Mrs. Connie Connie Jo Wood Sweeney Shelton

Connie Wood Sweeney Shelton went home to be with the Lord on the morning of April 17, 2013 at Boswell Hospital in Sun City, Arizona. A memorial service will be held in her honor on Tuesday, May 7 at 10:00 a.m. at Phoenix Memorial Park and Mortuary at 200 W. Beardsley in Phoenix, Arizona.

Born Constance Josephine Wood on July 7, 1932 in Floydada, Texas to Eugene Clifton Wood and Rachel Lennis Wood, she came to know the Lord at an early age. Being a bright and intelligent girl, she graduated from Lubbock High School at the age of 17.

While attending Wayland College in Plainview, Texas, Connie met and married Bill Sweeney. They went on to serve the Lord in several Baptist churches throughout Texas, Indiana and Arizona. At the same time, Connie was building a career in administration, training and development, and management. Connie later attended Grand Canyon University and University of Phoenix in Arizona, finally earning her Bachelor’s degree in Training and Development and Business.

Connie retired from Garrett AiResearch in 1989 after serving several years as Manager of the Training department at the Tucson, Arizona plant.

The talent Connie was best known for was her ability at the piano. She taught herself to play at an early age and served as the pianist for Calvary Baptist church at the tender age of 12. A poignant backstory to her love of piano: After suffering a stroke in 1974, she returned home to discover that she could still play her beloved piano, even though she couldn’t read, write or type. A strong and determined individual, she amazed the doctors by recovering at a very rapid rate.

Connie survived two husbands, William Clifton Sweeney, married 48 years, and William Shelton, married seven years.

Connie is survived by her son Robert Clifton, and daughters Debra Ann and Liesl Elaine, as well as 4 nieces, 6 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Mom, you’re serving the Lord now in His kingdom and probably sitting playing dominoes with Dad, Aunt Mary and Uncle Bob. Give Mamaw and Granddaddy Wood big hugs for us.