Sara Catherine “Cathy” Whitaker Wood, 74, died Tuesday, October 18, 2016, at North Mississippi Medical Center Hospice, in Tupelo, MS. She was born unto James Trenton Whitaker and Beulah Mae Jinright Whitaker Lee in Columbus, GA on November 16, 1941. After her father’s death, the family returned to her mother’s birthplace of Troy, AL, where she was raised and attended school. Following graduation from Troy High School, she moved to Montgomery in order to work and attend the Massey Draughn Business School. This is also where she met JT Wood, Jr. The two would marry and later move to Mississippi where she gave birth to their son, JT Wood, III.
While living on the coast, she began a rewarding career working in the Trust Department for Gulf National Bank. She started as an assistant, attended the Southern School of Trust, and was promoted to an officer. Her career would eventually take her to Peoples Bank in Biloxi, Hancock Bank in Gulfport, and finally Bancorpsouth in Tupelo where she served as Vice President and Trust Officer. In 2003, she was honored by the University of Mississippi in the “Weave of Women” publication and accompanying ceremony for her influential role in the financial education of other female Mississippians. After nearly thirty five years in her chosen profession, she retired in May of 2013. She often said that she truly loved her work because it allowed her to meet countless colorful personalities and to cultivate friendships that she cherished throughout her life.
In her spare time, she loved music, travel, sports, and most importantly, gardening. As a master gardener, she spent countless hours in her flower beds and enjoyed sharing her plants with all who knew her.
She was a loving mother, cherished aunt, confidant, adviser, and friend to more people than she could ever realize. Several of those friends would come to refer to her as “sunshine”. This nick name would be self-evident to all who knew her because of unwavering optimism, contagious laughter, humor, wisdom, and support.
A Memorial Service celebrating her life will be at 1:30 PM Friday, October 21, 2016, at Holland Funeral Directors, Tupelo Chapel, with Father Lincoln Dall officiating. Visitation will be from 11:30 AM until service time Friday only. A Graveside service will be held at 3 PM Saturday, October 22, 2016, at Green Hills Cemetery in Troy, AL.
She is survived by her son JT “Jay” Wood, III and daughter-in-law Dr. Mirae Wood of Franklin, TN; her son and daughter by marriage Todd Wood (Selina) of Albertsville, AL and Lisa McGowan (Gary) of Dothan, AL; Two brothers Ted Whitaker (Teddy) of Camp Verde, AZ; brother Henry Whitaker (Joann) of Mobile, AL; Three sisters, Betty Curington of Ocean Springs, MS, Teresa Barron of Troy, AL and Gloria Siegel of Slidell, LA; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
She is preceeded in death by her husband, her parents, her sister Gary Ann Whitaker, her brother Eric Lee and her brother-in-law Bud Curington.
In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tupelo-Lee Humane Society, P.O. Box 1185, Tupelo, MS 38802, or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Condolences may be emailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net or by visiting our website at www.hollandfuneraldirectors.com where you may also view the service through livestreaming.
