Carolyn Hester Wood

Carolyn Hester Wood, age 79, passed away unexpectedly yet peacefully on September 28, 2025, in Gallatin, Tennessee after many years of illnesses. Born on August 11, 1946, in Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee, Carolyn lived the majority of her life in Middle Tennessee with fond memories of her time in Macon County.

Carolyn is survived by her three daughters: Michelle (Greg) Shoemaker, Marcia (John) Jared, and Melinda (Dano) Whited. Carolyn lovingly referred to her daughters as her “three girls.” She took pride in her family and found great joy in being a grandmother to eleven “grands” and a great-grandmother to three “great-grands”. Her love for them was evident to all who knew her—if you spent any time with Carolyn, you likely heard stories about each one of them.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph Rudolph Wood, Sr. and Hattie Hester (Wilson) Wood. Carolyn also mourned the loss of her siblings: Doris E. Vaughn, Billy Joe Vaughn, Joseph Rudolph Wood, Jr., Mack Edwin Wood, Sr., and Anna Sue (Wood) Hawkins.

A woman of unwavering faith, Carolyn loved to share her belief in Jesus with anyone willing to listen. She encouraged others to seek a saving relationship with Him. In earlier seasons of her life, she found great fulfillment teaching children's classes at her church—planting seeds of faith that would grow in young hearts for years to come.

It brings great joy to Carolyn’s family knowing she is healed, whole, and with her Savior and family.

The immediate family had a private viewing. Later, they will take her ashes to a family cemetery on a farm in Macon County where Carolyn loved to spend time as a child.

Thank you for your prayers for the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made by check to: Oak Grove Baptist Church, 6424 Hwy. 431 North, Springfield, TN 37172. Please note on your check “In Memory of Carolyn Wood.” Gifts will be donated to the children’s ministry.