Helen's Life and Legacy

On February 26, 1937, the youngest of seven children was born to Sam and Lue Bridia Theragood in Onalaska, Texas.  Helen was raised throughout Polk County and was a proud graduate of Dunbar High School in Livingston, Texas.  She was also a member of the girls' varsity basketball team.

Accepting Christ at an early age, the country girl from East Texas stepped out on faith and relocated to another city.

In the early 1960s, she moved to the Houston area.  She immediately began working for the late Juanita Green at the Wakiki Restaurant in the fifth ward area, where she met Raleigh Woodard.  They married October 9, 1962 and began raising their children.

Later she began her career at Houston ISD for over fifteen years.  It wasn't long thereafter; she followed her passion and fetish for cooking and baking and entered into the world of catering.  Over thirty years of feeding thousands of families, churches, and companies, Helen Woodard Catering was a product of love and determination.

Helen was an Order of Eastern Star, Viola Caldwell Chapter.  She was a member of Fourth Missionary Baptist Church, and then later moved her membership to Brentwood Baptist Church, where she truly loved Pastor Ratliff and the entire church family.

Her parents, Sam and Lue Birdia Theragood her brothers, LaVern, Cornell, Nathaniel, and Jimmy Thereagood, her sister, Elizabeth, her sons Dwayne Reginald, and Craig Woodard, and her grandson Donald Nealy, Jr., or preceded her in death.

To cherish her memories and legacy are daughters, Sharon Nealy, Sherry (Rube) Williams, Jennifer (Joseph) Howard, son, Byron (Judy) Theragood, brother, George Theragood of Gary, IN, grandchildren, Byron Jr., Gerald, Dremica, Sheldon, Tamela, Johnathan, Justin, Jasmine, Brandon, Camrie, Jeremy, Krystill, JaMarcus, Tyrica, Marc II, and LaQuenna, sixteen great grandchildren, and nine great great grandchildren, godson, Ronnie Morgan, Nieces, Nephews and a multitude of friends.