Dec. 4, 2008 — John David Mendes Woods, 86, was born near the beginning of the Virgin Islands' history as a U.S. territory, and contributed to its development over many decades. He died Nov. 28 after a long illness.
The following obituary is special to the Source, submitted by the Woods family.
John David Mendes Woods was born to William and Gladys Monsanto Woods on July 3, 1922, in St. Thomas. His parents were divorced while he was a toddler. Afterwards he and his siblings, Helen and Robert Woods, were raised by his mother; grandmother, Julie Monsanto; and uncle, Desir Monsanto.
He grew up in a time that saw St. Thomas and the Virgin Islands go through tremendous change. Having been born shortly after the transfer of the islands in 1917, he was raised when the influence of the Danes was still very prevalent. It was a time when St. Thomas had approximately 12,000 people and was a close-knit community.
Woods graduated from Charlotte Amalie High School in 1942. Through his close friendship with Warren Lewis, Woods was trained initially as a carpenter by the late Willy Lewis. He spent much time with the Lewis family as a teenager, in many ways becoming a de facto member of the family. After making his livelihood as a carpenter, Woods went to work for the largest employer of those days in St. Thomas, the U.S. Navy. He worked at the naval base in Sub Base throughout the 1940s. A sports injury prevented him from serving with his peers overseas in World War II.
After World War II, Woods went to work for the V.I. Corporation, a public entity that was the predecessor of the Water and Power Authority. He was sent to St. Croix in the late 1940s to inspect the installation of the salt-water pipe system in Christiansted, where he remained for three years.
Upon his return to St. Thomas, Woods went to work for Texaco as the plant-distribution supervisor. He then went on to work for the V.I. Department of Public Works in 1966 as the director of utilities, after which he worked for several years for the Department of Conservation and Cultural Affairs, overseeing the Submerged Land Program. In 1973 he went to work at the V.I. Port Authority as a special-projects coordinator, where he remained until his retirement from the government in 1986.
During his tenure, he oversaw the construction of the Cyril E. King Airport expansion, as well as the creation of the Crown Bay Marine Terminal, now the Austin Monsanto Marine Terminal. Both projects represented some of the largest construction projects in the Virgin Islands with the removal of Sarah Hill and subsequent land filling to expand the runway and create the marine terminal.
Woods was an avid outdoorsman throughout his life. Growing up at the time when most of the population was concentrated in Charlotte Amalie, it allowed him to go deer and bird hunting, and pursue his greatest love, fishing — particularly on the rocky shores of Thatch Cay. Throughout his life, when asked what his best skill was, he was always quick to say, "He is one of the world's best fly fishermen."
Woods met the love of his life, Edith deJongh Woods, in 1951 at the home of mutual friends. They got married Aug. 25, 1953. They were married for 52 years until Edith's passing on Aug. 13, 2005. Their union produced four children: Robert, John Percy, the late Fred and Julie. They instilled in their children a strong sense of historical connection and pride to St. Thomas and the Virgin Islands as a whole. It was important to them that their children viewed themselves as Virgin Islanders first before defining themselves in any particular ethnic group — or, for that matter, as Americans. They were proud of the fact that their family was comprised of people from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, as well as having been a part of the V.I. community for more than 200 years.
Woods immersed himself in V.I. society for most of his life. He was an active participant in Carnival from its inception, and for many years was involved with the Gypsy Carnival Troupe. With close personal friends such as Herbert Lockhart Jr. and Gerald Nicholson, Woods and other friends formed the Ramblers Club — a social group known for its fun, camaraderie and parties.
Both groups played a critical role in the development of St. Thomas Carnival, including sponsoring and running some of the first calypso tents. After retirement, Woods became very active in the St. Thomas Orchid Society. He was known for his abundant and beautiful collection of orchids that he grew at his residence in Estate Staabi.
It was as a Free Mason that Woods made a significant impact in the territory and much of the Caribbean. Woods and his brother, Robert, joined Harmonic Lodge No. 356 E. C. in 1957. For the next 50 years, Woods made substantial contributions to the growth and preservation of English Free Masonry in the Caribbean. His performance of the Masons' emulation rituals became legendary throughout the Caribbean, where he was regarded as a "giant" among Masons.
He will always be remembered for his stern yet fair demeanor, his love of life, and his energy. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Woods is survived by son, Robert M. and his child, Rico; son, John P. and his children, Ian, Jared and Reid; daughter, Julie and her children, Martin III, Julian, Bailee and Savannah; his late son Fred's children, Shanique, Felicia, Cherrisse, Sean, and great grandchildren Nia and Shkoi; daughter-in-law, Janette; son-in-law, Martin Jr.; step-mother-in-law, Mavis deJongh; brothers-in-law Robert and James deJongh; sister-in-law Carol Ann Woods; nephews Darryl Dokes, Governor John deJongh Jr., Stanley deJongh, Sidney deJongh and Robert deJongh Jr.; nieces Elizabeth and Jennifer Woods, Christine Lewis and Judy McCoy; and members of the Woods, Dokes, deJongh and Claussen families.
He is pre-deceased by his wife, Edith deJongh Woods, and son, Fred Randolph "Freddie" Woods.
Services will take place at 10 a.m. Dec. 13 at the St. Thomas Reformed Church, 5 Crystal Gade. There will be a private burial by the Woods family.
In lieu of donations, please make a contribution to Continuum Care, Medical Foundation Building, 50 Estate Thomas, Suite 211, St. Thomas, U. S. Virgin Islands 00802.
Funeral arrangements are by John Thomas Funeral Home.
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