Benjamin C. Wood

Benjamin Clarence Wood, 92, of Belle Chasse, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on January 15^th after a lengthy battle with cancer.  Ben, also referred to as “Clarence” by many relatives, was born October 6, 1931, in Tylertown, Mississippi, the eldest son of Angus Bouie Wood and Arzilla Wood.  He was a 1949 graduate of New Zion High School then attended Southwest Jr. College in Summit, MS.  After leaving High School, he joined the Mississippi/Alabama National Guard in the Dixie Division, but left Jr. College in 1951, being activated by the Army National Guard during the Korean Conflict to serve his country.  He was stationed at Ft. Jackson, SC where he was Sergeant of the 31^st Unit, 155^th Regiment, Company K. 

Ben and fellow Guardsmen traveled to Charlotte, NC to attend the State Fair.  They stopped at a drive-in diner and that is where he met and was smitten by a pretty waitress, Shirley Harrington.  Following his discharge in 1952, Ben began studies at LSU in Baton Rouge.  Ben spent the summers working offshore and was hired by The California Company, later to be Chevron.  

On November 27, 1953, Ben and Shirley were married at her parent’s home in Derita, NC.  Making their home in Buras, LA they welcomed sons Barry and Jody then relocated to Belle Chasse, LA following Hurricane Betsy.  They loved spending time in their camper at Dauphin Island, Alabama and purchased a second home there in 1979.  Following Ben’s retirement after 37 years from Chevron in 1990, they purchased their motor home in 1994, and traveled all 48 contiguous states and Canada until Shirley’s passing in 2005. 

PawPaw Ben, as he was known to his grandchildren and great grandchildren, enjoyed attending their sports activities such as soccer, volleyball, baseball, and football.  His favorite sport teams were the Atlanta Braves, New Orleans Saints, and LSU.  He enjoyed watching old western movies on Grit TV, Air Disasters on the Smithsonian Channel, Classic TV comedies like “All in the Family” “Beverly Hillbillies”, and FOX News. 

He was preceded in death by his loving wife Shirley Harrington Wood, parents Angus Bouie and Arzilla Wood, and brothers Merwin Dale Wood and William ‘Bill’ Lloyd Wood.  Left to cherish his memory are his sons Barry Neal Wood and wife Carol of Metairie, LA, and Benjamin Jody Wood and wife Sherry of Terrytown, LA; Grandchildren Adam Wood Little (Casey) Baton Rouge, LA, Brittney Wood Hardouin (JJ) Metairie, LA, Danielle Albritten Maruschack (Brad) Denham Springs, LA, Trey Albritten (Bess) Lafayette, LA, Christopher Litton (Grace) Lincolnton, NC, Great Grandchildren Abigail Maruschak, Noah Marushak, Grayson Albritten, Wyatt Little, Abram Albritten, Chandler Litton, Noelle Litton, Reed Litton, as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.  

Two services celebrating his life will be held, first will be Friday, January 26th, 2024 with a visitation from 6:00-8:00PM at Mothe Funeral Home, 2100 Westbank Expressway, Harvey, LA, 70058. 

And, second will take place on Saturday January 27th, 2024 --Visitation at 11:00AM-12:30PM, Funeral Service 12:30 at Hartman Hughes Funeral Home, 412 Beulah Avenue, Tylertown, MS 39667.  He will be interred immediatly following at the Wood Family Cemetery, 13 Mt. Moriah Road, in Tylertown, MS.  Officiating the services will be his grandson Reverend Christopher Litton.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to help provide services for maintenance and repair of the Wood Family Cemetery.  Donations may be made to the 501c3 foundation in honor of Benjamin Clarence Wood at Wood Family Cemetery Fund, in care of Pinebelt Foundation, 1501 Adeline Street, Hattiesburg, MS 39401.