Pauline "Polly" Wood

Mary Pauline (Polly) Hudspeth Wood, age 95 of Yadkinville, N.C. died at her home on Friday, May 13, 2016. A celebration of Polly's life will be conducted at the First Baptist Church of Yadkinville at 304 South State Street of Yadkinville, N.C. at 3:30 pm on Saturday, May 21 by Rev. Richard Eskew and Dr. Bill Johnson. Family will receive friends following the service in the Fellowship Hall. Polly was born May 26, 1920 in Yadkinville, N.C. to the late Nelson Lawrence Hudspeth, Sr. and Hattie Brandon Hudspeth. She graduated from Yadkinville High School in 1936 and attended Maryville College, Maryville, Tennessee where she met her future husband, William Lupton Wood (Bill) from Birmingham, Alabama. She graduated from Woman's College of the University of North Carolina, Greensboro in 1940. She and Bill were married July 6, 1940 and lived in Birmingham a brief time prior to moving to Winston-Salem enabling Bill to attend Bowman Gray School of Medicine. In late 1946 they moved to Yadkin County where he practiced medicine for 38 years serving on the staff of Hoots Memorial Hospital while maintaining an active office practice. Polly, of necessity, became his appointment secretary and answering service nights and weekends until his retirement in 1984. Polly was a faithful lifetime member of First Baptist Church, Yadkinville. She was the first woman in the Church to be ordained as Deacon in which capacity she served for 17 years. She also taught Sunday school and was leader of several youth organizations. She was chosen as "Woman of the Year" in her church in 1980. Out of a sincere desire to help those in need of medical and spiritual care, she accompanied her husband on two of his five overseas Medical Mission assignments through the Southern Baptist Convention as Volunteer Missionaries. She was a co-owner and partner with her husband in several business ventures which included the operation of Woodlyn Farm where they raised, trained and showed Arabian Horses. She and her husband also developed and promoted Woodlyn Industrial Park and Woodlyn Heights Residential Development. When her husband was elected as a Yadkin County Commissioner, Polly served as his campaign manager. She and her husband also established the Dr. William and Polly Wood Humanitarian Award scholarship for a senior at Forbush to attend college. The scholarship fund is through the North Carolina Community Foundation out of Raleigh. Polly taught Home Economics and was Home Economist for Birmingham Electric Company. Later, she worked for the Yadkin County Department of Social Services and retired from DSS after ten years. Civic and volunteer services claimed much of her time after their five children grew up. She was a charter member of the Yadkinville Business and Professional Woman's club and remained a member for many years. She was involved in various activities: PTA, served as a tutor in the Reading Program of the Yadkinville Elementary School, Yadkin County Service Unit of the Salvation Army and helped to establish a Salvation Army Thrift Store in Yadkinville. She was also a member of the Yadkin County Historical Society, Yadkin Medical Auxiliary, a charter member of Yadkin Christian Ministries, Yadkinville Extension Community Association, Morehead Scholarship Committee, neighborhood Girl Scout Chair, an organizer of the Yadkin County Council on aging and served on the Board of Trustees at the N.C. Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem for 12 years. She received the Outstanding Senior Citizen award by the Yadkin County Jaycees in 1995. She was one of five Outstanding Senior Citizens of the N.C. State Jaycees. She also served on the Task Force of Yadkin County Healthy Carolinians which was established as the "Dr. William L. Wood Health Education Center" in 1999, Honorary Chair for Yadkin County March of Dimes in 2000, Member of Yadkin Sesquicentennial Commission and member of Yadkin County Board of Health. Following Dr. Wood's death in October 1996 she was able to continue her endeavors in the community, church and home life with the aid of her children. She continued to live in the family home for 60 years. Later in life, Polly was involved with the Red Hat Society in Yadkinville. Surviving are her children, William Lupton Wood, Jr. and wife Charlot, Yadkinville, N.C.; Diane Wood Dixon and husband, Eugene , Maryville, Tennessee; Leonard Lees Wood and wife Nancy, Salisbury, N.C.; Amy Wood Salazar, Greensboro, N.C.; Rebecca Hudspeth Wood (aka Sat Kaur Khalsa), Yadkinville, N.C.; Great Niece Dr. Katherine Merrill, Birmingham, Alabama. Nine beloved grandchildren: Ben Wood and wife Anna; Caroline Wood and husband Angel Escamilla; Dr. Brandon Dixon and fiancée Mary Davis; Emily Dixon and husband Mohit Pise: Boone Dixon and wife Sarah; Anna Wood Humphrey and husband Jay Humphrey; Seth Wood and wife Kristen: Gabrielle Salazar and Rebecca Salazar and two step grandchildren: Christopher Salazar and Jean-Paul Salazar. Seven great Grandchildren: Benjamin Wood, Corinne Wood, Clara Rose Humphrey, Lea Humphrey, Theodora Humphrey, Abel Boone Dixon, Leo Wood. She cherished each and every child, grandchild and great grandchild. She was fondly called "Grannie Polly" by her Grandchildren. Also surviving is one brother, Dr. Sherrill Hudspeth and wife Kathryn of Winston-Salem; two sisters-in-law, Edna Hudspeth, Yadkinville and Margie Hudspeth, Winston-Salem. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were four brothers: N.L. Hudspeth, Jr., Jack, and Harold Hudspeth of Yadkinville, George Hudspeth of Jacksonville, Florida. Following the death of her Mother in 1985, she assumed the role of Matriarch in her family. Polly would like to be remembered as an Encourager and for her love of Service to Others. Polly also loved her church family. It was rare she missed any church activity or church meeting. It deeply saddened her when she was unable to attend church as her health declined. Instead, she avidly listened to Dr. Charles Stanley on TV whom she dearly loved. The Wood Family wishes to express their gratitude to their friends and loved ones for their love and kindness. The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Waite and staff of Yadkinville, Yadkin Valley Pharmacy, Becky and Penny and Reverend Mark Brown from Hospice, Yadkinville Baptist Church, her Sunday school class, Yadkinville Cops Care, Brenda Wooten, Wayne and Kathy Jones and other loyal friends who visited. Most of all the family wants to thank the sitters who took exceptional care of our mother: Angelica Almarez, Mel Dyson, Maria Garza, Michelle Groce, Jo Matthews, Charlotte McCurry, Clem Seats, Betty Spillman, Candice Vogel, and Jenny Williams. In lieu of flowers a memorial gift may be made to First Baptist Church of Yadkinville: PO Box 668 Yadkinville, N.C. 27055: Mountain Valley Hospice of Yadkinville, 320 West Maple Street, Yadkinville, N.C. 27055, North Carolina Community Foundation for a scholarship fund for a yearly Forbush high school student, address is Landmark Center, 4601 Six Forks Road, Suite 524, Raleigh, N.C. 27609. Condolences may be directed to WWW.GentryFuneralServices.com Gentry Family Funeral Services in Yadkinville is serving the Wood Family.