On April 11, 1932, in Goin, Claiborne County, Tennessee, a marriage was performed between Clifford Renee Woods Sr. and Virgie Alvelda O’Dell. Four months later, a song was recorded at the Victor Studio on Fifth Street in Camden, New Jersey, by the great Jimmie Rodgers.
The Great Depression was deepening worldwide. The song was “No Hard Times” about living in the country with a mule, a bucket of lard and chickens in my backyard.
On April 13, 1933, a girl child was born to Clifford and Virgie. They named her Wanda Lucille Woods. The family lived in Knoxville, Tennessee.
At age four, Wanda started shopping at a local grocery store for her family, and by age seven she was cooking full meals. Her family moved 15 times by the time Wanda finished eighth grade.
Jimmie Rodgers’ song “No Hard Times” didn’t apply to the Clifford and Virgie Woods family. Being the first born and the only girl, Wanda played an enormous part in the raising of her younger brothers.
Wanda started school at Moses Elementary School in Knoxville, Tennessee, at age five in 1939. She attended four different schools in Knox County. In 1948, her family moved to Union County, Tennessee, and she completed her formal education in 1952 at Horace Maynard High School.
After high school graduation, Wanda attended the University of Tennessee for one quarter and she began teaching at Pine Grove Elementary School near New Loyston, Tennessee. She taught at Union County Schools until school year 1959-1960. She then re-entered the University of Tennessee and finally completed her teacher’s certification in 1972.
She taught in Union County schools for 47 years in different capacities from teacher to principal. She also taught at Walters State Community College for three years. She currently serves as president of the Union County Historical Society.
Wanda was married to Everett Cox from 1951 until his passing in 1988. She has two sons, Lynn Cox and Gregory Cox. Wanda was married to Paul Byerley from 1993 until his passing in 2017.
Wanda Woods Cox Byerley is a very giving person. Just ask her brother Jim Woods and he will tell you she gave him 17 whippings as his teacher during one year of elementary school. (Which his brothers said he deserved.)
After Wanda, the only girl in the family, was born, Clifford and Virgie Woods became the parents to seven sons. On February 14, 1936, Clifford R. Woods, Jr. was born. Carl Jerome Woods was born January 20, 1938, and passed away May 20, 2017. Gerald Ross Woods was born October 1, 1940, and passed away on May 13, 1999. Paul E. Woods was born July 27, 1944. Harold O’Dell Woods was born May 29, 1946. James E. Woods was born December 1, 1948. Stephen Foster Woods was born December 7, 1951, and passed away on July 14, 2019.
During the boys’ formative years, their mother taught them how to sing and entertain. She also wrote many songs that some family members still perform today.
Probably in about 1954, a guitar made its way into the Woods family. It was a Silvertone, originally sold by Sears & Roebuck, and can be seen at Woods Music Store two miles south of Maynardville, Tennessee, on Highway 33. This guitar is the cornerstone for the musical legacy of the Woods family.
The family moved to California for a few months in mid-1961.They met Tex Williams, a nationally known country and western entertainer, when the Woods brothers were entertaining at a private home at the time.
Harold’s singing career began in his 4th grade of school where he won a 4-H talent contest.
Harold and his younger brothers entertained at pie suppers and church services, and played on the Bonnie Lou and Buster TV Show — which was syndicated in 22 states. Later, Harold sang and played harmonica with his brother Jim Woods and The Backwoodsman Band at Ciderville, and at the Ritz Theatre in Clinton, Tennessee, where they would pack in 400 people on the Saturday night show. They also played the Tennessee Valley Barn Dance in Knoxville.
Harold continues to perform today at music gatherings, and the Roy Acuff Museum - Union County Historical Society and the Paulette Volunteer Fire Department on Monday nights. Harold still has a strong baritone voice. He is the father to one daughter, three sons and two stepdaughters.
James Edward Woods, known as Jim Woods to friends and family, was born in 1948 and started his music career at age 10 playing the family’s Silvertone guitar. Now he plays a Gretch guitar, which is the top-of-the-line guitar today. During his younger years Jim had his own band known as Jim Woods and The Backwoodsman which played primarily in East Tennessee.
At the age of 19 he was employed by Knox Record Rack that serviced jukeboxes and record racks for retail stores. In 1974, Jim went to work for Clayton Homes in management. Later he opened his own retail mobile home business. Today Jim owns Woods Music located two miles south of Maynardville on Highway 33. Jim has pastored and preached from 1975 until the present. He is also a songwriter and has written many good songs including “Union County Dirt.” He is also a supporter of the Union County Opry.
At Woods Music every Friday beginning at 10 a.m., there is an impromptu gathering of local musicians and singers with everyone welcome to come and sit in. There is no charge for this. The way to tell when Jim is really getting into the music, watch his left knee. When it goes to bouncing Jim will hit some real hot licks. Jim also has a very strong alto voice and loves singing the country classics and gospel.
In 1967, Jim married Susan Dianne Enlow. They have four children and are very devoted to their family and to each other.
Stephen Foster Woods, known as Steve, was born on Pearl Harbor Day in 1951, the seventh son born on the seventh of December. His mother named him Stephen Foster hoping he would become a musician. He didn’t disappoint her. Steve started learning guitar at age eight and became an accomplished guitar player at age 15. At age 30 he learned to play the steel guitar and the dobro. At 16, Steve married Barbara (Bobby) Holbart, who was 15, and they remained married until his death. They had two daughters.
Steve started playing at the Holiday Inn when he was 20. During the 1970s he played for gospel groups and also drove a bus for Knoxville Transit Lines. About 1980, Steve started his own construction business and continued to play music. He continued to play at local venues including Saturday night at Ciderville and with David West at numerous venues.
Steve was a very likeable and affable person and he told everyone he loved them. He mentored young aspiring singers and pickers and was very patient with them. One of his greatest loves was his gardening and eating cushaw pies made by his wife, Miss Bobbie. Steve is very missed by his family and friends.
Sometimes something as simple as a Silvertone guitar can impact a family who started in the Great Depression and made it through intact and the countless people who have enjoyed being entertained by a talented family. This family accomplished so much educating children, guiding them through early life while entertaining so well and teaching young children the joys of learning music and entertaining.