Annie WOOD

NEWPORT NEWS - Annie Belle (nee Duncan) Wood, born Jan. 8, 1924, in Riner, Va., died Aug. 4, 2010, in Newport News, Va.
She had been a resident of York County since she, her husband, Joe Perdue and daughters moved in 1951, after his service in WW II and the Korean Conflict.
She was the daughter of Roscoe and Malinda Duncan of Christiansburg; and the sister of Harless Duncan, all of whom preceded her in death. They also had a son, Joe Dennis Perdue Jr., who tragically was killed in a car accident at the age of four. She was also preceded by Mr. Perdue and her second husband, Hugh R. Wood.
Mrs. Wood was a homemaker until her daughters were 10 and 12 years old. She then began a long career of service. She first worked as secretary for the York County Extension Service in the basement of the Old Courthouse in Yorktown. She then moved to the York County School Board office across the hall and subsequently to the position of Seaford Elementary School secretary, where she remained until retirement. From this vantage, she saw at least two generations of children move through the school and they saw her smiling face every morning.
After retirement she and Hugh traveled extensively, never meeting a stranger. She competed in the Senior Olympics (famously placing first in the 100-yard dash at 68 years old) and played tennis until she was 79. She was very active in the Extension Homemakers clubs, in particular the Dare-Crossroads Club, where she made lifelong friends and held most of the elected positions.
Mrs. Wood was a longtime active member of Providence United Methodist Church in Dare until the last few years. In 2003, she and Hugh moved into The Chesapeake Retirement home, where they continued their active lifestyle.
Mrs. Wood encouraged her daughters in all their endeavors whether it was Brownies, Girl Scouts, 4-H or school activities. She was a Sunday school teacher, while they were young, scout and 4-H leader, and room mother. She spent her evenings helping with homework or with a special 4-H project. She loved and supported her girls in everything they attempted with grace and humor.
Her daughters will remember her for teaching them life skills as well as giving them confidence to meet adversity. They will cherish the memories of playing, cooking and sewing, laughing, and talking with their mother. Her grandchildren remember fondly playing make-believe, games, dress-up, decorating for Christmas, long walks, and climbing trees under her watchful eye. It is with deep sorrow and regret that Mrs. Wood was not aware of her two great-grandchildren. She would have been especially happy to know and play with them as she did with her grandchildren.
Mrs. Wood is survived by her daughters, Judy Remsberg (Ellis) of Yorktown and Linda Perdue of Florida; grandchildren, Mark Remsberg of Fredericksburg, Va., Karen Remsberg (Don Cox) of Athens, Ohio, and Cynthia Perdue of Florida; great-grandchildren, Ben Cox of Athens and Chloe Griffin of Florida.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 9, 2010, at Providence United Methodist Church with the Rev. Douglas Akers officiating. Interment will follow in Peninsula Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 8, at Amory Funeral Home, Grafton.
In lieu of flowers, if friends desire, contributions may be sent to the Alzheimer's Association, 6315 North Center Drive, Suite 233, Norfolk, VA 23502; or LINK of Hampton Roads Homeless Shelter, 10413 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, VA 23601.
The family thanks the staff at The Chesapeake for their loving, gentle care.
Arrangements by Amory Funeral Home, Grafton. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.