Amber W. Woods, 74, passed away on May 3, 2021 after a short battle with cancer. She graduated from Jenkins High School, achieving a near perfect SAT score, and then earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from UVA at Wise (Clinch Valley College). During her 46-year career, she instilled students with a love of learning from Kindergarten to 9^th Grade and had been nominated for Teacher of the Year. She spent most of her career at J. W. Adams Elementary in Wise County and Epes Elementary in Newport News. She taught thousands of children and, secretly, a few dozen adults how to read. She never revealed their names, not even to family. In retirement, Amber crocheted caps, blankets, and booties for infants at local hospitals and made 100 hats every year for cancer patients.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Gary Woods; one son, Rusty Wood;, and one daughter, Jennie Woods. She is also survived by her siblings, Peggy Hale, Willie Webb, Kathryn Melton, and Bonnie Hampton; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother, Mary E. Webb, and her father, Willie Webb. Family and friends will remember her as a champion of literacy and education and devout woman of faith. She was known for her dry wit, intelligence, soft heart, and unrelenting inner fortitude. Most of all, she will be remembered as a kind woman who was always there when someone needed her.

In accordance with her wishes, there will be no services. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor her memory by reading with or to a child.