Kirby Eldon Wood

Mr. Kirby Eldon Wood, 88, of Mount Airy, received the ultimate Christmas gift by celebrating with Jesus on Christmas Day. Mr. Wood was born June 19, 1936, in Surry County, the youngest of three children born to the late Roy Elbert and Minnie Lee Cook Wood. As a child, Kirby was reared on a tobacco farm in the Woodville community and was the last living male from the class of 1954 from Westfield High School. After his high school graduation, he attended Draughon’s Business College. In December 1957, Kirby married Betty Jean McBride, and together they were a vital part of the Woodville community for more than eight decades. Kirby began his career as a car salesman at Williams Chevrolet in Mount Airy, which later became Collins Chevrolet. While a car salesman, he received numerous top salesman awards and was the recipient of “Legion of Leaders” from the Chevrolet Corporation for many years. After more than 20 years as a car salesman, he transitioned into a different role with rental properties, as the co-owner of Wood’s Mobile Home Park and Wood Properties. Kirby built a reputation for providing affordable housing and creating a sense of community. He took pride in his role as a landlord, striving to ensure that every resident felt safe and valued. Whether it was fixing a broken pipe, fixing a broken outlet, or offering a listening ear to a resident, Kirby was always there for his residents, treating everyone with respect and kindness. An avid NASCAR fan, Kirby enjoyed following races, along with his nephew, Preston, and was passionate about the sport throughout his life. Mr. Wood was a longtime member of Woodville Baptist Church. He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Alan and Barbara Wood of Mount Airy; a niece, Pamela Edwards Arnason and her husband, Terry, of Mount Airy; two nephews, Preston Hill and his wife, Susan, of Pilot Mountain, and James Edwards and his wife, Cheri, of Hampton, VA; several great-nieces and great-nephews; his caregivers, Maudie Ramsey, Diane Walker, Maggie Coe, Tina Carte, Haley East, Delma Bryant, Donnie Riggs, and Elizabeth Brendle; along with the staff at Liberty Hospice and Home Care, Tina Leonard, Ken Quigley, Mollie Tompkins, Maria Cantu, Steve Watson, and Barbara Anderson. In addition to his parents, Mr. Wood was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jean McBride Wood; an infant son, Kevin Lee Wood; two sisters, Reba Wood Hill and Leona Wood Hicks; two nieces, Norma Hill Hawks and Linda Hicks Barker; and a nephew, Charles Edwards. A service of worship and celebration of Kirby’s life will be held Saturday, December 28, 2024, at 2:00 PM at Moody Funeral Home Chapel in Mount Airy, with the Rev. Kevin Kilby officiating. Burial will follow in the Woodville Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday from 12:00 until 2:00 PM at the funeral home. Flowers will be accepted, or memorial contributions may be made to the Woodville Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Zelda Collins, 1591 Toms Creek Church Road, Pilot Mountain, NC 27041; or Liberty Hospice, 5 East Main Street, Thomasville, NC 27360.