Mary Ruth Joyner Wood

Mary Ruth Joyner Wood, 82 of Hamptonville, left this life Sunday, February 5, 2012, after an iillness. She was born September 30, 1929, to Curtis and Ruth Harris Joyner. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Francis Wood. Mary Ruth is survived by her three beloved sons; Gary and his wife Shelia of Union Grove; Alan and his wife Kelly of Winston-Salem; Mark and his wife Jill of Greensboro. She took great pride and joy in her grandchildren; Jeremiah Wood and his wife Jessica of Statesville, Zeth Davidson of Union Grove, Kahla Wood of Union Grove, Jacob Wood of Boone, Sam Wood of Greensboro, Maddie Wood of Greensboro and Sarah Wood of Raleigh. Mary was also blessed with three great-grandchildren; John, Gibson and Lillian of Statesville.

She went to school, met the love of her life (John Francis) and married in a car on the county line because they had gotten their marriage license in the wrong county! She sewed for a textile mill for 17 years, and then when the youngest of the three boys was in elementary school, she went to college to study her first love, nursing. She worked as a nurse for 30+ years, only letting her certification lapse at the age of 79.

Mary retired from a career in nursing from Iredell Memorial Hospital in Statesville, where she worked in CICU and in Administration as Patient Representative. She was active in her church, New Hope Baptist in Hamptonville; and her life was filled with her many dear friends.

Up until this past Tuesday, January 31, she still read the newspaper from cover to cover, worked word-searches and crossword puzzles, read novels and watched “Wheel of Fortune” and Jeopardy” as well as UNC Tarheel basketball games. We are all both lucky and blessed to have had her in our lives.

Services celebrating her life will be held on Thursday @ 11 a.m. with Rev. Burt Mathis, Rev. William Wease, and Tom Sherrod officiating. Burial will follow in the New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Reavis Funeral Home of Harmony which is serving the family.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.reavisfuneralhomeharmony.com.