Harold Wood

Harold Blair Wood, aged 91, of Theodore, Alabama, peacefully passed away on Sunday, July 7, 2024.

Harold was born in Lauderdale, Mississippi, to the late Cofield Blair and Vivian Wood. He graduated with honors and as valedictorian from Dixie Highway High School in 1950. As an honors student and basketball player, he received the opportunity to attend East Mississippi Junior College. He then continued his education at Mississippi State University in Starkville. His studies were interrupted to serve in the Army, undergoing basic training and instruction in radio repair and maintenance at Fort Gordon and Fort Benning, Georgia. Harold was then stationed for two years in Karlsruhe, Germany, with the 499th Engineer Battalion C.

In 1958, Harold relocated to Mobile, Alabama, where he began his career in construction, and met and married his beloved wife, Barbara Sue Johnson of Mobile. Harold was an active member of the Mobile First Church of the Nazarene, where he served many enjoyable years on the board. After retirement, he could be found daily by his wife's side, helping out at the Church's daycare. Harold believed in hard work, an ethic he learned as a young boy, running his family farm after his father's early passing. In particular, he took great pleasure in working tirelessly at the house he built in Theodore, constantly maintaining both the house and the land. His pride and joy was his son Blair; in his Bible, he always carried news articles of Blair's academic and career achievements. He adored his grandson Elias, excitedly charting his growth on the wall, taking him for rides on the lawn mower, and cheering him on as he learned to drive.

Harold is survived by his devoted wife, Barbara Sue, and their son Blair, daughter-in-law Jeehiun Lee, and grandson Elias of Westfield, New Jersey. He is also fondly remembered by numerous nieces and nephews. Harold is predeceased by his sisters Rita McGinnis, Evelyn W. Edwards, and Barbara Fuller.

Visitation hours will start at 10 am, with the funeral service at 12 pm (noon) on Saturday July 13, 2024, at the Mobile First Church of the Nazarene, located at 669 Azalea Road, Mobile, Alabama. Interment will take place directly after the funeral service, at Mobile Memorial Gardens, 6100 Three Notch Road, Mobile, Alabama. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Colors of Love Ministry of Mobile (www.facebook.com/m1colorsoflove).