Mrs. Evelyn B. Wood

Evelyn Blair Wood, 85, died September 27, 2013 at Baptist Hospital in Jackson, MS. Visitation will be held on October 19, 2013 from 10 until 12 at Raymond Road Baptist Church and a Celebration of her Life will begin at noon. She is survived by her daughter, Lynn, who she loved with all her heart, and her favorite and only son-in-law Bob Lee, grandsons, Robert (Rob) Lee and his beautiful wife, Brittany, and Chris (Moose) Lee both of whom she called her darling angels. Three Great Grandchildren who she adored, Abby Lee, Kayden & Gabe Sisson. Her sister-in-law, Martha Blair, nephew, Jim Hamilton, nieces, Debi Carlton, Nancy Jobe, Leigh Ann Campbell, and a host of family, friends and business associates across the country. Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband of over 60 years, Charlie Wood, her parents, J.D. and Aline Blair, brother, John S. Blair, nephew, Randy Blair, and her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Bill and Ann Hamilton and her best friend Betty Robertson. She could grow anything that blooms, and cooked great; most dishes had onions in them, as a dear friend said once he thought she even put onions in her wonderful pound cake. But, truth be told she was much happier going out to eat because she always saw friends to visit with. From her childhood she was more than an avid reader, she read all the time, anything she could get her hands on, and loved books that took place in foreign lands. Mrs. Wood was born on June 25, 1928 in Gainesville, FL. She told people she wasn’t from Mississippi, but she got here as fast as she could. That was in 1959 when she and her late husband, Charlie Wood, founded Transport Systems, a transportation tax consulting business that specialized in permitting & reporting for inter-state trucking companies. She was filled with pride that her family had all come into the “family” business to continue the work for the trucking industry that she so loved. During her life she has worked for some of the largest companies in the United States like AT&T, Sears, General Electric, KLLM, Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. and Sanderson Farms, Inc. She was a loving wife to Charlie, which wasn’t always easy, a mother not only to Lynn, but to all of Lynn’s friends, both male & female, a wonderful grandmother to Rob & Chris, and she was so happy to have Brittany, Kayden & Gabe join Abby to make her small family complete. There was never a better friend; she always had a closet full of “little gifts” for when someone was down. She did so many acts of kindness behind the scenes that people didn’t know about. Even though it is now a lost art, she was a wonderful letter writer and during Lynn’s time at MSU never a day went by that there was not something in her mailbox. Over the years her mark was felt all over the country in various state agencies and with the Federal Government. You could call any state office and say you were from Jackson, MS and they would ask if you knew Evelyn Wood. It never mattered if you had one truck or 100 trucks she was known for treating everyone the same and made everyone feel important. She did not handle the “empty nest” well when her daughter went to Mississippi State in 1970. That year she was asked to serve as the 1st woman on the YMCA Board, this accomplishment made her very proud. One of her greatest joys were the wonderful friends she made across the city in the many Bridge Clubs she played with. She was always, until her dying day supportive of any and all activities whatever her family was involved. She was a beautiful and caring person to all of her family and friends. Her favorite saying was isn’t it a Beautiful Day? She never complained, had a kind word for all, a smile on her face and she always saw the glass as ½ full, never ½ empty. The world would be a better place if we could all be more like her and it will be a sadder place for her passing. Heaven likely doesn’t have trucks, but hopefully she has found a Bridge table. A special thank you to Dr. Bart Delashment for being more than her Doctor for the last 20 plus years. She loved you and we were blessed she had you in her life. These were two of her favorite verses; Love is patient, Love is kind, Love never fails, But now faith, hope, love, Abide these three; But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13. He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God himself shall be with them; He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, Neither shall there be mourning not crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:3-4 We all loved you and will miss you Momma. You were my hero, role model, co-worker and best friend. God speed until we meet again from you little family. Over the last several years her goal has been to help raise money for Blair E. Batson Hospital for children at UMMC. After our Abby spent time in ICU at Batson, Lynn and a life-long group of friends, most of which thought of Momma Wood as a second mother, started THE QUEEN’S CLASSYMATES and became Sweet Potato Queen’s. Her wish as “Queen Momma” was if anyone chooses to honor Evelyn B. Wood that you make a donation to the following in lieu of flowers, (that Lynn would only kill, as she did not inherit her Mothers green thumb). Attention: Lynn Griffin Division of Public Affairs The University of Mississippi Medical Center 2500 North State Street Jackson, Mississippi 39216-4505