God called home a hardworking, selfless, and brilliant angel on Sunday, September 15, 2024, when Elijah Jay Woodward entered the gates of Heaven at the age of 21. Eli was given to his family as a blessing from Jesus when his parents, Jeremy Allen Woodward and Julie Nacole (Queen) Woodward welcomed him into their lives on June 10th, 2003. Eli was of Christian faith and was a member of the First Missionary Baptist Church of Cave City, AR. He graduated from Hillcrest High School in Strawberry, AR, Class of 2021.
Eli served the Lord and made his family proud by the way he conducted himself and lived to help others. He would give the shirt off his back and help anyone in need, whether it was stopping to help change a flat tire or just making himself available to be a kind ear to listen, Eli truly embodied the words spoken by Jesus in Matthew 25:40, “Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it unto me!” He was mechanically inclined from a very young age, even as a baby he would take little toy tools and disassemble things. His talent of understanding how things work served him well as he became a mechanic and began working on equipment, tractors, motors, or just anything that needed fixing. Even if it didn’t need fixing, Eli enjoyed tearing into a motor just to see how many parts he could take off it and it still run! His excellent work ethic was apparent from the fact that, although he was only 21, he had already spent several years working for Greenway Equipment. He was loved by all his co-workers and set an example of what being a hard worker should look like. He loved to hunt, fish, shoot guns, buy and sell tires on Facebook Marketplace, and spend time with his friends and family. Eli had no shortage of friends. In fact, most of his friends were close enough to him that they were considered family. Eli was the happiest when he was with his soul mate, Elle Edwards. He loved Elle with all his heart and enjoyed every second they spent together, whether they were riding down backroads with one another, or spending time with their friends and family. Everything they did, they wanted to do it together.
Eli was a brilliant, loving, talented, selfless, joyful person. He was a loving son, grandson, nephew, brother, cousin, and friend. The impact of this young man will be felt in the lives of everyone he met for generations to come, and he will be deeply missed and forever loved!
Eli is reunited in Heaven with his paternal grandfather, Eddie Woodward; his paternal great grandparents, Eddie and Goldie Woodward; his maternal great grandparents, Jesse and Jeanette Whittington; and his little sister, Millie Walling. He is survived by his parents, Jeremy and Julie Woodward; his soul mate, Elle Edwards; Elle’s family, who loved him as their own, Jamie and Rachel Edwards and their daughter, Easton Edwards; his paternal grandmother, Pat Woodward; his maternal grandparents, Eddie and Pat Queen; his sisters, Abigail Woodward, Brittnie Anderson, and Laralyn Walling; his brothers, John Woodward, Ethan Walling and William Carmichael; his uncles, Michael Woodward (Kathy), and Dennis Walling (Tabitha); his aunt Jessica Burrow (Troy); aunt Brooke Musick; his cousins, Brittney Frisby (Will), Kayla Woodward (Donovan), Elizabeth Woodward, Jaron Burrow, Espn Burrow, Wrigley Burrow, and Creighton Burrow; several extended family members; and so many friends that its impossible to count.
Arrangements are entrusted to Willis Funeral Service of Batesville, AR. First Missionary Baptist Church of Cave City will host the services on Saturday, September 21, 2024. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. The funeral service, officiated by Bro. Ron Canard, with a special tribute from Dennis Walling and his sister, Abigail Woodward, will begin at 2 p.m. with interment to follow at Fairview Cemetery in Cave City. Honored to serve as pallbearers will be Ethan Walling, Eli Taylor, William Carmichael, Brayden Perkey, Jaron Burrow, Espn Burrow, Jase Hambrick, Nate Weathers, and Ryder Baxter; the family would like to recognize the following people as honorary pallbearers, John Woodward, and all of the staff members of Greenway.
