Mrs. Zelma Elaine Everett McCoy Woodard was born November 30, 1940, in Collins, Georgia to Mr. Samuel T. (S.T.) Hagan and Mrs. Robertha Everett Byrd, both of whom preceded her in death. Zelma was a graduate of Evans County High School, Class of 1959 in Claxton, Georgia. She began her Christian walk as a young child when she became a member of Charlton Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Collins, Georgia.
In her early adult years in the 1960s, Zelma resided in Mount Vernon, New York, where she worked as a machinist for the Sigmund Cohn Corporation, and was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church. During the early 1970s, she moved to Roselle, New Jersey and worked at the Revlon Corporation as a machine operator until she retired in the 1990s. While living in Roselle, she joined Bethlehem Baptist Church.
After her retirement, Zelma returned to live in Georgia, where she resided in Hagan, Georgia. She rejoined Charlton Grove Missionary Baptist Church, where she served faithfully. Zelma enjoyed watching westerns and sports on television, especially basketball and football, and spending time with her family. She was known for baking her famous pecan pies and was an excellent seamstress.
She was married to Herschel McCoy and later to Arthur Woodward, both of whom preceded her in death. In addition, one brother-in-law, Fred Powell, and one bonus brother, Henry Jernigan, also preceded her in death.
Zelma entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. She leaves behind her children whom she cherished and loved deeply: her son, Billy N. McCoy (Annetta) of Savannah, Georgia; two daughters: Kim A. Wingfield of Griffin, Georgia and Juliet A. Brewton (William) of Hagan, Georgia; her beloved twin sister, Thelma E. Powell of Suffolk, Virginia; her bonus sister, Beverly Brinson (Roy) of Hagan, Georgia; her bonus brother, Dale Boone (Faye) of North Carolina; her eleven loving and adoring grandchildren: Shanikki, Crystal, Kevin, Miyesha, Kyle, Jaired, Kinyana, Jaylen, Orenthial, Julian, and Julius, along with several loving and adoring great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.