Woodworth Brady

Woodworth Brady, humble, but larger than life, was born in the quaint little village called Harris Road, nestled in the Garden Parish of St. Ann, located in the beautiful Tropical Island of Jamaica. The most significant event of 1949, took place on Monday January 24, when John & Leila Brady gave birth to the cutest, healthiest, little 7pounds baby boy. His father immediately named him Woodworth Brady, because according to him, “ Woodworth meant wide influence and impact.

Woody, as he was affectionately called, was the sixth of fourteen children, four of whom predeceased him. Like all his siblings, he was the beneficiary of solid Christian principles, strong moral values, and generous discipline. He had a father who believed that it was an abomination “ to save the rod and spoil the child” and so every disciplinary exercise, was pre-empted by an appropriate quote from the bible and an explanation for the punishment. Depending on his father’s mood, he would sometimes ask him to determine or to suggest an appropriate punishment for the infraction committed.

In keeping with the family’s tradition, Woody fell in love with Jesus, surrendered his life to Him and was baptized at the age of nine. It was during those early years of serving in the church, that his leadership skills and ability to mobilize and influence others were identified and nurtured.

Woody commenced his formal education at the Lime Tree Garden primary school. From there he received a scholarship to the Knocalver College where he boarded during the semester and went home during the holiday breaks. While Woody looked forward to going home at the end of a semester, his younger siblings approached the holidays with mixed emotions, as they were sure that it was going to be serious business in terms of homework, reading and any and everything concerning academics. Sometimes, they could hardly wait for the summer to end and Woody to returns to college.

Shortly after graduating from college, Woody migrated to Toronto, Canada and then to Brooklyn, New York, where he studied at Hunter College before becoming an accountant and was gainfully employed with CBS and later with The Aberdeen Manufactures where he gave sterling service for many years.

In 1971 Woody married his high school sweet heart, and the union produced three sons (Kevin, Dominick and Paul).

In 1987, Woody and his family decided they had had enough of the fast life in the big city, and the extreme cold temperatures. This decision took them to the city of Roswell, in the State of Georgia, where they settled down to a much slower paced life. In spite of the relocation and its consequent challenges, the family adapted quickly. The children settled down in their new home and school. Ann, his beloved wife continued to serve as a Registered Nurse while Woody took on the insurmountable challenges of his own business. As soon as the family settled down in Roswell, they became active members of the Atlanta North Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Woody’s love for his new church and extended church family was unconditional. As such he would sacrifice any other activity to be present with his church family. In 2007 when his last son, Paul died under very tragic circumstances, an experience from which the family is yet to recover, some thought that perhaps that experience would challenged the very foundation of his faith. Bur instead, he accepted his crucibles with guts and grit and grace, as he held tenaciously to his faith in God.

Woody never had a mean bone in his body. He was warm and friendly and made his mark in Jamaica, Canada, in New York and right here in Atlanta Georgia; not with grand gestures or elaborate titles but by the basic goodness and generosity of his character and the quality of his involvement with his fellowmen on the tennis court, in his church, in his neighborhoods and wider communities.

There are so many wonderful aspects to Woody’s life. He will be remembered as a wonderful husband, a loving father, a great friend, a generous uncle and cousin a friendly face in town, a fantastic sportsman and one who dearly loved his family. In all these ways and more, he made our lives richer and fuller.

With his passing, there is emptiness and pain, confusion and maybe even anger at death. But in many ways the gift of Woody’s life is still here with us, as he lives on in our memories, stories, anecdotes, and in what all of us have become because of him. I encourage us all to share today, tomorrow, and in the years to come, your memories and your stories and in so doing, keep the gift of Woody’s life alive.

Left to mourn his passing are his beloved wife Ann; two sons Kevin and Dominick Brady, nine siblings (Blossom Brady, Dell Lovell, Marcia East, Median Brady, Chloe Brady-Bobb, Uriel Brady, Horatio Brady, Maureen Brady, Lucille Brady-Walters, Warren Brady and Antonie Brady) Sisters-in-Law Serelva Seraphin, Nicole, Janet and Denise Brady; Brothers-in-Law, Mark Seraphin, Daniel Walters, Compton Bobb, Earl Lovell; many nieces & nephews, grand nieces & grand nephews, & great grand nieces & great grand nephews; one aunt (Tutsie Linton); many cousins and tons of friends and well wishers.

The family of the late Woodworth, thanks everyone for the overwhelming demonstration of love and support received through prayers, flowers, cards, gifts, and by you just being there. Let us remain steadfast as we look for the second coming of our Lord and savior.

Lovingly submitted by Woody’s family.