Marsha Woods

Marsha Woods, retired Lorain City Schools kindergarten teacher, passed away on May 7, 2025, in the middle of Teacher's Appreciation Week and shortly before Mother's Day.

She succumbed to an unexpected and unpredictable brain bleed on May 6, 2025.  Her body remained on life support an extra day to allow for her wish and final gift to the world of becoming an organ donor to be fulfilled.

Marsha was born in Summerville, West Virginia and was a lifelong resident of Vermilion-On-The-Lake.   She is survived by her only daughter, Kristina Woods and wife, Stephanie; brother, David Woods and beloved nieces and nephews, Chantal, Alyssa, Matthew, Samuel, and Sage; and common-law husband of over 20 years and best friend for over 50, Jeffrey Champion; as well as uncle, Michael Woods, of Ravenswood, WV, and aunt, Anita Brown, of Craigsville, WV - both originally of Widen, WV - and uncle Gary Brown.

Marsha is survived by numerous members of her extended family, as well as step-children Brittney, Caroline (William), and Christopher; lifelong friends Jimmy & Kim (Deel) Tedford and Jeannie Holbrook (Adkins) and their families; and the Suarez family.  Marsha will especially miss Jonas, August, Felicity, and Billy and watch over them eternally.

She was preceded in death by brother, Norval Ray Woods, father, Norval Joe Woods and mother, JoAnn Woods (Brown). She was also preceded by grandparents, Ray Brown, Edna Strickland and Norval & Betty Woods (Williams), as well as step-father Buell Strickland; uncles, Bobby Brown and Michael Brown; and aunts, Karen Remy, Debbie Woods, and Kenda Woods. Marsha was also preceded in death by many extended family members, as well as cherished pets, whom she loved dearly, especially her dog Penny.

Marsha was a graduate of EHOVE Career Center, Vermilion High School, and Lorain County Community College.  She was the first woman in the family to go to college.  She received her teaching degree from Ashland University, and an additional master's degree in curriculum development from Bowling Green State University.  She taught for over 25 years in Lorain City Schools, having worked previously for Oberlin City and Vermilion Local School Districts, and numerous summer and after-school programs for youth in underserved communities.  A lifelong Democrat from a family of union workers, she was a volunteer for Organizing for America and a member of the North Eastern Ohio Education Association (NEOEA).  She was also an Eastern Star (Madeleine Chapter, 204) and a Girl Scout leader.

Marsha dedicated her life to loving, raising, and teaching children.  With a childlike heart and innocence, she played a vital role to her family  as a bonus parent for her nieces and nephews, and to her community, providing a nurturing and loving classroom for hundreds of children, many of whom saw school as their only safe place.

Marsha was a "rainbow baby," after her parents lost their first son to a lung condition that would be easily treated today.  She was sent to them to bring joy and peace in their lives, and she lived her life bringing joy and peace to others.

Family will welcome those who mourn on Saturday, May 17 from 11-1 at Riddle Funeral Home in Vermilion for visitation, followed by funeral services at 1. Marsha's daughter, Kristina Woods, will be delivering the eulogy.  A celebration of life will follow those services around 2 at the Vermilion-On-The-Lake Historic Community Center (The Clubhouse).  The family encourages all who loved Marsha to feel free to come to eat and share memories.

Marsha's most special memories were made in classrooms, Grateful Dead concerts, and fields of roses.  As such, the family asks that all who wish to attend come as the informal versions of themselves, be it a Dr. Seuss shirt, a Grateful Dead tie dye, or a beat-up flannel and jeans with dirt-stained knees.

Interment services will be held on June 17th at 1:00  at Walnut Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery in Clay County, West Virginia, where Marsha will be reunited with her mother, father, and brother in a family plot, surrounded by many generations of family and friends. Kristina Woods will preside over the service.

The family would like to thank Nicole Leach, Stephen Meyer and the doctors at Mercy Health in Vermilion for their compassionate care of Marsha over her lifetime, as well as Dr. Najee E Abou-Arraj.  Marsha would be most thankful to Herb and Michelle at LifeBanc and the nursing staff at the Neurological ICU at the Cleveland Clinic for their kindness and consideration towards the family during the worst week of our collective lives.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Cuyahoga County Public Library Foundation dedicated to the Beachwood Branch; The Trevor Project; United We Dream; Moms Demand Action For those without those means, simply choosing an old, pathetic, or ugly dog or cat from a shelter as your next pet or taking a child to get a library card would honor her legacy just as much.

Online condolences may be made at www.riddlefuneralhome.com.