrickson).
Wayne was an avid golfer and enjoyed exploring historical sites. He was also keenly interested in his family’s genealogy and wrote the book registered with the Library of Congress, “The Descendants of William Franklin Woods and Josephine Tarrence Zuber Woods.” Wayne was an integral part of a long series of well-attended annual family reunions.
Wayne is survived by his sons Tony and Wesley, his daughter Melissa, his step-children, Kerri and Martin and grandchildren Brittany and Jeremiah Woods, Sophie Grace Pettie, and step-grandson, Harrison Brandt McGill.
For information about the celebration of Wayne’s magnificent life, please contact Lawson Funeral Home at (706) 654-0966 or Melissa Woods Hendrickson at [email protected]. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s association.
Arrangements by Lawson Funeral Home, 4532 Hwy 53 Hoschton, Ga., 30548. Lawsonfuneralhome.org. 706-654-0966.