Joe Nell Sheffield Wood, 78, went to be with the Lord on January 1, 2016. Mrs. Wood, a lifelong resident of the Dorsey Community, was born November 6, 1937, to Franklin (Todd) Sheffield and Corene Stovall Sheffield. She was married to the love of her life, Buford Wood, for 28 years, before his death in 1991. Mrs. Wood graduated from Itawamba Agricultural High School, Itawamba Community College, and earned her Medical Technology degree from the North Mississippi Medical Center School of Medical Technology. She was employed as a Medical Technologist at North Mississippi Medical Center for over 37 years, where she served as Supervisor and Assistant Chief Technologist in the lab. She was a lifelong member of Bethel Baptist Church, where she served as the church historian. An avid genealogist, she was also a charter member of the Itawamba County Historical Society and served as its president for over 20 years. One of her last acts as Historical Society President was overseeing the recent renovations to the Bonds House in Mantachie. Mrs. Wood was also a charter member of the Itawamba Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, where she formerly served as the chapter’s Regent.
She is survived by two daughters, Leigh Anna Jarrell (Michael) and Cindy Jo Warner (Mark); five grandchildren, D.J. Dulin, Nick Warner, Sarah Jarrell, Lydia Jarrell, and John Gabriel Jarrell; two sisters, Sheila McDowell and Ann Hussey (Kenneth); sister-in-law, Doye Wood; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Buford Wood; her parents, Todd and Corene Sheffield; and her granddaughter, Rebecca Lynn Jarrell.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, January 3, at 2:00 p.m. at Bethel Baptist Church in Dorsey with Dr. Kevin Clayton and Bro. Jackie Gray officiating. Burial will follow at Dorsey Memorial Cemetery. The body will lie in state for one hour prior to the service, were the family will receive visitors. Visitation will be at McNeece-Morris Funeral Home Saturday, January 2, from 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Pallbearers will be D.J. Dulin, Nick Warner, Lee Batson, Glenn Wood, Grant Martin, James Elvie Sheffield and Alex McDowell. Honorary pallbearers will be the deacons of Bethel Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to the Itawamba Historical Society, P.O. Box 7, Mantachie,MS 38855
