A Christian died July 30, 2023. Born January 18, 1937, the only child of Leonard and Ruby Wood, Sammie D. Wood grew up in the Beach Springs Community and graduated from Tupelo High School in 1955 and attended ICC. He was a 32nd Degree Mason. As a young adult, he was employed at Kellys Grocery and Rockwell International. He was later employed at Carpenter, Inc., where he retired. In 1967, he married the widow JoAnne Belk and acquired a ready-made family whom he never thought of or referred to as his stepchildren.
Sammie was saved as a young man and was a long-time member of Oak Ridge Christian Church. After retirement he enjoyed working in his yard and in his rose and vegetable gardens. He loved his grandchildren and -great-grands, always sending them home with a bag of candy and a dollar. He was a patient and kind, gentle soul.
A Celebration of Life Service for Sammie will be held at 12 PM Wednesday, August 2, 2023 in the Sadie M. Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors with Bro. Owen Hitchcock and Bro. Archie Talfinger officiating. Visitation will be from 11 AM to service time. Private burial will take place at Lee Memorial Park. For those unable to attend, the service may be view at 12 PM at hollandfuneraldirectors.com/life-streaming, where it will be archived afterward. Holland Funeral Directors is honored to serve the family.
He is survived by his son, Kenney Belk, and daughter Janice Hoover (Brad), 7 granddaughters, 11 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife JoAnne Wood, daughter Jeanie Cobb, and his grandson Kelly Belk III.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to ORCC at 1325 Fletcher St., Tupelo, MS 38804.
The family would like to thank Ruby Ruff and Jackie Hester with Comfort Keepers and Sanctuary Hospice.
Condolences may be emailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net.
