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COURTLAND – Woodrow “Mr. Woody” Wilson, went to be with his Lord on June 23, 2021 at the age of 93. He was born in Gates County, North Carolina on March 19, 1928 and was the last of eight children of the late Haywood Wilson and Willie Etta Branton Wilson.

Woody graduated from Sunbury High School in 1945 and married Dot Hedgepeth, clerk of Courtland Baptist Church, on April 7, 1951. He was a U.S. Army veteran and served in Korea from 1954 to 1956. Woody was a millwright at Union Camp for over 38 years.

Woody was a dedicated member of Courtland Baptist Church for 70 years. He served in many capacities, too numerous to list. He did it all. He loved to play the guitar and sing and performed on Suffolk Radio Station at age 8. He played the Butterbean Song at Heritage Day as long as he was able. Woody always had a garden and a dog. He was fun to be around and loved crossword puzzles, playing ping pong and telling jokes.

He was a true bassmaster. He was an avid wing shot – quail, duck or dove – anything that flew. The icy waters around rivers and ponds have missed Woody due to his declining health.

Woody is survived by a son, John Branton Wilson (Karen); a daughter, Lisa Wilson Crum (Rock); a grandson, Jonathan Andrew Wilson (Lindsay) and two great grandsons, Deacon Kash Wilson and Wade Everette Wilson; other family members; his church family and many friends.

He is predeceased by a brother, Ray Coy Wilson and wife, Rosalene Howell Wilson; nephew, Johnny Wilson; great-nephew, Kenneth Ray Wilson and his niece’s husband, Winston Robertson; a sister, Helen Rebecca Wilson Taylor and her husband, Maywood; a sister, Mary Sue Wilson Baker and husband Foy; a niece, Carolyn Baker Brothers and husband, Charles; a sister, Elsie Lee Wilson White and husband, Sanford; a niece Sandra Hicks and her husband, George; a brother, James Grant Wilson and wife, Marjorie Gomer Wilson; a brother, John Coleman Wilson and nephew, Ronald Coleman Wilson; a sister, Margaret Wilson Smither and husband, Stewart and nephew, Edward Stewart Smithers Jr.; and a true friend, Pastor Bill McCarron.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 2 in Courtland Baptist Church with Dr. John-Paul Lotz and Dr. Robert Carpenter officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Southampton Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday in Wright Funeral Home and suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to Courtland Baptist Church, P. O. Box 148, Courtland, VA 23837.

wrightfuneralhome.org