Imogene Princella Woods Heard transitioned on Friday, May 14, 2021 at home in Mableton, Georgia. She was affectionately called “Penny” and was the 3rd sibling born to the union of Hill and Beulah Woods (both deceased) on Sunday, January 1, 1939 in Neelyville, Missouri. At the age of 10, Penny, along with her mother and siblings, relocated to Gary, Indiana where she attended Roosevelt High School from 5th to 12th grade. She was very active in sports and dance.? She also became a cheerleader at Roosevelt High School. During her senior year in high school, she met and dated Otis Heard Sr. (deceased) who later became her husband on December 24, 1957. Imogene (Penny) graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1958.? Penny and Otis moved to Chicago where she worked for a children’s home and Spiegel catalog.? They bought a house in Gary, Indiana in 1962. While residing in Gary, Indiana, Penny and Otis owned several businesses. Nevertheless, Penny managed to remain very active in her community by often volunteering at her children’s parochial school plus many church and community functions and events. Penny attended a junior college in Illinois where she earned her EKG Certificate and graduated Valedictorian.?She worked for Gary Methodist Hospital from 1978 until 1980. In 1980, Penny and her husband, Otis moved to Austell, Georgia. From 1982 until retirement in 2003, Penny worked at Saint Joseph Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia as a supervisor in the EKG department. While residing in Austell, Georgia, Penny attended Hunter Hill Missionary Baptist Church for many years prior to becoming a member.? After becoming a member, Penny was very active in several of the Hunter Hill’s Ministries. She served with the Finance Ministry, Courtesy Guild Ministry, Mothers Ministry, Season Saints Ministry, and the Women’s Ministry. Penny attended and graduated from Holland Institute of Ministry (HIM) 2013 -2016. Above all her accolades, Penny was a beautiful person with a wonderful spirit.?She was full of love, humor, and positive energy. She was always joking and making everyone laugh. In the true spirit of her husband, Otis, she always had an open door and an open heart to help all those in need. Imogene is preceded in death by her husband Otis Heard Sr. (July 2, 2018), both her parents (Hill and Beulah Woods), 4 brothers (Mosby Woods Sr., James Evans, Hill Woods Jr., and Tony Woods Sr.), 1 sister (Edna Lillian Montgomery-Thornton), Granddaughter (Penithia *Star* Hamer), and Great Granddaughter (Corliss Aubree Johnson). Five children: Linda (James) Rouse Atlanta, GA; Lorenzo (Delthia) Heard Sr. Coushatta, LA; Glenna (Anthony)Walker Riverdale GA; Otis (Tirene) Heard Jr. Douglasville. GA; and Tammy Heard-Hodges Long Beach, CA 13 grandchildren: Carlina Davis Indianapolis, IN; Robert (Terra) Johnson III Decatur, GA; Anthony (Aqueelah) Johnson Loganville, GA; Andrew (Lisa) Key Portage, IN; Antoine Cardine Minneapolis, MN; Rickenna (Joseph) Walker Fort Wayne, IN; Ricardo (Jessica) Hamer Jr. Fort Belvoir, VA; Lorenzo Heard Jr. Rochester, MN; Amber (Darnell) Peeks Douglasville, GA; LaTara Hodges Mableton,GA; Sean Simmons Las Vegas, NV; Kianna Hodges Lithia Springs, GA; and Otis Heard III Douglasville, GA 33 great grandchildren and 11 great great grandchildren. One brother Ed Montgomery Jr. Mableton, GA A host of nieces and nephews, other family members and a host of friends. Memorial Service will be held Friday, May 21st at 2pm at Willie A Watkins Funeral Home. Professional Service Entrusted to Wimberly Funeral Home.
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