The Reverend Jewell George Woodliff, 83, died April 18, 2020. He was born February 22, 1937, in Ratliff, Arkansas, and joined the Booneville Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Booneville, Arkansas, on June 27, 1952.
George came under the care of Porter Presbytery on September 21, 1961, was immediately instructed to preach at Logan Hall Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and told to enroll in the Home Study Course. He was licensed on September 20, 1962, and, after completing home study and attending in-service school, ordained on September 24, 1965. The Reverend Ray Elkins asked the ordination questions and the Reverend J.T. Bingamon delivered the charge. Robert H. Elkins was ordained in the same service.
In the early-1990s, George attended St. John’s University of Practical Theology in Springfield, Louisiana. He received a degree in Religion in 1994.
Over the course of his ministry, George held pastorates or supplied the following Cumberland Presbyterian congregations: In Porter Presbytery in Arkansas, Logan Hall (1961-1962), Shaver (1962-1964), Old Union (1964-1965), Antioch (1964-1965), and Prairie Grove (1966-1969). He served Liberty in Muskogee, Oklahoma, from 1969-1974; Concord in Troup, Texas from 1974-1977; Cumberland Grove in Rush, Texas, from 1974-1975; St. Andrew in El Dorado, Arkansas, from 1977-1980; Locust Grove in Oklahoma from 1980-1983 and again from 1994-1997; Pilot Prairie in Waldron, Arkansas, from 1983-1987; Pleasant Hill in Eutaw, Alabama, from 1987-1988, Branchville in Odenville, Alabama, from 1988-1994; and Harrodsburg in Kentucky from 1998-2003, when he retired from full-time ministry.
After retirement, George returned to Arkansas and served Pilot Prairie Cumberland Presbyterian Church from 2004-2013. He retired from the ministry entirely after again serving Prairie Grove in 2014.
Besides Porter, George served in Northeast Oklahoma, East Texas, Bartholomew, New Hope, Grace, Red River, Cumberland, and Arkansas Presbyteries.
George’s wife, Martha Ann, died in February 2001. The couple had one son.
