The widow of a Forsyth County Sheriff’s deputy who died in August was grateful for the turnout at a fundraiser Saturday in his honor.

Members of the Mount Zion Lodge No. 316 on Hwy. 369 held a pancake breakfast and motorcycle ride in an effort to raise money for the family of Norman "Woody" Woodward, 46, who died after battling a heart condition for about two years.

Cindy Woodward, his wife of 18 years, and their two teenage daughters attended the event.

"It’s wonderful for me and our girls to see how much he was loved and honored," she said.

The late Woodward spent 17 of 22 years in law enforcement at the local sheriff’s office.

During that time, he was named officer of the year three times, top investigator once and headed the community relations unit in its infancy.

His last assignment was as watch commander for the sheriff’s north precinct.

He retired from the agency as a lieutenant in 2010. He had also served in the Army.

Mike Wilson, one of the event’s organizers, said the fundraiser was a success.

"People like to do good for somebody," he said, explaining that Woodward had been a member of the lodge. "The family struggled for two years with Woody being in and out of the hospital."