Annie Wood

On February 11, 1995, Annie Lee Wood, 106, wife of the late Harry Burgess Wood, passed away quietly at the Bath County Community Hospital in Hot Springs. She was a long-time resident of Monterey.

Mrs. Wood was born on September 16, 1888 in Burlington, North Carolina, a daughter of the late Henry Lafayette and Rosa Bessie (Montgomery) Holt.

After attending the public schools in Alamance County, she graduated from Elon College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in painting and a member of the Sigma Nu Sorority, Artist Guild. Pursuing her special interest in education, Mrs. Wood taught public school in Burlington, NC and later accepted a teaching position with the public school systems in Monterey. In 1911, she married Harry B. Wood, editor and owner of The Highland Recorder. Mr. Wood passed away on January 8, 1961 after publishing the county paper for over 50 years. Mrs. Wood was an ardent writer and served in many administrative and editorial capacities with The Highlands Recorder. She often remarked that one reason she enjoyed working for The Highland Recorder was the opportunity it gave her to meet the residents of the county.

Annie Wood was very active in many organizations within the county. She was a charter member of the Highland Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, a founder and charter member of the Monterey Garden Club, and life member of the federation of Garden Clubs of Virginia. She was a member of the Shakespearean Clun under the late J. Seybert Beverage and the Chautauqua Literary Study Group under the late Newton A. Parker. Mrs. Wood was an early member of the Mt. View Home Demonstration Club and a member of the Highland PTA. She was an active member of Monterey Presbyterian Church where she taught in the church school, and she served as Second Vice President in the Lexington Presbytery Office. Mrs. Wood had a life long interest in flowers and spent much time studying the wild flowers of Highland County and other parts of western Virginia.

Survivors included one son, Dr. Harry Burgess Wood Jr. of Bethesda, MD and Monterey; one granddaughter, Marian Lee Wood of Colorado Springs, CO; and a number of nieces and nephews. Her daughter, Dorothy Holt Wood passed away in 1916. Her four sisters, Eva Estell Holt, Ruth Holt, Nerta Hunt and Mamie Kimmins and one brother, Daniel Archibald, preceded her in death some years ago.

Service will be conducted on Friday, February 17 at 11 a.m. at the Monterey Presbyterian Church by the Rev. C. William Cox, with internment in Monterey Cemetery following the church service.

Friends and relatives may call at Obaugh Funeral Home in McDowell on Thursday, February 16 from 7-8 p.m.

Pallbearers are Jacob Hevener, Joseph Pritchard, Lucius Stephenson, Gideon Hiner, Olin Sponaugle and Heyward Whitelaw.

Memorials in the name of Annie L. Wood may be made to the Highland County Library or the Highland Medical Center, Monterey, Va. 24465.