Mrs. Woodall learned to play the piano and organ as a child. At 8, she became a member of Calvary Baptist Church in West Philadelphia, and was playing the church organ and piano by the time she was a teenager. She eventually became music director at Calvary and was also music director at Peoples Baptist Church in Southwest Philadelphia.
At one point, she was directing two choirs at Calvary, one at Peoples, and a community male chorus, said a son, Eugene Wilkes. She and her son, also an organist and pianist, often played together at Calvary, where she was also president of the trustee aides for many years. She retired from church ministry in 2007.
Mrs. Woodall was a member of the Queen Alpha chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. She enjoyed entertaining members of the Kupples Klub, a group of 11 couples who socialized and traveled together. Her favorite destination was Aruba, Wilkes said.
In addition to her son, Mrs. Woodall is survived by her husband of 52 years, Elbert; another son, James Wilkes; daughters Patricia Hurling and Janice Burnam; stepchildren Ruby Davis, Anne Rucker, and Elbert "Butch" Jr.; 27 grandchildren; and 35 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her former husband, James Wilkes.
A funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 13, at Calvary Baptist, 6122 Haverford Ave. Friends may call from 9. Burial will be in Mount Lawn Cemetery, Sharon Hill.
Contact staff writer Sally A. Downey at 215-854-2913 or sdowney@phillynews.com.
