WILMINGTON — Pennie Jeanette Porter Wood entered into the presence and arms of her dear Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, on July 3, 2022. She passed away at the age of eighty-two after a courageous five-year battle with ALS.
Pennie was born on September 9, 1939, in Salemburg, North Carolina, to James A. and Clarice Porter. She grew up in Salemburg along with her younger sister and lifelong best friend, Dianne. Throughout their lives, both girls were surrounded by loving grandparents, neighbors, and friends. They had an exceptionally close bond with their mother, fondly reciting her unique expressions and always doting on each other.
Pennie became a Christian at a young age and was always very involved in the church, living a full life that honored Him. Pennie lived a happy childhood. She always loved to sing and dance and was a poet. She liked to write plays for her friends to act out. She loved attending school and went on to become her high school’s valedictorian.
After high school, Pennie was accepted to East Carolina University (ECU), where she attended and majored in Elementary Education. Upon graduating from college, Pennie landed her first job at Bucknell Elementary in Alexandria, VA. While living in Northern Virginia, Pennie became a member of First Baptist Church of Alexandria, which is where she met her husband, Aubrey Wood, and it was “love at first sight.”
Pennie and Aubrey married in 1965, making their home in Richmond, Virginia, where they were later blessed with three beautiful children. Pennie continued to teach, spanning ages from preschool to elementary school, but her heart and passion were for preschoolers. So much so that she started her own preschool, Loving Hearts, at a local church where she was both the director and a teacher, for several years. This was one of her proudest achievements, apart from her own children and grandchildren. Pennie raised her three children with much love, patience, and gentleness – she loved the Lord and worked hard to instill that in her children and everyone she met. She spoke of heaven and Jesus often and longed for her eternal home. She was a devoted and selfless wife (of 57 years), mom, sister, “Mimi,” friend, and role model. Her indelible mark is forever imprinted upon our hearts.
Pennie is survived by her husband, Aubrey Wood; her sons, David and Ricky Wood; her daughter, Wendy Wood Holdsworth (Jeremy); her daughters-in-law, Mary Bowles, Jennifer Wood, and Whitney Sublett; her grandchildren, Abby Miller (Andrew), Lincoln Wood, Samuel Holdsworth (Haleigh), Matthew Holdsworth (Brooke), and Rhett Wood; her sister, Dianne Smith (Earl); sister-in-law, Anne Vaught; and her aunt, Sylvia Gardner. Pennie was also blessed with several nieces and nephews, cousins, and extended family. She is preceded in death by her parents, James A. and Clarice Porter.
Thank you all on behalf of the family. We have so appreciated all the love, visits, meals, encouragement, and prayers that have been showered upon Pennie during the years and the comfort given to us all. Thank you also to Dorein, Pennie’s faithful caregiver. The family will receive friends at Christ Community Church from 2 to 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, July 23rd, prior to the celebration service. The service will begin at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the ALS Association (https://www.alsnc.org/ or 4 N Blount St #200, Raleigh, NC 27601) or a charity of your choice.
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4
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