Deacon Desi Woods

Deacon Desi Woods, 69, of Des Moines IA. passed away on August 6, 2024. Visitation will be on Friday, August 16, 2024, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Hendersons Funeral & Cremation Care. His homegoing funeral celebration will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2024 at Mt. Hebron Baptist Church in Des Moines at 12:00 p.m. 

Deacon Desi Woods Sr., 69, of Des Moines, Iowa, was called from his earthly home on Tuesday, August 6 th , 2024, to his eternal home with God.

Desi Leon Woods Sr. was born in Des Moines, Iowa on April 21, 1955, to Gilbert C. Woods Sr. and Alva Jean (Woolery). He attended Tech High School, excelled on the football field and graduated in 1973. Following high school, he went on to Graceland College where he played football. He returned to Des Moines and began working for his father at Auto Body Supply for several years. Then he launched into his career at Drake University where he dedicated 25 plus years of service. Desi recently retired from Drake in May of 2024. 

Deacon Desi was a founding member of the Our Savior’s Baptist Church and a member of Hope-Elim. In addition, he was a well-recognized Deacon in Central Iowa and a member of The Central Iowa Deacons Association. For leisure, Desi enjoyed bowling and was a member of the Des Moines Road Runners Bowling Guild.

In his spare time, he enjoyed cooking and made a delicious peach cobbler that was the talk of the town. He also enjoyed spending time with his family, playing the congas, landscaping, detailing, a connoisseur of fashion and always dressed to impress. He was a passionate Minnesota Vikings fan, as well as a Drake Bulldog supporter. 

Preceded him in death are his parents Gilbert and Alva Jean, his sister Terry Woods-Daniels, and his stepbrother Jasper Wilson.

Those left to cherish his loving memories are his three sons: Desi Woods Jr. of Des Moines, DeSean (Sierra) Woods of Des Moines, and Dontae (Lynsy) Woods of Des Moines; Grandchildren: Desikyi, Darian, Tamarus, Aria, Desariah, Deserae, Greyson, Natalie, LaRaeah, Dontae Jr., and Zyla; His three stepdaughters: Maya (Jerrell) Whitaker, Karmon (Jamaal) Long, and Sacha (Myllan) Tejan; Siblings: Lynette Richardson, Gilbert Woods Jr., Robert (Happy) Wilson, and Richard Daniels; and a host of nieces and nephews; and  many close friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 16, 2024, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Hendersons Funeral & Cremation Care. His homegoing funeral celebration will be on Saturday, August 17 th at 12:00 p.m. at Mt. Hebron Baptist Church. The burial will follow at Chapel Hill Cemetery in Des Moines.

All expressions of sympathy including flowers, honorary donations to the family, and cards are welcome. Please forward these to Henderson's Funeral and Cremation Care. 

Hendersons Funeral & Cremation Care has been entrusted with the care of Deacon Desi and his family.