Mr. Woodrow Young

Published 12:00 am Thursday, November 19, 2009

On Thursday, November 12, 2009, Mr. Woodrow W. Young (W.W. Young) of Selma, Alabama passed at his home. Funeral services are scheduled for 12 o’clock Friday, November 20, 2009 at the First Baptist Church of Selma, Alabama with Rev. Frederick Hardy officiating. Burial will follow in Fairlawn Memory Garden with J.H. Williams &Sons Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Young was born on March 21, 1916 in Selma to the late Wilson Young and Louise Farrell Young. He was preceded in death by his sisters Eloise Sanders and Dr. Margaret Y. Jackson.
W.W. graduated from Knox Academy in 1934. He attended Stillman College and graduated from Alabama State University with a B.S. in Secondary Education with a concentration in Mathematics.
While attending college, he played football. Later he played semi-professional football. He also obtained a Masters Degree in Mathematics Education from Alabama State University. He completed postsecondary studies at Rutgers University, Franklin Marshall and Lake Forest College. Upon completing his undergraduate studies, W.W. returned to the Selma/Dallas County area to teach mathematics at Shiloh.
In 1955, he began teaching at R.B. Hudson School. In the 1970’s, he was one of the first teachers to teach at the newly integrated Selma High School. After many years at Selma High, he left to teach Calculus and Trigonometry at Wallace Community College. He also taught mathematics at Concordia College and Selma University. He also served as an administrator, and basketball coach. Mr. Young served as an educator for approximately 52 years.
W.W. and his wife both marched and participated in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March. During the March, he held the Selma Dallas County Black Teachers sign.
He was affiliated with many local and national civic organizations including the Alabama Education Association (AEA), National Education Association (NEA), Selma-Dallas County Retired Teachers Association, Masonic Lodge # 142, the Selma/Dallas County Democratic Executive Committee, the Alabama State University Alumni Association, and the Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights Trail Association.
At a very early age, W.W. Young was baptized at the First Baptist Church where he served as a dedicated and loyal member until his death. He had a deep love and affection for First Baptist Church. He held many positions in the Church such as a Deacon, Trustee and member of Senior Choir #1. He served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Deacons for over twenty years. He also served as a Sunday School teacher, and devotion leader.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Alice Young. He also leaves his beloved children, Wilson “Dell” Young and Warren “Billy” Young of Selma, Alabama, Wanda Young-Lowe (John) of the Birmingham metro area, Marcellus Wilson Young (Nancy) of Tracy, California, Sandra Sampson (Sam) of Montgomery, Alabama, and Richard Charles Young (Mary) of and Woodrow W. Young, III (Barbara) of Birmingham, Alabama, three nieces Jacqueline Jackson, Myrna Mourning (Pete), Donna Knight (Pat), two nephews Ernest Walker (Rita),Wilson Walker, two aunts Mary Emma Wilder (Sammy), Margie Hampton, two sisters-in-law Flocella Minnard, Constance Windham (Earlie) grandchildren, great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and a host of relatives and friends.