Forest Woods

Growing up my family attended New Hope General Baptist Church on Harwine Street in Flint Michigan. Our choir director was a ‘proper’ man from Arkansas named Forest Woods. He was a great guy, but he was a kinda no sense of humor person.

I would come up with these really deep theological questions as a child. Many my dad either couldn’t answer, didn’t want to answer, or thought maybe Forest would be a better source of intellect. So, he would tell me to ask Mr. Woods after church next Sunday. BTW Dad did have a sense of humor.

Like how did Noah build the ark with no tools or supplies? Black and Decker was not in existence then, Menard’s was not yet stocking warped boards, so how did it happen.

Or the classic, God is all powerful right? Then can he create a rock so big even he can’t lift it?

Most times Mr. Woods would pat my shoulder and just walk away.

His one extreme habit that plagued him was that he was addicted to Ponderosa Steak House. Every Tuesday night, rain or shine, he and his wife Ruby lined up for their chop steak and unlimited salad bar. The great thing about their addiction was that they met a young good-looking girl there stocking the salad bar. Each week they invited her to church. It took a few asking (She was Catholic after all), but she finally relented.

Yeah, that was my future wife. Thanks Forest and Ruby!

Roy Richard
June 2023