...Title
To honor, recognize and celebrate the life of Pastor A. Wilson Wood, D. Div. and to extend our sincerest condolences to his family and friends on the occasion of his passing on Sunday, July 31, 2011.
...Body
WHEREAS, Andrew Wilson Wood was born on October 13, 1919 in Clinton, South Carolina, and accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at the young age of ten; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Wood married the love of his live, Miss Gertrude M. Burton ; affectionately referred to as Mrs. "A", in September of 1939, and they had three children Verna, Andrew Jr., and Jesse; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Wood attended Lynchburg Virginia Seminary and College, earned a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Theology from Christian Bible College in North Carolina, and later received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Virginia University in Lynchburg; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Wood accepted the call to preach the gospel in 1945, and came to pastor the great Bethany Baptist Church, of Columbus Ohio in 1960 as its eighth pastor and did so for 50 years; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Wood was a member of former Mayor Jack Sensenbrenner's Commission on Human Relations and a candidate for Columbus City Council in 1969; and
WHEREAS, in December 2005, Pastor Wood established the Bethany Community Development Corporation, whose mission is to promote family stability and empowerment through educational, social and community-based services and affordable housing for youth and families residing in the Driving Park Area and surrounding communities; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Wood's greatest challenge to his family and the churches he served was that we should love one another, remain faithful, and always trust in the Lord until He calls us to our eternal rest. In that, Pastor Wood has now received his great reward; and
WHEREAS, no one truly comprehends the loss that you feel or the sadness that you must be enduring, the Word of God declares that He will not leave us comfortless, He promises to keep in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on Him. Our sincere prayer is that God will give you His help, His strength and His hope during your time of bereavement; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this council does hereby honor, recognize and celebrate the long and fulfilling life of Pastor A. Wilson Wood and extend our sincerest condolences to his family and friends and the faithful members of the Bethany Baptist Church on the occasion of his passing.