Bill Wood

In Loving Memory of William "Bill" Wood

William "Bill" Wood, a dedicated veteran, beloved coach, and visionary community recreation leader, passed away peacefully on May 27, 2026, under the care of Ogeechee Area Hospice in Statesboro, Georgia. He leaves behind a profound legacy of public service, local athletics, and a deeply loved family. Born in Glen Rose, Texas on February 27, 1941, William graduated from Glen Rose High School in 1959 as a talented multi-sport athlete and band member with three college scholarship offers.

William chose a path of service, joining the US Army and serving honorably for four years. His military journey took him to Korea, Japan, France, and Germany. Following his military service, He moved to Georgia, where he dedicated 45 years to officiating high school sports. He officiated football, basketball, baseball, softball, and track, working several state championship games. His immense contributions to athletics were officially recognized in 1982 when he was inducted into the Georgia Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame. He also served his community directly as a fast-pitch softball coach for MCHS for ten years.

In 1975, Bill became the foundational figure for the Morgan County Recreation Department (MCRD), a position he held for 37 impactful years until his retirement on June 1, 2012. In the early days, driven by pure dedication, Bill used his own personal vehicles, mower, and maintenance tools to keep programs running. He firmly believed that sports should be accessible to all, establishing a fee structure ensuring that no child was ever denied participation due to a lack of financial means. Under his leadership, the department received numerous state "Agency of the Year" awards from the Georgia Parks and Recreation Association (GRPA). Personally, Bill served on the State Athletic Committee for over 30 years, acting as the chair 5 times, and was honored as the GRPA "Professional of the Year." An avid supporter of track and field, Bill volunteered as the starter for the GRPA state track meets, starting the Augusta meet for 33 consecutive years and the Carrollton meet for 18 years through 2014. Under his guidance, the local track program proudly sent four participants to the National meet in Hershey, Pennsylvania, producing two national champions.

Bill's extraordinary impact on the community culminated in a lasting, permanent honor. On November 20, 2014, the Staff and Recreation Commission of the Morgan County Recreation Department surprised Bill at an annual dinner to celebrate his invaluable service. In a deeply meaningful tribute to his 37 years of dedication, a local park was officially renamed William "Bill" Wood Park so that future generations would always remember the man who built the foundation for youth recreation in the county. During his tenure, Bill spearheaded the development of numerous facilities across the area, including the Municipal Park: Featuring 3 ball fields, baths, a concession stand, a gym, and an administration building. The Track Facility: An 8-lane poly track with field event stations funded entirely by the Dupree Foundation. Heritage Park: Spanning 6 fields, shelters, offices, a dog park, and a concession stand. Tennis Courts: 8 lighted courts built for public and school use. Indian Creek Park: A 60-acre park featuring a shelter, a walking trail with exercise sites, and an 18-hole disc golf course. Aquatic Center: An indoor, year-round pool and exercise room.

Though deeply committed to his community, Bill always shared that his greatest accomplishment in life was his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Elder A.D. and Violet Wood; his siblings, Lois Beth Wood Mehaffie and her spouse Terry, W.J., W.A., Wilma Faye, and Nathan Ray Wood; his nephew, Alva Doss Allard; and his son-in-law, Buddy Hood. He is survived by his loving wife of almost 48 years, Kathy Greenway Wood. He is also survived by his children: Sharon Hood of Dawsonville; Brian and Lisa Wood of Madison; April and David Riedlinger of Madison; and Kimberly and Jamey Sharpe of Brooklet. His legacy lives on through his eight grandchildren: Kyle (Cameron) Wood, Lyndsey Hood, Ethan (Paige) Hood, Megan Wood, Dillon (Carrie) Riedlinger, Victoria (Ryan) Thorne, Erik Doss (Grace) Riedlinger, and Katherine Sharpe. He was also blessed with eight great-grandchildren: Joey, Hayes, and Charley Hood; Brody and Barrett Wood; Lilith and Ollivander Thorne; and Killian Riedlinger. Bill is also survived by his nephew, Donnie Allard and family, and many Texas cousins and members of the Greenway family.

Family and friends are invited to gather for services to celebrate Bill's incredible life: The family will receive friends on Friday, May 29, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at A.E. Carter Funeral Home (Madison, GA). The funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 2:00 PM at Covenant Park Church (Madison, GA). Graveside services will follow immediately at the Buckhead Cemetery (Buckhead, GA).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in Bill's honor to support two causes close to their hearts: Ogeechee Area Hospice (Statesboro, Georgia) at https://hcoga.com/ or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/donate

View funeral services live at https://vimeo.com/event/5966032

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