Dwaon Woodard

Dwaon Tarel Woodard, 41, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family and friends on  March 25,2025 at Hamot Hospital. Dwaon was born July 3, 1983 in Erie Pa to Pamella Ford and Benny Woodard Sr. 

Everyone that knew Dwaon knew that he lived a life filled with love, kindness, loyalty, and a whole bunch of laughs!   Dwaon worked for Vineyard Home Care as a House Supervisor which he loved. Dwaon graduated from Central High School in 2001. His next step was attending Clarion University where he graduated with a degree in Mathematics in 2006. Dwaon loved his family, sports, fishing, Lil Wayne of course (LOL), and being the life of the party! You know if Dwaon was in the building it was going to be a night to remember!    

     Football was his 2nd favorite. In high school, he was a corner,wide receiver, and also did special teams. At Clarion University he was a defensive back and dominated the field every chance he got! He broke many Pennsylvania state records. Also was a short stop baseball player for Central High School.Don't forget that he was on the squad for the New York Jets even though he was a die hard Dallas Cowboys fan! He was also drafted for the New York Jets in 2005. Then he went on to Erie Explosion, Erie Outlaws, then Erie Express. At Clarion he was a four year starter and letterman, 3X Northeast All Region Football Team selection at DB and Return Specialist as well as First Team All-PSAC West. His career stats in college include 166 tackles, 26 pass break ups, 10 INT, 7 blocked FG, 3 fumble recoveries and 2 TD. But none of that compared to him being a father to his children. According to him,  his children taught him the real purpose in life, being a daddy.  

     Dwaon is preceded in death by maternal grandparents Annie E Henry and Tom C Grayson and paternal grandparents Charles Woodard Jr and   Almeda Woodard and Aunt Bertha Banks

     He is survived by his parents, Pamella Ford (Jacksonville,Fl) Benny Woodard Sr (Delois), God Aunt Gwen Cooley , God uncle Willie Cooley, , siblings Benny Woodard Jr,Chante Woodard, Markell Russell and God Brothers Jason Goshay, Michael Twillie Jr, Gordon Williams Jr and Tyemier Huston Fiancé Meghan Powell, God mothers Loretta Hansbrew and Cordelia Cook (Jacksonville,Fl), his children Trezzure Woodard(Jennifer Macko), DaZire Woodard(Courtney Wolfram), Jayden Woodard (Brittney Cortes), Dariel Woodard, Kiarrah Woodard,  baby Dallas Woodard, Megan Powell and God son Julian Waite, and Uncles Charles Woodard III, Bobby Henderson, Ricky Woodard, Gregory Bennett (Jacksonville,Florida) and Aunts Mary Darnell, Bobbie Woodard, Carrie K Grayson and Sharon Woodard and a host of neices, nephews, cousins,family and friends.

     The Homegoing service will be Friday, April 4th at the First Good Samaritan A.M.E Zion Church, 3209 Pennsylvania Ave. Erie, Pa 16504. Viewing will be from 11am-1pm with the service immediately after. Burial will follow at Erie Cemetery. The repass will be at the Metroplex, 1843 Buffalo Rd. Erie, Pa 16510. 

We would like to extend a special thanks to Dwaon’s children’s God Parents Darrell Fincher, Waun Orte'z Culp and Kasey Dement. And a big shout out to Brandi Carlgren-Cooley and Josh Waite for all their love and guidance since their kindergarten days I love you, Brandi and Josh, Aunt Pam thanks you.

     Our family would like to give a special thanks to the Hamot hospital ICU team that tried to do everything they could for our beloved Dwaon. You are appreciated more than you will ever know.

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