Guy Napoleon Woods
1908-1993

Biographical Sketch
Wood-Nunnery Debate Picture
1977 FHC Dedication
Spiritual Sword Dedication
Audio Lectures
Directions To Grave Of G.N. Woods
Pictures Of Grave

Biographical Sketch On The Life Of Guy N. Woods

Guy N. Woods was born September 26, 1908 in Vardeman, Mississippi. He was the son of George Emmett and Eula Estelle Stokes Woods. His paternal grandfather was Napoleon Burrow Woods (1845-1907), and paternal grandmother was Mary Emma Leslie (1858-1903). His maternal grandfather was Henry Jefferson Stokes (1863-1949). His maternal grandmother was Mary Eliza Wood (1864-1949), both of Benton County, Tennessee. His maternal great grandparents were John King Wood and Nancy Burrell Foster of Benton County, Tennessee. He was the oldest of three children. His brother G. Earle was a gospel preacher, and his sister was Annie Mae Woods Bawcum. In his youth, Guy worked on the farm, and around the saw mill. His father was a logger, which was the reason Woods was born in Mississippi instead of the family hometown of Holladay, Tennessee. His father had worked at a sawmill in Vardeman for a brief period when Guy was born. Soon after they moved back to the family home of Holladay on the same acreage where the Church of Christ in Holladay now stands. 

He attended high school in Holladay and was active on the debate team, an activity that would set the stage for a career of deliberation on the polemic platform. He was baptized by J.W. Grant August 24, 1926. The next month he preached his first sermon at Holladay, Tennessee on his sixteenth birthday. He attended Freed-Hardeman College, Henderson, Tennessee for two years.

Through the years he preached for a number of congregations on a regular basis: South Parkway, Memphis, Tennessee; Tompkinsville, Kentucky, 1929-1931; Post, Texas, 1932-1933; Kirkland, Texas, 1934; Wellington, Texas, 1934-1940; and Lubbock, Texas, 1943-1944. Beginning in 1945 he devoted himself to Gospel Meeting work throughout the country preaching for hundreds of different congregations. For over twenty-five years he conducted between 40 and 50 Gospel Meetings a year. 

Woods was a great debater. By the early 50's he had debated over one hundred leading denominational debaters in the country. In his lifetime he perhaps debated more people than any of his fellow preachers before or since. Of his debating skills, Grover Stevens in the 1946 Woods-Nunnery Debate wrote, "Bro. Woods has been successful as a debater for several reasons. One is his thoroughness. He never allows an argument of his opponent to go unnoticed. He makes his arguments in a forceful, intelligent, yet very simple manner. He does not become excited, nor does he allow his temper to show itself. He confines his remarks to the issues and not to personalities, as can be plainly seen from reading this debate."  He debated men from numerous denominations. Some of the Baptists that he met were: D. N. Jackson (twice), H. F. Pepper (five times), A. U. Nunnery (twice), L. J. Crawford (twice), M. L. Welch (three times). Also, it may be of interest to note that he has met L. J. Crosswell, able materialist debater, six times. The occasions arose where he was called upon to debate his brethren from time to time as well. During the 1950s and 1960s the "ultra conservative," or "anti" movement among brethren caused the need for someone to arise to the occasion and defend the truth of God's word. He very logically and succinctly defended the truth against all attacks. Perhaps the most famous of the debates held with brethren was the discussion known as the Birmingham Debate, November 18-23, 1957 between Woods and Roy E. Cogdill on the subject of support of benevolent institutions from the treasury of the church.

Woods passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, December 8, 1993. The funeral took place at his home church at Holladay, Tennessee. It was requested by Bro. Woods that it be low-key with only a brief message. His long-time friend and co-worker Neil Anderson spoke for a brief time. Then Richard England delivered a short eulogy. He was buried next to his father and mother at the Holladay Community Cemetery nearby. Alan Highers led the closing prayer at the gravesite.

Much of the estate left by Guy N. Woods was given to churches that he worked closely with through the years. He reasoned that much of the blessing he enjoyed in life came from his brethren. Therefore he believed it belonged to them and should rightly be given back. Contributions were also made to some children's homes as well. 

Guy Napolean Woods touched the lives of many individuals in churches of Christ through the years. Many loved him, and there were some who hated him. But all respected him as a man of principle who stood for what he believed was the truth of God's Word. Only God knows the far reaching contributions this old soldier of the cross has made to the Restoration Movement in the 20th century and beyond.

-Many of the thoughts above were drawn from personal recollections, and sources such as Preachers Of Today Vol. 1; Vol. 2; Vol. 3; Vol. 4. and the Woods-Nunnery Debate, and friends of Bro. Woods who have given us information to be used here. We extend our thanks to all who have contributed information to make this brief sketch complete. 

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Obituary Sketch From The Spiritual Sword

Guy N. Woods passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, on Wednesday evening, December 8, 1993. Thus ended the life and work of one of the most influential men in the church in the twentieth century.

Brother Woods graduated from Freed-Hardeman, held a degree in law, wrote Bible commentaries, edited the Gospel Advocate, conducted well over a hundred debates, served as moderator of the Open Forum at the Freed-Hardeman lectureships for more than thirty years, and spoke in gospel meetings from coast to coast for over fifty years. He was a tireless worker. For many years he wrote the adult quarterly for the Gospel Advocate Company. During this time he had occasion to examine, and to comment upon, every verse in the Bible. He wrote two monumental volumes of Questions and Answers, based upon his many years of dealing with questions and controversial issues at the Freed-Hardeman lectureships.

The list of accomplishments, however, does not tell the whole story. Those of us who personally knew brother Woods saw a side of him which the public seldom knew. Because he often dealt with controversy, some thought of him only as combative and argumentative. How wrong they were! When brother Woods dealt with principles of biblical truth, he certainly was firm and forceful; but, in personal demeanor, he was a man of great meekness, gentleness, and graciousness.

It was a delight to be with him. He was truly a Christian gentleman.

He was a man of keen intellect. In addition to his scholarship in the field of biblical studies, he also mastered the study of computers and amateur radio. When he first acquired his amateur radio license (WA4KCN), he and I both lived in Memphis. He came to see me one day to demonstrate the operation of his radio gear (a Collins KWM-2) which he had installed in his automobile. He gave a call and was answered by an operator aboard a ship in the Gulf of Mexico! It was because of his enthusiasm and encouragement that I later secured my amateur radio license (WA4NVS). We had almost daily contact for several years through the wonderful medium of amateur radio.

The first debate I ever read was the Woods-Nunnery Debate. My father gave it to me when I was sixteen years of age because I was discussing baptism with a classmate at school. As I read that discussion, I marvelled at the ease with which brother Woods answered the various objections to the necessity of baptism. His work in this debate was truly superb. This debate book (now out of print) is a microcosmic picture of an era which is now forever gone. Conducted in 1946 at the Cedar Hill Baptist Church near Parsons, Tennessee, this debate was representative of the battles in which gospel preachers often engaged in those days. It was not a major debate with a major opponent (such as Hardeman-Bogard or Wallace-Norris), but it was far more typical of the day-to-day challenges which confronted preachers of the day, and one may get more of the "flavor of the times' by reading this discussion than any other I know.

In 1989, while passing through Parsons, Tennessee, I decided to seek out this location of Cedar Hill Baptist Church where the debate transpired. To me, this was a historical adventure. The old building was gone, but I found a brick building! located on the site where the old frame structure once stood. I spoke with a man in the community who remembered the, debate, conducted some forty-three year before! Later, I wrote brother Woods about the experience, and he related this interesting anecdote:

One morning during the debate as I was driving out to the community and while about a half mile, as I recall, from the building, I overtook a man walking along the county road and obviously headed for the debate. I stopped and invited him to ride with me. I think he did not recognize me until he had already accepted the invitation. The discussion waxed quite warm that day and there was considerable feeling exhibited on the part of the Baptists. Following the afternoon service on my way back to Parsons, I overtook the same man at about the same place and headed for home. Again, I stopped and invited him to ride. Quite frankly and with obvious coolness, he informed me that he did not wish to ride with me!

Notwithstanding this amusing incident, brother Woods reported that this was one of the most effective debates he ever conducted and that some thirty-five people were baptized as a result of this discussion. I hope that someday this debate will be reprinted.

Brother Woods was not only a friend to me personally, but he was also a great friend and encouragement to THE SPIRITUAL SWORD and the Getwell church. It was his practice for many years to preach for the Getwell congregation on the last Sunday of each year. This was one of the few Sundays each year that he was at home (when he lived in Memphis) and not engaged in a gospel meeting at some distant place. He often wrote to me to commend THE SPIRITUAL SWORD and to express his appreciation for the work being done.

In 1984, brother Woods asked that I write the introduction to Questions and Answers, Volume II. I believe now as I did then: "The name of Guy N. Woods will take its place in future generations along side those of McGarvey, Hardeman, Brewer, and others, whose contributions to the Cause of Christ have endured long after the principals themselves have 'crossed over the river to rest in the shade of the trees."'

-Alan E. Highers, Editor , The Spiritual Sword, Vol. 25 No. 2 January, 1994

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