Waymon Worth Wood, Sr.

Waymon Worth Wood, 96, of Fayetteville, passed away on February 14, 2022, at Sunrise of Raleigh assisted living and memory care. 

Worth was the son of the late William Webster Wood and Bertha Collier Wood. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Margaret C. Wood, and two brothers, William Stewart Wood and Judson Lee Wood.

Born in Harnett County, NC on June 4, 1925, Worth was the second of four children. He spent his early childhood in the Linden area until the family moved to a farm in Cumberland County near the Cumberland Mills area. As a boy, Worth worked on the farm and attended Hope Mills School where he graduated as Valedictorian of the 1943 Senior class.  After graduating, Worth was inducted into the U.S. Army. He joined the European campaign in July,1944, as a member of the 30th Infantry Division that is nicknamed “Old Hickory” for its reputation of toughness in battle. In late 1944, he earned a Purple Heart when wounded by a landmine during the Battle of the Bulge.  After the war, Worth returned to help on the farm and later worked at the Johnson Cotton Company and Sears Roebuck in Fayetteville.  In 1953, he married the love of his life, Margaret Cashwell.  They moved back to the family farm a few years later and lived the farm life until 1966.  That year he joined the U.S. Soil Conversation Service but was later hired by the N.C. Forest Service as the County Ranger for Cumberland County where his primary responsibility was fire control.  In the early 1970’s, he left the Forest Service to become a timber buyer for West Lumber and Box Company of Fayetteville where he spent many days roaming the forests of eastern North Carolina evaluating timber. He later established a sawmill in Jones County to meet the company’s lumber needs.  Eventually the N.C. Forest Service lured him back as a District Ranger and a re-forestation specialist, working with landowners to return their property to much needed forestland.  Worth remained with the Forest Service until he retired in 1987. Although not having a formal forestry education, Worth was recognized for his knowledge on various aspects of forestry and fire control; at times providing instruction at the N.C. Forest Service’s training facility in Crossnore, NC.

Outside of his work life, Worth stayed in touch with his farming roots by growing a substantial garden every summer that provided a variety of fresh vegetables for family and friends as well as a well-stocked freezer. While gardening was his hobby and he enjoyed his farming and forestry, his calling was serving his Lord Jesus Christ by serving his fellow man. He served both within his church and outside the church. For thirty years, Worth and Margaret volunteered at the Cumberland County Regional Juvenile Detention Center teaching and counseling incarcerated youth, providing a positive impact to kids that often had no such influence in their lives.  After retiring from this service in 2014, they were awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by the governor of North Carolina for their service to the center. While this was a great honor, his true measure was found in his everyday dealings with those around him.  Worth loved his family, both immediate and extended. He was highly principled, but always kind and always a gentleman. He was truly selfless, always putting others before himself.  Worth was an honorable man loved by many and will be truly missed.

Worth is survived by his son, Waymon W. Wood, Jr. and wife Robin of Garner, NC; his sister, Elizabeth Moorhouse and husband Bob of Mechanicsville, VA; sister-in-law Charlotte Wood of Fayetteville; seven nieces and three nephews.

Funeral services will be held Monday, February 21, 2022 at 11:00 am at Haymount United Methodist Church with interment to follow at the Big Rockfish Presbyterian Church cemetery.  The family will receive friends prior to the funeral service at the church from 10:00 to 10:45 am. 

One way to get to Haymount's funeral livestream is through its Facebook account.

The other method is through Haymount's website as follows: 

Google Haymount United Methodist and go to its webpage or go to "haymountumc.com"

Tap the three horizontal menu bars.

From the menu page select "Sunday Worship"

On the next page select "Traditional Service"

This will carry you to Vimeo where you will find the livestream.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or a charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be left at http://www.jerniganwarren.com

Arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St. Fayetteville, NC 28301

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Waymon Worth Wood, Sr., please visit our floral store.