Cover photo for Deacon Woodrow "Woody" Rivers, Jr.'s Obituary

Deacon Woodrow "Woody" Rivers, Jr.

August 1, 1943 — July 15, 2025

White Plains

Deacon Woodrow "Woody" Rivers, Jr.

Listen to Obituary

Woodrow "Woody" Rivers Jr. was born to the late Hazel Robinson Rivers and Woodrow Rivers Sr. on August 1, 1943, in the town of North, South Carolina. At an early age, Woodrow's love for God led him to join Jerusalem Baptist Church.

It was at the tender age of six years old that Woodrow (fondly known as "Woody") began working many hours as a sharecropper while attending the Dover School. He was recognized as one of the strongest and fastest students in his school and, as a result, gained a reputation for being athletically gifted. During his teenage years, he left South Carolina and went to live with his Aunt Ida Little in Tuckahoe, NY. He lived with her for a short time before moving to his own place.

On June 10, 1967, Woody married the love of his life, Annie L. Logan, at Union Baptist Church in White Plains, New York. From that union, they were blessed with two sons, Melvin B. Rivers and Michael B. Rivers. Deacon Woodrow Rivers was an extremely devoted husband and father. He was known for his wisdom, great advice, calmness, and generosity to everyone he met

Woodrow worked at several places and had many occupations, including at A&P Supermarket, Exxon gas station, and at other auto shops as security, and as a bouncer. He began working at Sal's Auto Body Shop during the mW1970's and worked there until his retirement in 2009.

Deacon Rivers became deeply involved in the ministries of Union Baptist Church and served as a deacon, trustee, usher, member of several choirs, member of many committees, and served as an officer in each. He served as Chair of the Trustee Board of UBC during the tenure of Reverend Robert L. Mason and the 18 months prior to the appointment of Reverend Dr. Verlin D. Williams as Pastor. His skills and expertise in money management kept the church solvent during a critical time in the life of UBC. His love for people and ministry helped the church to thrive financially and assisted in the financial acquisition of properties.

He leaves to cherish his fond memories, two sons, Melvin (Annette) Rivers of Queensland, Australia, and Michael (Marcia) Rivers of Baltimore MD; three sisters, Blondell Donaldson of North, South Carolina, Rose Mitchell of Hartsdale, NY, Annette (Alvin) Knotts of Orangeburg, South Carolina, and Faye (Timothy) Milhouse of Neeses, South Carolina; two brothers-in-law, Robert Logan Moss of North, South Carolina and Ronald Logan of North, South Carolina; three godchildren, Allison Knotts, Monica Arismendez, and Terence Arismendez; two special daughters, Candice Peoples and Lydia Alston; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and many friends.

Lovingly Submitted

The Family

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ATTENTION: During the continuing COVID & various health concerns, as we phase back into smaller capacity public visitations/services, we need your help in limiting/controlling the number of people, so please govern yourself accordingly for the health & safety of all. Thank you so kindly!

A Wake/Visitation/Viewing will be held on Thursday August 14th 2025, from 6:00PM-8:00PM and Funeral Service on Friday August 15th 2025 at 11:30AM, all at Union Baptist Church. But the Church will be live-streaming the services on ZOOM the day of the funeral, also available on our website the day of the service Below where it says Stream, so you're able to view on there or here also/instead - Meeting ID: 840 8433 5094 or call in to phone# 1-301-715-8592, same meeting ID. So you may come to the Church to attend, & feel free to wear masks. At the very least you can get hand sanitizer & sign the register book (NOTE: please feel free to bring your own pen). If not at capacity, you will be allowed in to have a seat; but if at capacity by the time you get there, you may be required to leave the premises after signing register book, so as not to be in violation nor cause a health hazard, so please govern yourself accordingly. Regardless of if you're able to enter/be seated, or not, please refrain from too much touching/hugging/handshaking, preferably elbow bumping briefly if at all. If instructed, PLEASE KINDLY RESPECTFULLY leave the building & premises if the church is at their capacity. PLEASE KINDLY RESPECTFULLY follow & abide by the directions of the funeral home staff and/or church or cemetery personnel at all times. We Thank You in advance for following directions & policies, so as to make all go smoothly the days of the services, to eliminate further burden on the family, and to maintain the health & safety of All. Any questions, or if any clarity is needed, please call ahead to the funeral home and/or church, and/or speak to us from a safe distance if present.

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The Entire Staff of Lee's Funeral Home, LLC respects that the family of Woodrow Rivers, Jr. entrusted the care of their loved one to us, and that they value the level of service & attention our funeral home provides. We are honored, in turn, to provide comfort, assistance and service to the Rivers Family during their time of bereavement.

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Please leave written condolences now herein on the Memory Wall to express your sorrow, share your memories, and as an expression of sympathy & way to communicate with/offer comfort to the family, that they and others may see, and may be a lasting tribute in his honor, whether you're able to attend or not. Definitely Please SIGN IN on the Memory Wall as a virtual way of signing the register book, especially if choosing to stay safe/watch remotely/not able to sign in person.

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Please feel free to come to the church wearing a mask, & feel free to wear a mask inside the church &/or at cemetery, and social distance as much as possible. If you know you have a coronavirus/COVID-19; are sick/experiencing symptoms of coronavirus/COVID-19/Measles; are immuno-compromised and/or have health/other conditions that make your body more susceptible to illness, please do NOT attend any services nor come to any facility. Please feel free to bring & use your own pen for signing the family's register book - you are encouraged to please BRING & use your own PEN for signing. Please follow & abide by the rules of the church, and directions of the funeral home staff and/or church & cemetery personnel at all times. We Thank You in advance for following directions & any policies, so as to make all go smoothly the day of services, to eliminate further burden on the family, and to maintain the health & safety of All. Any questions, or if any clarity is needed, please call ahead to the church and/or funeral home, and/or speak to us from a safe distance if present.

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You may send flowers, and/or as a lasting tribute you may choose to plant a tree in his name/memory/honor, and/or a contribution may be made in his name/memory/honor to a charity of your choice. If sending flowers, they may be delivered on either Thursday August 14th, 2025 by/before 4:00PM to Lee's Funeral Home; or Thurs. Aug. 14th by/before 6:00PM to Union Baptist Church. The Family Thanks You!

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Deacon Woodrow "Woody" Rivers, Jr., please visit our flower store.
Woodrow Rivers Jr - scan of Funeral Program.pdf
Open

Past Services

Visitation/Wake/Viewing

Thursday, August 14, 2025

6:00 - 8:00 pm (Eastern time)

Add to Calendar

*** A Wake/Visitation/Viewing will be held on Thursday August 14th, 2025, from 6:00PM-8:00PM at Union Baptist Church
*** Feel Free to Wear FACEMASKS
*** Please use hand sanitizer & agree/comply with All church policies to enter/attend
*** Feel free to bring & use your own pen for signing

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please leave written condolences now herein on the Memory Wall to express your sorrow, share your memories, and as an expression of sympathy & way to communicate with/offer comfort to the family, that they and others may see, and may be a lasting tribute in his honor, whether you're able to attend or not. Definitely Please SIGN IN on the Memory Wall as a virtual way of signing the register book, especially if choosing to stay safe/not able to sign in person.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


You may send flowers, and/or as a lasting tribute you may choose to plant a tree in his name/memory/honor, and/or a contribution may be made in his name/memory/honor to a charity of your choice. If sending flowers, they may be delivered on either Thursday August 14th, 2025 by/before 4:00PM to Lee's Funeral Home; or Thurs. Aug. 14th by/before 6:00PM to Union Baptist Church. The Family Thanks You!

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Funeral Service

Friday, August 15, 2025

Starts at 11:30 am (Eastern time)

Add to Calendar

Livestream

Click to watch

*** Funeral Service will be held on Friday August 15th, 2025 at 11:30AM at Union Baptist Church
*** Feel Free to Wear FACEMASKS
*** Please use hand sanitizer & agree/comply with All church policies to enter/attend
*** Feel free to bring & use your own pen for signing
*** WATCH - the Church will be live-streaming the services on ZOOM the day of the funeral, also available on our website the day of the service Below where it says Stream, so you're able to view on there or here also/instead - Meeting ID: 840 8433 5094 or call in to phone# 1-301-715-8592, same meeting ID

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please leave written condolences now herein on the Memory Wall to express your sorrow, share your memories, and as an expression of sympathy & way to communicate with/offer comfort to the family, that they and others may see, and may be a lasting tribute in his honor, whether you're able to attend or not. Definitely Please SIGN IN on the Memory Wall as a virtual way of signing the register book, especially if choosing to stay safe/watch remotely/not able to sign in person.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


You may send flowers, and/or as a lasting tribute you may choose to plant a tree in his name/memory/honor, and/or a contribution may be made in his name/memory/honor to a charity of your choice. If sending flowers, they may be delivered on either Thursday August 14th, 2025 by/before 4:00PM to Lee's Funeral Home; or Thurs. Aug. 14th by/before 6:00PM to Union Baptist Church. The Family Thanks You!

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

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