Sylvester Wooden Jr.

Obituary: On Sunday, December 31, 2017, our beloved Sylvester Wooden Jr., completed his final mission and received his Heavenly wings. He was born on October 28, 1919 to the late Sylvester Wooden, Sr. and Josephine Floyd of Crystal River, Florida. Sylvester enjoyed learning and socializing with his classmates; and in the 1920s was able to matriculate through primary school up to the 8th grade. He joined the United States Army during World War II and fondly remembers serving in Dutchland, New Guinea. Sylvester served five years and was honorably discharged. He was affectionately known as "Wooden" to his friends and family. After returning to civilian life, he became a brick mason by trade and ultimately retired from this profession. Sylvester married Delia Rabb, who preceded him in death in 2000. To this union were born two children, Sylvia (Wooden) Holley and Gonzales Artess Wooden (deceased). Wooden was a very self-reliant and independent man. He was a member of White Hall AME Church. There he took pride in making sure his church looked its best. He spent many hours of love making sure the lawns on the church grounds and the cemetery were mowed and well maintained. Wooden also enjoyed hunting, fishing, and gardening. He enjoyed being a volunteer for the Meals on Wheels organization for 15 years where he travelled from house to house ensuring each and every senior under his watch received healthy meals. Wooden was also a proud member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans Charity. As a member of these organizations he enjoyed volunteering to visit the sick and shut in veterans. Sylvester was predeceased by his wife, Delia Rabb Wooden; a son, Gonzales Artess Wooden; brother, Felix Wooden; sisters, Arvella (Wooden) Cotton and Willie Bea (Wooden) Gamble; and son-in-law, John P. Holley, Jr. Those left to cherish his fond memories are: daughter, Sylvia (Wooden) Holley of Columbia, South Carolina; grandchildren, Carmen Wooden (Jack) White of Baltimore, Maryland; Johnathan (Dr. Jennifer Whitaker) Holley and Joya (Sushil) Holley-Patel, both of Columbia, South Carolina; great-grandchildren, Aneesa Monique Abdul-Rahim, Zyare Virdel Abdul-Rahim, and Jolie Elizabeth Holley; one sister Hattie " Terry" (Wooden) Ward and a host of other nephews, nieces, and other family and friends that will miss him dearly. Services: Funeral services for Mr. Sylvester Wooden will be held 12:00 noon, Saturday at Adams NE A.M.E. Church, 409 Longtown Road, Columbia, SC, with interment to follow in the White Hall A.M.E. Church cemetery. Mr. Wooden will be available for viewing a hour prior to the service. A visitation will be held Friday, January 5, 2018 from 2:00-7:00 p..m. at Russell McCutchen Funeral Home, Winnsboro, SC, and family will be receiving friends between 6:00 and 7:00 pm.