WILMINGTON — Rowena Florence “Florence” Goodwin Wood, 99, of Wilmington, North Carolina, passed away on August 19, 2026.
Born on March 2, 1927, in Moncure, North Carolina, she was the daughter of Robert L. Goodwin and Ida Elzeanne Crutchfield. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, John Ernest (J.E.) Wood, who passed away on March 13, 2005; her eldest son, Randall (Randy) Jay Wood; her brother, Daniel R. Goodwin; and her sister, Bobbie L. Goodwin Williams.
Florence came from deep roots in North Carolina’s history. On her maternal side, she was the granddaughter of Lodwick Napier Crutchfield and Gertrude Parham Watson. Through the Crutchfields, she was a direct descendant of one of the foundational pioneer families of Chatham County, whose ancestors settled the Silk Hope area in the 1700s and provided patriotic service during the Revolutionary War. On her paternal side, she was the granddaughter of Walter Goodwin and Rowena Holt. The Goodwins were among the earliest colonial settlers of the region, tracing their roots back to Jamestown, Virginia.
Florence married J.E. Wood on October 8, 1945. In their early years together, they resided in Chatham County before J.E.’s career with Carolina Power & Light (CP&L) took them to Lumberton. In 1962, another transfer brought them to Wilmington, where they settled in the Wrightsboro community, became faithful members of Wrightsboro Baptist Church, and quickly built a large, enduring network of friends.
Florence was deeply devoted to her family and served as a steadfast source of support throughout her life. Her kitchen was the heart of the family, whether she was putting up beans from J.E.’s garden, cooking Southern cuisine for weekly Sunday dinners, or hosting her legendary holiday gatherings. Canning was a labor of love she kept up for decades, and her grandchildren always knew the pantry would be stocked. Every Christmas Eve, the entire family would come together to celebrate around a feast that always featured a full rib roast, coconut cake, red velvet cake, and a traditional Southern fruit punch. She wanted nothing more than for everyone to have a wonderful Christmas, and the gifts that flooded out from under the tree were a beautiful reflection of how deeply she cared for and thought of each of her grandchildren.
In addition to her devotion at home, Florence extended her caring nature to the broader Wilmington community through a long career in healthcare as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). She spent many years caring for patients at New Hanover Memorial Hospital before later working at Davis Nursing Home. That same warmth she brought to her patients she carried with her everywhere she went. With an infectious laugh, a sharp wit, and a willingness to speak her mind no matter what, she always made her presence known. Florence was feisty in the best possible way, and that fire never dimmed, even in her later years. If you were lucky enough to sit next to her, you were always guaranteed to get the “peanut gallery” version of any story.
In the last chapter of her life, Florence resided at the Kempton at Brightmore, and true to form, she made friends from her very first day. She embraced it as her new home immediately, and the family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the staff for the kind care and assistance she enjoyed during her time there.
She leaves behind a legacy of love, cherished by her surviving children: Sandy Daylon Wood (Missy) and Jill Karon Smith, both of Wilmington, and her daughter-in-law, Amelia Wood of Conway, SC.
She will be deeply missed by her grandchildren: Heather Dawn Brinckman, John Keith Wood (Kimberly), Christopher Jay Wood, Heidi Leigh Messick (Chris), Sarah Melissa Horton (Shawn), Elizabeth Grace Wood, and Mary Florence Wood.
She is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Samuel Horton, Caris Horton, Jonah Klein-Wood, Ryder Branch, Lucas Casteen, Riley Wood, Conner Langston, Lauren McPeak (Breven), Reese Brinckman, Ashleigh Groce (Jake), Piper Watts, Cayson Watts, and Cora Messick; and her great-great-grandchild, Evie McPeak.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Florence’s memory to Wrightsboro Baptist Church.
