Mary Magdline (Wood) Wood

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Our mother was born in 1932 to James Garfield Wood and Sarah Burchette Wood in Wilkes County (“where the mountains begin”). She grew up down in the holler from Bethany Baptist Church, where she was baptized in the river in 1946. She was preceded in death by her spouse, Charles Everett Wood, her parents and all her siblings (Royal Wood, Clara Dowell, John R. Wood, Charles “Thump” Wood, Von Wood & Marie Creed [twins], Dorothy Wood, Betty Jordan & Carolyn “Sis” Wood. 

Mary and Everett moved to Winston when the first Staley’s was opened, as he’d worked at Staley’s in Wilkes County. When we were small, we went to Wilkes almost every Sunday to visit the many relatives.

Mom was, and we are, so proud of our Appalachian/Scotch-Irish roots and thankful for those Sundays and the memories of pulling down that dirt path to the old mountain house and being greeted as everyone would come outside when they heard our car.

As Mom got older, she loved to ride thru those mountains and formerly-dirt roads. Each time, she'd point out where she stood and waited for the bus; where she was baptized in the river behind the church; where she played in the creek; an old building on another dirt road where "Boss Blackburn's store" was; the house on the hill behind Staley's in Roaring River where her first-born, Doug, would scoot down the hill in his diaper looking for Daddy. She loved to talk about her “Mama and Papa” and how her mama would sew clothes for all the girls and she could see her “Papa” in the field with his horse and wagon. She was so proud to share how he would walk a long distance every day to be met by a crew building her beloved Blue Ridge Parkway. It was all so alive and real in the memories she shared. 

It was a hard life back then, but that life turned a little barefoot mountain girl into one of the strongest, proudest, loving women that you would ever meet. She would fight a grizzly to protect her children, pushing aside her own concerns when one of us had a broken heart. She was a fierce protector, but also a little sparrow at times. Always a woman . . . who longed to see her once stunning beauty in the mirror again. As of last Sunday morning, she became beautiful again, joyful, young and more alive than ever. 

She shared what she knew about God and scripture (which was always enough) to give us hope and strength when we needed it. She would take us to church when she could and give God thanks when we’d return safely home from Wilkes County on Sunday.

There is no way to capture the heart, the memories, the culture, the hopes, wishes, dreams, strength and raw emotion that came from being raised by her and feeling her roots in our souls. 

But her story is not complete without her grandchildren, Lindsay, Jordan and Lucas. Oh, how she loved them. More than a million times she would say “They gave me life again” She was so proud and loved (loves) them with a power and heart that is indescribable. She passed down thru her kids and to her grands a sense of humor and wit that will stay alive always. They can live their lives ahead knowing that she is very much with them and will stand alongside her savior as He keeps a hedge of protection around them. They can also know that they gave their mamaw the happiest moments of her 93 years.

She is survived by her children, Doug Wood (Barbara), Dickie Wood (JoAnn), Ricky Wood, David Wood, Pam Hondros (“Pocky”); grandchildren, Lindsay Jacobo (Lucio), Jordan Wood (Paige) and Lucas Hondros; step-great grandchildren, Trey and Teagan Downing.

She always said that she wanted to be buried “at Bethany” near her mama and papa. We found a spot close to them and on the hill overlooking where she would’ve walked through the woods to church and back. She dreamed of being back “home” with her siblings and parents. Finally, she is.

“Yes, they’ll all come to see me in the shade of that old oak tree . . . As they lay me ‘neath the green, green grass of home”
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

Graveside Services will be held 11:00 AM Friday, February 13, 2026, at Bethany Baptist Church Cemetery in North Wilkesboro with Pastor Cletis Titus officiating.

Flowers will be accepted, or memorials may be made to Clemmons Village Memory Care, 6401 Holder Road, Clemmons, NC 27012.

Online condolences may be made to www.reinssturdivant.com.

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