March 20, 1937 June 17, 2023
John Benson Woodbery, Jr., Age 86, promoted to Glory on June 17, 2023. Born in Bainbridge, Georgia with his sisters, Dee Woodbery Mann and Frankie Woodbery Edwards, and his brother, Jerry Woodbery, all of whom have predeceased him, he had a wonderful childhood, so common in a small town where everyone knew each other. Raised primarily by his grandmother, Mamie Callahan, as his mother died when he was only 3 months old, he was spoiled by numerous uncles, aunts and other children’s mothers as the neighborhood boasted several dozen children within a 3-block radius.
After High School at Bainbridge High, he went to Georgia Military Academy, later transferring to the University of Georgia, where he received his Bachelors Degree. His working career always focused on sales, working for a time with his father at Woodbery Tractor Co. in Bainbridge and then at Benson Tractor Co. in Colquitt, GA.
He was married to Hilda Nussbaum of Bainbridge, and they had three children: Herbert Woodbery, Winter Garden, FL, Harriet Woodbery Vahle (Jeff), Windemere, FL, and David Woodbery (Shayelyn), Atlanta, GA, all of whom survive him. In addition to his three children, he is survived by five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Benson moved to Tallahassee in the early 1980’s and started in some new directions. One of his greatest accomplishments was his 41-years of sobriety through AA. He remained active, carrying the message wherever he was, until he became ill. In 1985 he met Sharon Sims Woodbery and they married at a small Baptist church in San Rafael, CA. They had many adventures from backpacking the inside passages of Alaska, working the Valdez Oil-Spill Cleanup, going to Israel for 5 weeks, serving onboard Mercy Ships in Monrovia, Liberia, and traveling the United States and Canada, visiting every state except Hawaii and virtually every Canadian Province. Their favorite spots were Alaska, the Yukon Territory or anywhere in the Sierra Mountains. They enjoyed many wonderful years of traveling and camping until ill health brought them back to Tallahassee. In addition to his children, he is survived by Sharon’s children, Sheri Hutchison McArthur, New York Mills, MN, and Skip Hutchison (Janet), Tallahassee, Fl and two grandchildren.
His ashes will be interred at Oak City Cemetery in a private ceremony. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.iveyfuneral.com.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Immanuel Baptist Church, Tallahassee, Florida on July 11, 2023 with a visitation starting at 1:00 pm and service beginning at 2:00 pm.
The Woodbery family has entrusted the arrangements to Ivey Funeral Home, 502 S. Scott Street, Bainbridge, GA 39819.
