Clara (Nelson) Wood

The Management and Support Staff of Nelson's Funeral Home sadly announce the death of Mrs. Clara Nelson Wood, 90, of 530 Longtown Road, Lugoff, South Carolina.

Mrs. Wood departed her earthly life peacefully Monday night  June 22, 2015, surrounded by her family members.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, June 26, 2015, 11:00 a.m. at Sutton Branch Baptist Church, 420 Sutton Branch Road, Lugoff South Carolina.   Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Reflections of a Well Lived Life

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:  A time to be born, and a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted…” Ecclesiastes  3:1-2

Family and friends, we welcome you this morning to a service of remembrance and celebration as we reflect upon the life of Mrs. Clara Nelson Wood.  There is honor in a well-lived-life…there is healing in remembering...there is hope in knowing her love goes on forever.  We remember her as loving and devoted to her family. She was dedicated to our late father and loved each of us deeply. Think of all that you shared and the joy of your time together and the love that connected you. Those memories are just for us to remember as times goes on, to help ease our sorrow, and lead the way to peace.  

A Time to Be Born…

Clara Nelson Wood began her earthly life on March 24, 1925. She was born in the rural area of Kershaw County in Lugoff, SC to the late Jim Nelson and Etta Goodwin Nelson.

A Time to Love…

Clara spotted the love of her life Holice Wood at Shiloh United Methodist Church.  It was love at first sight and on July 5, 1946 they were united in matrimony and lived a wonderful life. 

A Time for Family…

As the family matriarch, Clara could always be heard saying “If you don’t pay the just, you will pay the unjust.” “Treat everybody right.” “Don’t be jealous of what you see others with, you don’t know how it was obtained.” “Love one another.” She loved her family deeply. In this spirit she formulated and started the first three Nelson Family Reunion gatherings. In later years it has grown to include her cousins the Goodwin, Scott and Roach families which ironically will be celebrating this weekend here in South Carolina.  These sayings stemmed from her home training and according to her spiritual testimony, she was converted one Thursday night at Shiloh United Methodist Church in 1937 during their summer Revival.  At the age of 12, she was baptized at Rock Hill Baptist Church. Later in life, she transferred her membership to Sutton Branch Baptist Church after her husband became a member.  Clara believed that families needed to worship the Lord together and remained a faithful steward, Jubilee Choir leader, member of the Missionary ministry all until her health began to decline in recent years. 

A Time for Service to Mankind…

Clara received her education in the segregated Public School System in Kershaw County at a little clapboard building named Mickle School. She further pursued her education at Boylen Haven Mather Academy in Camden, SC. A graduate of Benedict College in Columbia, SC and additional studies at South Carolina State College in Orangeburg, SC while raising her family and being a educator at Wateree and Lugoff Elementary Schools in Lugoff, SC for many years. Clara found time to also serve her fellowman through various organizations such as: Order of Eastern Stars, Longtown Chapter #190 Ridgeway, SC,  The Parker Club of Clemson Extension Camden, SC and her true love of music and singing continued with the Willie Peay Community Singers  of Lugoff, SC. 

A Time to Go Home…

God with His almighty power stepped out on the shores of salvation and whispered, “Well done thy good and faithful servant…You have fought a good fight.”  Under the aura of indefinable presences and loved ones, including her loving daughters on Monday, June 22, 2015 at 7:45 PM at her residence, our beautiful Clara transcended the streams of time and entered into a deep and peaceful slumber. There she was greeted by our father, the late Mr. Holice Wood; her parents Jim and Etta Goodwin Nelson; and her siblings. We can just imagine the smiles on their faces as they shouted, “Welcome Home!!!” 

A Time to Cherish…

As time moves on into eternity, the unforgettable memories of her deeds shall always remain in the hearts of her cherished loved ones: two devoted and caring daughters, Mrs. Patricia W. Belton and her husband, Willie, who was like a second son, of Ridgeway, SC and Mrs. Cathy W. Cook of Lugoff, SC; one caring son, Mr. Rudolph (Linda) Wood of  Patterson, NJ; one daughter in Christ, Ms. Juanita Jones, New Haven, CT; three precious grandchildren, Mrs. Tori B. (Cornelius) Gude of  Lexington, SC, Mr. Eric (Danielle) Belton of Charlotte, NC, Mr. Christian Morrison, Sr. of Lorton, VA; five adorable great grandchildren, Preston and Aubrey Gude of Lexington, SC, Brent Belton of Charlotte, NC, Christian Jr. and Elijah Morrison of Lorton, VA; two doting sisters, Mrs. Willie Mae N. Brown of Lugoff, SC and Mrs. Sallie (Willie) Richardson of Brooklyn, NY; three sisters-in-law, Lillie Bell Nelson, Geneva Nelson and Inez Wood Cunninghoam; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and neighbors who miss her already.

 As this chapter of her earthly life ends, her family, friends and community remember that their matriarch is not gone away, her journey has just begun. Her long life of ninety years held so many facets, and this old world was just one. We know that she is resting. She is now in a place of warmth and comfort. We realize that she would want each of us to know that the hurt and sadness that we feel right now will all pass away in time. Her living legacy is in the hearts of all those that she touched, nothing that is truly loved is ever lost, and because we loved her so very much we say to our Mommie, grand/great grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend and neighbor “Good night!!!”

 Service Information