Audrey Wood Hurst

Audrey Ruth Wood Hurst died peacefully on 12/16/2024 at the age of 100. She was born in Anniston, Alabama, on April 28, 1924 to Howard and Mildred Wood. She was the oldest of seven children and spent a happy childhood in Anniston and Alexandria, despite living during the Depression. The family later moved to Holt, and she graduated from Holt High School. She was musically gifted and regularly rode the streetcar to sing on the radio in Tuscaloosa. She also learned to play the piano and organ and served as church organist when she became an adult.

She grew up in the Baptist church and became a Christian at the age of 13. She met her husband Charles (Chuck) Hurst at Woodlawn Baptist Church, and they married in 1948. They enjoyed traveling, square dancing, and entertaining friends and family until his death in 2015.

Audrey and Chuck left Woodlawn Baptist to become one of the founding couples of Eastside Baptist Church. The church met in an auction barn until funds were raised to build a permanent facility. They were active in all aspects of church life, and Audrey spent many years as a Sunday School teacher, Girls Auxiliary leader, and Vacation Bible School director. They remained at Eastside until South Central Bell transferred Chuck to Louisville, Kentucky.

In Louisville, they were again very active church members. Audrey was ordained a deacon at Lyndon Baptist Church and served her deacon families by visiting with them, praying for them, and hosting them at dinners. She worked at the Kentucky Baptist Convention until she and Chuck retired and moved back to Birmingham.

Audrey took on the role of entertainment leader and had Christmas parties in her home for each side of the family. She also hosted frequent parties for her friends and for her Sunday School class members.

When she turned 70, Audrey began traveling internationally at least once a year. She visited over 50 countries on 6 continents with her daughter Bonnie, sometimes accompanied by her grandsons Matthew and Michael. She loved seeing new places and experiencing different cultures. She especially enjoyed people watching and would make up detailed stories about interesting people she observed.

Audrey has been a member of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church for many years. As long as she was able, she prepared the annual directory for her Sunday School class.

Audrey is survived by her daughter Bonnie Perez (Joe); grandson Matthew Perez (Christy) and their daughters Brooklyn Meadow and Mackenzie Lily; grandson Michael Perez (Bailey) and their daughter Kate Audrey; son Chip (Robbie); granddaughter Holli Chaput (Will) and their sons William and Jacob; brother Robert Wood; sisters Maida Bowden and Wanda Hall (Morris); and many nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank Your Choice Senior Care, ProHealth Hospice, and Dawson Memorial Baptist Church Senior Adult Ministry for their compassion and care during the last few years of Audrey’s life.