Dr. Delores Woodfork

Known to staff and residents as “Dr. D,” Delores Woodfork is not one to sit still very long. Whether it’s working a crossword or jigsaw puzzle, her hands are constantly moving while she holds a conversation.

“She never sits still. She’s always got a puzzle or game in her hand,” said Weekend Manager Lanora Russell, who gave Woodfork the nickname of Dr. D. “She’s an amazing person.”

Born the fourth of eight children on June 12, 1942 in Alto, Texas, she was a curious child and had a love for learning that never waned. After receiving a BS in Social Studies from Jarvis Christian College, she continued her studies in English and Political Science at Prairieview A&M and attended the University of Colorado where she took classes in African Studies.

Dr. Woodfork received two Masters degrees at North Texas University in both History and English. She then received a Masters in Mid-Management and Supervision from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. She received her Doctor of Theology Degree from the University of Colorado – Aspen Satellite.

While she has been married twice, she had no children of her own. However, she had many children in her classrooms over the years during her teaching career in Alto, Houston Elementary, Lufkin Middle School, Garland Middle School, and both private and public schools in Dallas.

It was in 2011, while living in Dallas, that Dr. Woodfork found herself ill with no family close enough to care for her. She moved in with her brother in San Antonio, but when they couldn’t properly attend to her medical needs they moved her into Wesley House in 2020.

Her zest for knowledge not only guided her professionally, but also to become a traveler. Dr. Woodfork has been to nearly all of the 50 states, as well as Mexico, The Bahamas, Paradise Island, St. Thomas, St. Johns, St. Croix, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg; and two tours of England, Wales and Scotland.

“I really enjoyed England and Wales and Scotland,” she said. “I traced my father’s family through the tartans; traced the poets in England, and the sausage in Scotland was wonderful.”

Life wasn’t always exciting, though. At the age of 49 Dr. Woodfork was diagnosed with bone cancer in her leg.

“I had promised my middle school students we would go on a picnic, and I waited to take care of my leg until afterward. I hobbled around while a friend did most of the work that day,” she said. “Then I went to MD Anderson where they cut out the bone and replaced it with a rod. After it healed I never went back.”

Remarkably, she has remained cancer-free, despite having no chemotherapy or radiation at all.

“I’ve had some bad things happen to me – so bad I didn’t think I would survive. But I read the Psalms and it lifted me – let me know I could make it a little bit longer,” she said. “Receiving the Doctorate in Theology really helped me. Reading what Paul wrote in Philippians about having a desire to do something else besides God’s will was my springboard. I wanted to see where my end would be. I had to keep travelling like Paul, to see what I could do.”