LaVerne Sample Woodward , affectionately known as "Boone" to her family, was born in Spotsylvania, VA to the late Fred Douglas Sample and Burnette Elizabeth (Thornton) Sample on April 20, 1947. She was the 3rd of 4 children born to this union. On December 23, 2022, she transitioned to her heavenly home.

LaVerne grew up in the church and was baptized on August 19, 1955 at Beulah Baptist Church in Woodford, VA, where she remained a devoted member. She was an obedient child of God and an active member of the church. Her faith led her to serve as the church Treasurer, member of the New Dawn Choir and Pastoral Relations Committee, as well as the kitchen and nurses ministries. LaVerne also served as a devoted Trustee to the church.

LaVerne graduated from John J. Wright in 1964. While in high school, she played the clarinet in the marching band and served as the sports manager for several teams, appearing in almost every sports team photo in her high school yearbook. LaVerne continued to support her alma- mater as a devoted member of the John J. Wright Alumni Association as Treasurer for over 20 years.

After graduating high school, LaVerne attended Smith Madden Business School in Richmond, VA. Her first job was as a waitress at Robinson's Newstand in downtown Fredericksburg. It took just one summer for LaVerne to realize waitressing was not her forte. She held a couple of other positions in the banking and finance industries, but found her place at Rappahannock Electric Cooperative where she worked until retirement in 2015. In her spare time, LaVerne liked sewing and bowling. She sewed her own clothes and bowled regularly with a bowling team. She could be found at the local bowling alley each Monday. Post retirement she and her husband, Charles, enjoyed cruising the Caribbean with friends and family. However, her ultimate pastime was shopping!

On June 11, 1966, LaVerne married her high school sweetheart, Charles Woodward, and to this union Arianna was born, She was her pride and joy. She regularly spoke of how proud she was of Arianna's accomplishments. However, the arrival of her grandson, Micah, took that pride to another level. LaVerne could be found on the sidelines of Micah's football games braving the cold and yelling for her "baby boy". LaVerne loved her family.

LaVerne was known to be a straight shooter. If you didn't want the truth, she wasn't the one to ask. When she walked into the room at any Sample function, you could hear the cousins yelling "Code 13," a secret code, to let them know that "Boone" and the other aunts were in earshot. LaVerne was loved by her family and friends. She was well-respected by those that knew her.

LaVerne was preceded in death by her mother and father, Burnette and Fred Sample. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 56 years, Charles Woodward of Spotsylvania, VA ; daughter Arianna (Ronn) Royster of National Harbor, MD; a loving grandson whom she adored, Micah, of Largo, MD; a brother, Fred Jr. (Carolyn) Sample of Virginia Beach, VA; and sisters, Edith Anderson of Spotsylvania, VA, and Shelia (Lloyd) Fox of Beaverdam, VA. She is also survived by her "siblings-in-love," Delores Ford, Jackie Washington, Sandra Lee (Stanley) Lewis and John Minor (Alice). LaVerne also leaves to cherish her memory a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A visitation will be held at A.L. Bennett and Son Funeral Home on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at 11:00 AM followed by a funeral service at 11:30 AM. The interment will be held at Quantico National Cemetery on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at 11:00 AM.