Nancy Amelia Smith Wood

Nancy Amelia Smith Wood of Austin, Texas, was born on February 17, 1930 in Allen, Mississippi (Copiah County), and died peacefully on January 14, 2025. She resided at Westminster Manor in Austin for the last seven years of her life.

Nancy graduated from Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, Mississippi with a B.S. in 1951. She married John William Wood in 1953 at Pleasant Valley Methodist Church established by early settlers of Copiah County. She will be remembered for her love and devotion to John during their 62 years of marriage.

She has been a resident of Texas since 1954, living in Lubbock, Corpus Christi, Houston, and Austin, and her retirement years with John in Dripping Springs, in the beautiful Texas hill country.

Nancy was the quintessential Southern Belle and kept her sharp mind and sassy nature to the end of her days. Never without her signature red lipstick, it was always a sure sign she was feeling good. She always wished her daughters had the same sensibility.

Nancy was a fantastic homemaker and will be remembered for hosting her amazing holiday dinners. She was in command of her kitchen, where she set a beautiful table and made the best southern cornbread dressing ever.

Her artistry and creativity extended to her seamstress abilities, where she made the children’s clothes, costumes, quilts, and even her wedding dress. Over the years, she took up oil painting, collecting miniatures, and even ran a small antique shop in Houston called Nancy’s Nest.

After retiring to Dripping Springs, Nancy and John enjoyed the simple life, feeding the birds and deer and growing her favorite daylilies and native plants. Many parties were hosted at the house on the hill over 25 years, including their daughter Amy’s and grandson Joe’s weddings. Nancy also spent these years in Dripping Springs leaving an incredible legacy for her family by writing down stories about her family and ancestors from the early 1900s on. Always embellished with her southern charm and humor, her memory served her well. In her later years, she took a keen interest in politics and enjoyed keeping her family updated on current world events.

The family cannot express in words the sense of loss and feelings of sadness with Nancy’s death. She will be remembered most of all for her generosity, kindness, love, and devotion to her entire family. Nancy’s favorite season was Fall, and she asked that upon her departure from this world, as the days begin to get shorter and cooler, you pause and take a moment to remember her.

Nancy was predeceased by her husband, John William (Billy) Wood and her son, John (Johnny) William Wood; her parents, Jerry Edwin Smith and Lula Thelma Douglass Smith; her siblings, Jerry Edwin Smith, Jr, Thelma Marie Smith Broadus, and Clifton Douglas Smith.

She is survived by her daughter, Nancy (Nan) Wood Hanus and her Husband, Matthew C. Lewis; daughter Amy Rebecca Wood and her husband, Todd W. Shaw; grandchildren Joseph Jeremiah Hanus and his wife Jessica, Violet May Hanus, and Ian Wood Shaw; and great-grandchildren, Elijah Forrest Hanus and Valentine Rose Hanus-Morgia.

If you wish, the family has requested that memorial contributions be made to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Avenue, Austin, Texas, 78739.

There will be a gathering of family and friends at Riverbend Remembrance Gardens for a memorial service and interment of ashes on March 8, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.

We extend special thanks to Westminster Manor for the excellent care Nancy received while she was a resident and the Christopher House for the hospice provided on her final day.