‘My father was a man of his word’: KC minister and father, Norman Woodley, dies at 69
When Nikita Vonee was growing up in South Kansas City, she had no idea that her life would be one driven by the arts. Over the years, she has had many creative outlets as a painter, writer and singer. All of which may not have been possible without the support of her father, Norman Woodley.
"The thing that we did the most together was to attend jazz concerts," said Vonee. "So, my love for music came from him and he taught me how to sing. That would be our bonding time."
Woodley, a retired healthcare insurance professional and minister, died Sept. 18 after a 6-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 69.
His daughter says the experience of dealing with her dad's illness was difficult for her but, through everything, her father remained the same light-hearted man she always knew.
"He was always a very lively and very funny person," Vonee said. "We always called him the bad joke guy because they would be very, very corny jokes and everyone who knew him loved them. He was also just so loving, warm and kindhearted."
Woodley, who had been a minister since 2006, led a congregation at Cleveland Avenue Baptist Church located at 2853 Cleveland Ave.. His daughter says that in that role he was able to reach out and connect with people in need.
"My father was a man of his word and man of his faith. A lot of preachers get misconstrued as people that have an agenda to bring people to the church for their own gain. He wanted to bring in people out of the goodness of his heart," she said.
In addition to preaching, Woodley spent years singing in church choirs, something he passed down to his daughter. Vonee, a registered nurse by day, uses her free time to try to touch people with her art, writing and singing the way her father taught her to connect to people through ministry.
Though saddened by his passing, she is grateful her dad was able to see her open an art studio, write a book, and sing on stage in Kansas City.
"He was always there for every big moment," Vonee said of her dad. He was always very proud and he made sure I knew that."
Vonee says she and her two sisters, know their dad provided them with the lessons to succeed. He would want them to band together and be strong.
"He loved being surrounded by his family and whenever my siblings and I would come with all our children he would call it his happy place," said Vonee. "He was our patriarch, our spiritual guidance who showed his family the greatest love a man could show his family."
Other Rememb
Fenwick Robertson
Fenwick Robertson, U.S. Army Veteran and business owner, died Aug. 23. He was 70.
Robertson was born Feb. 18, 1954 to Fenwick Robertson and Elizabeth Anderson in Kansas City. He graduated from Paseo High School (now Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts) and enlisted in the U.S. Army until being honorable discharged. After leaving the army he worked for different construction companies around the city before opening his own business, Fast Action Lawn Care, where he worked alongside his grandsons.
Robertson is remembered by his wife LaJeune Robertson; sister, Margaret White; children, Theresa Reed, Demika Mason, Malinda Robertson, LaMeki Parish, Robert Robertson, Fenwick Talbert, and LaMon Freeman; along with a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other family and friends.
Derrell Pratt
Derrell Pratt, industrial worker, died Sept. 9. He was 69.
Pratt was born on Jan. 1, 1955 in Kansas City and graduated from Raytown South High School where he had played football, basketball and participated in track. After graduation Pratt attended St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota on a basketball scholarship.
After college he returned to Kansas City where he worked a variety of jobs, mostly in the industrial field. At Hammer Brothers, Inc. as a machine operator; Kansas City Belt and Rubber, as a warehouse worker; and Merry X-Ray as a "chemical batcher."
He will be remembered by family as an avid sports fan and a music lover.
Pratt is remembered by his mother, Diane Revels; his children, LaVena Nicole King and Florese Marie Nelson; his brothers, Robert Pratt III, Michael Pratt, Sean Revels, Steven Harris, Terry Johnson, Leslie Harris and Deborah Harris; along with a host of cousins, grandchildren and friends.
