Charles Reece Woods — retired associate pastor of First Baptist Church, Albertville, and founder of The Great Physician’s Clinic — dies Sept. 16

Charles Reece Woods — retired associate pastor of First Baptist Church, Albertville, and founder of The Great Physician’s Clinic — died Sept. 16. He was 86.

Born in Haleyville, Woods grew up in Holly Pond and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Howard College (now Samford) in Birmingham and a master’s degree in church music from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

He served as a minister of music in Dothan, Montgomery, Huntsville and Hueytown before being called to First, Albertville, in 1970. He served as a minister of music and youth and senior adults over his years of service there and as a deacon after his retirement. He was president of the Alabama Singing Men in 1985 and 1986 and received the Retired Minister of the Year Award from Samford University in 2004.

Woods also founded The Great Physician’s Clinic at the church to provide free dental care and other medical services that have helped thousands of people in need over almost two decades. Many people heard and responded to the gospel while receiving care at the clinic.

Woods is survived by his wife of 65 years, JoAnn; son, Charles Jr.; daughter, Melissa; and four grandchildren.