James Wallace Wood Sr.

James Wallace Wood, Sr., age 97, of Homerville, Georgia passed away on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at River Brook Healthcare Center in Homerville, Georgia. He was born on December 10, 1928, in Miami, Florida to the late James Oliver Wood and Rosa Lee Westberry Wood. Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by his siblings” Luis Wood, Hazel Wood Wells, Oveda Wood Fluck, Louise Wood Williams, Franklin Wood and Carolyn Wood Naylor.

James is survived by his children: Daniel O. Wood (Debbie), Linda Wood Rodriguez, James W. Wood, Jr. (Debbie) and Jennifer Wood. He is also survived by 9 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, 9 great great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and extended family members.

James served in the United States Merchant Marines during World War II from August 1944 to July 1945, serving aboard the USS Winding Gulf as a fireman and the USS Scotch Cap as a messman. He also served in the United States Army from February 1946 to December 1946. He spent his seventeenth birthday in the Philippines.

He was awarded the Merchant Marine Emblem, Atlantic War Zone Bar, Pacific War Zone Bar and the Mediterranean-Middle East War Zone Bar.

James worked for Pepsi-Cola in Miami, Florida for 30 years as a top salesman and manager. During this time, he learned Spanish so he could better serve the Spanish community.

James had a love for dance, he and his special partner, Ann Ray, taught dance and traveled with their dance group to perform at nursing homes and at the “Whistle Stop Café” in Juliette, Georgia.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in the Chapel of Music Funeral Services of Lakeland. A private burial of his cremains will be held at Beaver Dam Cemetery in Ray City, Georgia. Kind words and expressions of sympathy can be left for the family at www.musicfuneralservices.com. The Wood family is being served by the professional and caring staff of Music Funeral Services of Lakeland.