Linda Wood

Celebration of Life Services for Pastor Linda Sue Hairston Wood, 61, of 204 Spitfire Lane, Statesville, will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Christian Outreach of the Piedmont, where the Rev. Glenn Usry is Pastor. Bishop Wayne Brown will officiate and Pastor Sandra Forney will eulogize. Burial will follow at 10 a.m. Friday morning in Iredell Memorial Gardens. Pastor Wood was born April 20, 1948, in Iredell County, and was the daughter of the late Henderson and Viola Stevenson Hairston. She departed this life Saturday, May 16, 2009, at the home of her daughter in Hickory. She was preceded in death by a sister, Overseer Joyce Tate; and two brothers, Levon Hairston and William Hairston. Pastor Wood was formerly married to Nathaniel Brown Wood. She was educated in the Unity Schools and was the pastor of Miracle Tabernacle Church. Survivors include a daughter, Minister Tanza Wood (Elder John Jr.) Carr of Hickory; two grandchildren, Timothy Wood of Lanesboro, and Narissa Wood of Statesville; four great-grandchildren, Raheem Wood of Hickory, Malazea Wood, Indya Wood and Paris Wood, all of Statesville; three brothers, Bishop Larry (Willie Mae) Hairston, Leonard Hairston of Statesville, and Jamaine Fraizer of Asheboro; two sisters, Mrs. Cora Wilson and Mrs. Ava (Larry) Rucker, both of Statesville; three sisters-in-law, Beluah Ann Wood and Pastor Minnie Wood, both of Statesville, and Beverly Wood of New York; two brothers-in-law, Bishop Ralph Wood and Mason Wood; two aunts, Lucille Patterson and Kale Turner; uncles, Harvey Lee Hairston and James Logan Hairston, both of Statesville; her spiritual Mother, Evangelist Carolyn Teasley of Winston-Salem; four godchildren, Pastor Jamie Mack, Pastor Lonnie Gray, Minister Tina Mack and Sister Lisa Tate; and a host of other relatives and friends. Pastor Wood will be taken to Miracle Tabernacle Church to lie in state from 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday evening at Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home. Family will assemble at Miracle Tabernacle of Deliverance, 310 Monroe Street, Statesville, prior to the visitation hour and the funeral hour. Notes of sympathy may be emailed for the Wood family to Rutledgeinc@bellsouth.net. Rutledge and Bigham Mortuary, Statesville, is serving the family of Pastor Linda Sue Hairston Wood.