Memorial Minute

Jerome Hoxie Wood,
1933-2006

Jerry Wood was a faithful attender of Midcoast Meeting for eleven years.  He died of a heart 

attack in Charlottesville, Virginia, on November 13, 2006.  He and his wife, Sally, moved to 

Southport, Maine, in 1994 and soon found a spiritual home at Midcoast Friends Meeting. 

Jerry posed his questions thoughtfully and found his place among us with grace, understanding, 

sincerity, and good humor.  He became a gift to the Meeting, for which we remain grateful.

Among activities he participated in were Peace & Social Concerns and Ministry & Counsel and book group discussions.  His pastoral interests and skills showed up in many ways, and our community benefited from his love and expertise. He was expecting to apply for membership in 2005, as Sally had already done.  However it was not to be, when it became clear that they were needed in Charlottesville to assist their daughter Ruth and grandchildren Nathaniel and Laura.  After a few months, they closed the Maine house and packed up their things to make their move permanent by buying a house with Ruth.  They became regular attenders at the Friends meeting in Charlottesville.

Jerry was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, August 19, 1933. The next year, his parents became multigenerational members of the family homestead in West Warwick, Rhode Island. They were the fourth generation of Woods to occupy the house.  Multigenerational living was thus an early part of Jerry’s life and helped lead the Woods to their decision in Charlottesville.  After schooling at Tabor Academy and Springfield College, Jerry prepared for the Ministry at Andover Newton Theological School.  As a United Church of Christ minister, Jerry served congregations in Worcester, Northfield, Worthington, Peru, and Plainfield, Massachusetts, and following his move to Maine, he served in Edgecomb. The family notes that due to his disenchantment with the institutional church, he became involved in other ministries, such as becoming chaplain to the Hampshire County Jail in Massachusetts.

He enjoyed swimming, canoeing, and kayaking with his family and friends.  In addition to Ruth and her two children, he and Sally have two sons, Stephen and Thomas, their wives, and six other grandchildren.

Jerry's faith was strong and his words spoke to the Truth.  We miss him and honor all he gave us.

Approved 2^nd Month 17^th 2008 by Midcoast Monthly Meeting, Deborah P. Haviland, Clerk