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- [S113] Manes Funeral Home, (http://www.manesfuneralhome.com), 25 Aug 2009.
William Prove Wood obituary
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 6 Apr 2008.
Woods on fire for mission
Once again a few swallows flew swiftly through damp air about our hometown above green grass so glad it hurts the eyes but reassures the soul. Several weeks ago you recall we wandered over to Frontlines Global Missions housed in an old giant warehouse behind Food City West on what used to be the Stokely Farm. There I met mission operator David Wood and his family. Last week, I returned and found his parents, Edith and Probe Wood, and wanted to know more about their families. My trip also led to a meeting with a couple of folks I've known and wrote about over the years, Linda Owens, Delmer and Hilda Shults. Edith was greeting people walking in seeking help, either to get clothing, household items, food or compassion, a lot of which is available. But sometimes a good mattress works well too. She told me that daughter Amy had just married Dean Penland, of Asheville. She works at Newport Health & Rehabilitation in the office and is one of three Wood's children. Of those, the late Deputy Steve Woods was my friend. Edith is the daughter of Bill and Nola (Mathis) Woods. You may have known her brother, "Green Eye" Mathis, Cleve or Charles. The one I knew best was Albert Mathis, because of his intense interest in Shrine. The Plain Talk helped him promote Shrine activities and reported on his kidney disease. He ultimately went on dialysis for years and passed away. Edith's brother Earl Woods is somewhat of a restaurant celebrity because he founded the famous "Grease Rack" restaurant, which had some great grilled steaks in its day. For years he operated a Sealtest route before getting into the steak and ale business. He was married to the former Joyce Brockwell, who continued to lease out the restaurant after his death. He died at age 61 of kidney disease. There used to be a gas filling station at the location off Morrell Springs Road. Bill Woods worked for TVA and moved to Oak Ridge for a time, but returned to the county to work as a carpenter. Nola raised the children but died rather young of kidney disease at their Eastport home. She was just 54. After graduating from Cocke County High School, Edith met and married Probe in 1954 and moved to Detroit. I don't think she liked it much because they returned the next year. Steve was born in Knoxville. For those who know the Wood family, this is old news. George and Maude (Gilbert) Wood lived in a home where West End Baptist Church is today. He was a carpenter, too. The oldest child was Paul followed by Harry, who started a security business later carried on by Glenmore Smith. The other late children were Lucille Leibrock, and Arthur "Pete" Wood. Probe, at 81, is the only one left. Yes, it is confusing to keep up with Edith Woods who married a Wood. Probe, an unusual but not uncommon name here, worked most of his life in the Stokely can shop until it closed. Other work was at Virco and Great Lakes Chemical. He then worked for Branam Electric. The plants all closed so Probe got kidded about being the fellow who went to work and ended up closing the plants, which he did not. Did he? It seems that heart and circulation problems run in the family because Probe suffered a heart attack at age 52, later had heart surgery and bladder cancer. Edith said he is a walking miracle partly because of her care of him. Steve, who died May 9, 2006, had complained of an aching back then suffered a major heart attack, was hospitalized three weeks and died at age 50. She had worked some at the old Revco off Cosby Hwy. and Hallmark and now volunteers fulltime with her son at Frontline. Former Lincoln Avenue and Southside Baptist members, they now attend Victory Baptist Tabernacle, where David Wood, 48, preaches. David had worked in industry too at Sonoco Products and Bush Brothers before he got God's call to do mission and minister to others. He has visited the Philippines, Honduras, and Jamaica but sees a great need at home in the Appalachians. If you would like to help, money is good. Folks also need household items and canned goods. In plain talk, life is short so save a little of your heart by helping others at home and on the mission field through folks like the Wood and Frontline volunteers.
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