Norman Jewell Wood

Norman Jewell Wood, 98, husband of Mary Margaret Creagh Wood, passed away November 16, 2021. Two months shy of 99 years, Norman lived a full and enriched life. As Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Georgia Terry College of Business, he cared deeply about his students, teaching, colleagues and friends. His greatest gift to the world, however, was his abundant and unconditional love and support for his family. He was truly a steadfast and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Norman was born January 18, 1923 in White Plains, NY and grew up in Forest Hills, NY. He volunteered for the Army Air Corps in 1941 but was deferred due to enrollment in Tusculum College. He was called up in 1942 and served in the service command unit until 1946. He worked in the business office for Paramount Pictures in NYC for three years after graduation from Tusculum. When he received the doctoral degree in Economics from Columbia University in 1954, he taught at the University of Tennessee and then at the University of Georgia. There he chaired the Economics department for 10 years, served as co-director of the Georgia Center of Economic Education, Director of the Georgia Council of Economic Education, collaborated with the Odom School of Ecology, advisor to the Governor's State Budget Committee, Georgia Department of Labor, and was a member of the National Manpower Advisory Committee under Presidents Johnson, Nixon, & Ford.

Norman was a devoted parishioner of Emmanuel Episcopal Church and served as a trustee of the Endowment Fund for many years. He was a member of the Athens Tennis Club, and loved running, especially the Peachtree Road Race. Most importantly, he lived a very intentional and tenderhearted life. He was a compassionate man, and his most cherished experiences in life were shared moments with his family. His kindness and humor were unmatched. A man of few words, Norman was strong in his faith, dutiful to his community, and dedicated to his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Marie Jewell Griffen and Llewellyn Marion Wood, his first wife, Marian Murdock Wood, his brother Donald Wood, and his daughter Sarah Jewell Wood Hendrick. He leaves a deeply loved and extended family of children, grandchildren and their spouses, Betsy and Chuck Harbison, David Wood, Maggie Andrews Hancock, Cindy and Jim Flanders, Bill and Carol Andrews, sister-in-law Ellen Creagh, and grandchildren, Alan and Tasha Hendrick, Sarah Hendrick, Creagh and Chris Williams, Elizabeth and Brian Kennedy, Elizabeth and Matt Kyln, Ali and Ernesto Interiano, Margaret and Zach Gaddis, Britt Flanders, Grace and Alex Knecht. , and six great grandchildren.

To celebrate Norman’s life, the family will receive friends from 3-5 pm on Saturday, November 27th at the residence.

Bernstein Funeral Home of Athens is in charge of arrangements.