James G. "Digger" Wood

James G. Wood, age 75 of Bogata, died at his home on Friday, October 25, 2019. Funeral Services will be held on Sunday, Oct. 27th, at 3:00 p.m. at the Bogata Special Events and Community Center with Frankie Norwood speaking and music provided by the Norwood Families. Pallbearers will be Laney Crow, Jackie Gray, Donnie Strain, Johnny Hudson, Russell Rozell, K.W. Williams; Ricky Roberts, Leslie F. Taylor, and Donnie Smith. Honorary pallbearers will be Ben Holland, Dr. Devabrata Ganguly Dr. E.E. Brooks, Bill Buckman and Kenneth Jeffery. Private Interment will follow at Bogata Cemetery. Mr. Wood will lie in state for two hours prior to the service in Bogata and the family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Bright-Holland Funeral Home.

Choyce and Lucy Childers Wood gave birth to twin boys, James G. and Jerry A. Wood in the Old Clarksville Hospital. Both of the twins decided to go into the funeral business. James was employed by Louie Lindeman at the Clarksville Funeral Home while he was in High School. After graduating Dekalb High School, James attended the Gupton-Jones Funeral College in Dallas. While attending Mortuary College, James met Dee Green at First Baptist Church in Dallas. In 1972, with the help of his mentor, Louie Lindeman, James, Dee and their Children: Timothy James, Juliann, and Denise moved to Bogata. For 47 years, James and his family serviced Bogata-Deport, and the surrounding communities in his lifelong love of funeral service.

Living in Bogata, James was extremely active in the community. While serving on the PTO, he was instrumental in getting the Elementary and Junior High School air conditioning. He also was one of the organizers of the Frontier Days in Bogata. He was active as a Training Union Director at First Baptist Church in Bogata, sang in a quartet at Johntown Missionary Baptist Church, served on the Talco-Bogata CISD School Board, worked hard to get the Egg Plant to Bogata, and his last big project was organizing the effort to install large fans in the Bogata Community and Event Center.

Some of the biggest honors in his life were conducting the funeral services for Dan Blocker in Dekalb, and for Senator Ed Howard in the State Capital. He had a strong love for the people in this area and thoroughly loved his job.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Dee; son, Timothy James, daughters Juliann and Denise. His son-in-law, Bret Davenport; his sister and her children: Gladys June and Cheryl, Charles and Craig; adopted son and wife Dr. Devabrata and Ragini Ganguly. His parents, Choyce and Lucy, his brother and sister, Jerry A. and Judy Kay all preceded him in death.

The family would like to thank the communities of the Bogata and Deport area for 47 years of love and support and Platinum Hospice for their dedicated care. James had a favorite quote that he said often: “Don’t worry about the mules---just load the wagons.

Memorials may be made to the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children: 2222 Welborn St., Dallas, TX 75219. Phone 214-559-5000.