James Frederick "Fred" Wood, Sr.

James Frederick “Fred” Wood, Sr., 95, of Mechanicsville, MD, passed away on October 1, 2024. Fred was born on June 10, 1929, in Silver Spring, MD, to the late Effie (Ewell) and Howard Wood. Fred married his beloved, late wife, Agnes “Lorraine” (Tennyson) Wood, on July 22, 1950. Their little family grew to include five wonderfully spirited children; Connie (Raley) Westbrook (Geoff), Jay Wood (Jill), Geneva Leon (John), Ray Wood (Janet), and Nettie Harding, 12 tenacious grandchildren; Adam Raley, Ben Raley (d. 1981), Castle Raley (Laura), Jay Coombs (Megan), Natasha Guy (David), Raymond “Ben” Harding (Brittainy), Matthew Wood (Leslie), Stephanie Hallisey (Jeremiah), Chelsea Wood (Torrey), John Leon, Jr., Geoffrey Westbrook, and 12 wonderful great-grandchildren; Brennen, Skylar, and Addison Coombs, Nicholas Harding, Cali, Colten, and Claire Raley, Norah and Liam Hallisey, Teegan and Cassidy Leon, and Tommy Wood. Fred is also survived by Shirley Payne, his loving companion for the last 10 years. Fred is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Lorraine, daughter, Connie Raley, grandson, Ben Raley, and his siblings, Joseph Wood, Bernice Moore, Rita Hysan, Bill Wood, and Kenneth Wood. It is a comfort to our family that Fred will be reunited with loved ones who passed before him. Fred was a long-time resident of St. Mary’s County, MD. He and his family moved to the area in 1946 and began raising tobacco. He graduated from Margaret Brent High School in 1947 and began his career in carpentry. Fred was an integral part in building many local homes and commercial buildings. Beginning with the Carpenter’s Union, his career spanned over 40 years in the trade, including graduating apprenticeship school in 1956, partnering with his brother-in-law. Jim Tom Tennyson. to build Tenn Wood Acres in 1965, teaching Carpentry at the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center in 1968-70, and. Finally. working as a Superintendent with W.M. Davis, Inc., General Contractors before taking a well-earned retirement in 1994. Fred worked hard, but he also knew how to have a good time. Throughout the years, he and Lorraine were very active with the Hills Club Hogs young men’s softball team. He was even inducted into the Softball Hall of Fame in 1992! He also became an avid golfer, celebrating a hole-in-one in 2006, and shot his best golfing score of 73 at the young age of 78. And boy, did he love to DANCE. He and Lorraine started the first ever Country Line Dance Classes at Parks and Recreation, and for many years you could always find them cutting a rug on the dance floor. Fred was very close with his family and friends and enjoyed celebrating special occasions, including his 90th and 95th Birthday Bashes, which he reflected on fondly. He was a whiz at card games, especially Pitch and Pinochle, and enjoyed many games at the Senior Centers, Moose Pitch Tournaments, and just low-key games with family. He was a Friday night regular at the Mechanicsville Moose where he and Shirley enjoyed dancing to the Bands. Fred never met a stranger and could entertain you with stories for hours on end about his life, family, interests, and hobbies. His mind was still sharp as a whip at 95 – amazingly able to recall memories even from when he was six years old. His family and friends will miss him dearly. The family will receive friends on Monday October 7, 2024, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD, where a prayer service will be held at 7 PM with Deacon Joe Lloyd officiating. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 10:00 AM in St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Morganza, MD, with Father Drew Royals officiating. Interment will follow at Charles Memorial Gardens. Serving as pallbearers will be Adam Raley, Jay Coombs, Ben Harding, Matt Wood, Brennen Coombs, and Jeremiah Hallisey. Honorary pallbearers are Castle Raley and Charlie Wolfe. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to the Mechanicsville Volunteer Rescue Squad. Condolences may be made to the family at www.mgfh.com.