Marjorie W Wood

Marjorie Grace Welch Wood of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of December 20, 2020. Surrounded by family during the days prior to her passing, Marjorie provided us with one last glimpse of her Spirit, her toughness and her strength by achieving her heart’s desire to “go home” and be with her family. After six weeks of isolation in a skilled nursing facility following a fall, she overcame all odds (broken bones, infections and a positive COVID diagnosis) and was discharged to her home where she spent her final hours on earth surrounded by her family.

Born in Hartsville, Tennessee, April 17, 1929, and raised on the family farm, Marjorie was the daughter of the late Andrew Calbreath Welch and Mary Burton Welch. Among other recognitions received from the Class of 1947 at Trousdale County High School, she was recognized by her classmates as the “Class Prophet”, the “Most Likely to Succeed” and the “Best All Around.” Perhaps most telling about her character and the respect she garnered from her classmates is the following quote about her appearing in The Stepping Stone, her 1947 high school yearbook, “In her you may put your trust; she is true to everyone.”

Following her high school graduation, Marjorie enrolled at David Lipscomb College. While at Lipscomb she formed many life-long friendships and met her husband-to-be, James Cooper Wood. Margie and Jimmy were married November 4, 1950, in Hartsville and celebrated 58 years of marriage prior to Jimmy’s death in 2009. Following their wedding, Margie and Jimmy lived briefly in Elkton, Kentucky, and Louisville, Kentucky, as Jimmy began his career in sales, but they soon relocated to Nashville where they would spend the rest of their lives together and raise their four sons, Cooper, Andy, Bob and Bill.

Marjorie remained very involved in the operation of the family business, Jim Wood & Associates, until her death. For well over 60 years she was devoted to the friendships that grew out of the regular gatherings of her “Bridge Club.” She was an avid sports enthusiast, especially as a fan of Lipscomb and Vanderbilt athletics. But without question, her greatest passions were her faith and family. Her life reflected a deep faith and belief in Jesus Christ. She was a faithful and devoted member of the Church of Christ in Green Hills, formerly known as Granny White Church of Christ, her community of spiritual strength and support for almost 70 years. Her loyalty to family was unparalleled, and she would rarely miss any event that involved a performance by one of her children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren. At Marjorie's home there was always an open door and a seat at the table for others as well. She welcomed everyone from her own high school friends to work colleagues to the wide range of teammates, bandmates, or friends her boys invited unannounced into the house. She was always welcoming to those who had fallen on hard times, many of whom consider her a second mother because of the love she always offered.

Marjorie is preceded in death by her parents, her husband (James Cooper Wood), and her brother (Andrew Calbreath Welch, Jr.). She is survived by sons James Cooper Wood, Jr. (Diane), Nashville, Andrew Welch Wood (Marla), Knoxville, Robert Elliott Wood (Karen), Brentwood and William Burton Wood (Kim Sewell), Nashville; grandchildren, James Brandon Wood, William Bennett Wood (Julie), Joshua Andrew Edward Wood (Melia), Sarah Overstreet, Elliott Randolph Wood (Cherry), Carey Burton Wood (Kaitlynn), Whitney Wood Bebout (Landon), Elizabeth Brooke Wood, and James Caleb Wood, and eleven great-grandchildren.

A private family service was conducted at Woodlawn Memorial Park Saturday, December 26, 2020. The family plans to host a Celebration of Life service in honor of Marjorie Grace Welch Wood in the spring of 2021. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made in Marjorie’s name to The American Cancer Society, Lipscomb University or The Church of Christ in Green Hills.