Dr. William Lucian “Bill” Wood, 85

August 17, 1938 – April 7, 2024

TUPELO – Dr. William Lucian “Bill” Wood, Jr. departed this life for his life in eternity from his Tupelo residence on Sunday evening, April 7, 2024, after a lingering illness. Doc was 85 years old. Born in Memphis, TN, on Aug. 17, 1938, to the late Lucian Wood, Sr. and Florence Patton Wood, the family relocated to Tupelo when Bill was four years old. Bill received his education from the Tupelo Public School system graduating from Tupelo High in 1956.

He received his BS degree in pre-med from Vanderbilt University and received his medical education from University of Tennessee Medical School in Memphis. Smart and studious, Doc completed his internship St. Thomas Medical Center in Nashville and completed his residency at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. He began his medical practice in Tupelo as one of the first cardiologists to practice here. Several years later, he and his special friends, Dr. Floyd Lummus, Dr. Antoine Tannehill, and Dr. Eugene Murphy founded Internal Medicine Associates (IMA) in Tupelo. Their practice was very unique in that it eventually included many medical disciplines in one large clinic.

Dr. Wood became known as Tupelo’s original heart doctor. He was considered a splendid diagnostician, was seldom wrong in his analysis and became beloved by his patients as well as respected by his medical colleagues. In his 40-plus years of medical practice, Dr. Wood served as Chief of Staff at North Miss. Medical Center, was active in the Miss. State Medical Association, the Mississippi Heart Association and served a term as President of the American Heart Association.

He was a consummate mentor of young men and women going into medicine taking pride in their ambition and accomplishments. Although a busy doctor, Bill learned from his father, Lucian, about civic and community responsibility. A patriotic American and Mississippian, Doc served many years in the Mississippi National Guard. A mover and shaker, he was a member of CDF, was instrumental in founding the Tupelo-Lee Humane Shelter, and was a major fundraiser for Sanctuary Hospice House in its beginnings.

Bill found his happy place when he married Betty Childers Wood of Booneville on July 5, 1987. They cherished and adored each other, spending 37 years together traveling the world, exploring the adventures of faraway places, fishing in the rivers of Alaska and the Great Bear Lake in the Northwest Territory of Canada. They made visits to many foreign countries, toured the USA, and loved the heritage and coziness of their farm in the Dry Creek Community in Prentiss County. A deeply spiritual man, Bill and Betty were among the small original group 25 years ago that founded and grew The Orchard Church, serving years on the Jeremiah Council. They were faithful in worship and service there until his death.

Blessed with a warm, kind personality and remarkable honesty, Doc had a wicked sense of humor, could be self-deprecating, and was the perfect practical jokester. He loved God’s creation, being outdoors, playing golf as often as possible and fishing. His remarkable life of service to God, humanity, his Church, his community, his patients and his family and his wise and generous heart will be his lasting legacy.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1 PM Thursday, April 11, 2024, at The Orchard on Coley Road with his pastors, Dr. Bryan Collier and Bro. Will Rambo, officiating. Mark Bresee, Dr. Ken Harvey, and his son-in-law, Steve Pascoe, will deliver the eulogies. Visitation will begin at 11 AM Thursday and continue until service time. Holland Funeral Directors – Tupelo is honored to serve their friends. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed on the funeral home’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/hollandfuneraldirectors) at 1 PM.

Doc is survived by his wife, Betty Childers Wood of Tupelo; his daughters, Elizabeth “Libba” Wood Gray of Nettleton, and Debbie Pascoe and Steve of Mabank, TX; his sons, Freddie Mac Barnes, Sr. and Therese (deceased), and Billy Ray Barnes and Kathy of Booneville; 7 grandchildren, Freddie Mac Barnes, Jr. and Christy, Lacrisha Sample and Scott, Billy Barnes and Hali, Wesley Patton Gray, Josh Wood and Jessica, Chris Wood, Zack Wood, and Lucas Corey Reid (deceased); several great-grandchildren; his sisters, Marilyn Wood Blair and Harry (deceased) of Fayetteville, Ark, and Sally Wood Deardorf and Ronny of Nashville, TN, and his sister-in-law and caretaker with Betty, Beth Childers Pharr of Booneville, and his extended Childers family.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Ken Harvey, Dr. Sam Pace, Dr. Tom McDonald, Dr. Jaima Ungo, Corky Springfield, Charlie Waller, Dal Eckard, Ray Reed, Mark Bresee and members of the Jeremiah Council at The Orchard.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to The Orchard, 1319 Coley Road, Tupelo, MS 38801, or the Tupelo Lee Animal Shelter, P. O. Box 2143, Tupelo, MS 38803, or the charity of your choice.

Condolences may be emailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net.

Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.