July 2, 2024
SOCIAL CIRCLE, GA – Milton Lee Wood, Sr, faithful Georgia Baptist pastor, passed away on Friday at age 84.
He was born on April 4, 1938, to the late Mossie Marie Scott Wood and the late William Lynn Wood. He was preceded in death by this daughter, the late Sadonna Wood Polhill. Surviving are his wife of 64 years, Shirley Hales Wood; son and daughter in law, Lee Wood and Maria Luke; grandchildren, Timothy (Tim) Polhill, Shayla Marie Gonzalez, Jesse Wood; and great grandchild, Leia Gonzalez.
He retired as pastor from First Baptist Church in Social Circle in 2001 after a long tenure, but in succeeding years he became a consultant for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board in church planting, served as an interim associational missionary, and interim pastor of thirteen churches in the Appalachee, Stone Mountain, Macon, and Central Associations.
For 13 years he worked with Associational Mission Strategist Larry Cheek as the Executive Director of the Stone Mountain Baptist New Work Foundation, an entity started 30 years ago by Cheek for the purpose of “raising and receiving funds for the establishment of new churches.”
Cheek explained, “Milton helped with 22 church starts during his tenure that are still in existence today. In the past 19 years those churches have reported 3,735 professions of faith and baptisms.
“He was born in Burning Bush, raised in Buzzard’s Roost and went to school in Possum Trot. He was a graduate of Mercer University and Southwestern Seminary,” Cheek reported. His ministry spanned 62 years including periods of service not only in Georgia, but Texas and Michigan. He also authored several books.
I am pleased to say that I knew Milton Wood for over twenty years, but I also knew his dad, Lynn Wood, in the early 1960s when he was the associational missionary of the Centennial Baptist Association, In those days I was on the staff of the First Baptist Church in Barnesville as the student pastor and in 1962 the associational meeting was at the Barnesville church and I was privileged to help him set up displays for the meeting.
Milton often quoted his dad, once commenting, dad used to say, “Son, people will overlook a lot of things in a church if they know two things: (1) that you love them, and (2) that they can trust you.” Milton Wood heeded his father advice and was beloved by the people he served.
Patricia Trussell exclaimed, “Preacher Wood had a special place in my heart. My first job was as his secretary at Sisters Baptist Church in Sandersville; and he officiated at the wedding ceremony for Earl and me. I was also saved under his ministry.”
Tina Peters commented, “Preacher Wood was a great man. He baptized me and all my children and married one of them. His family was very special to us. I know he is rejoicing with the angels and worshiping our Lord.”
Even in the hospital prior to his death Milton Wood’s focus was on leading people to Jesus. During his time at Piedmont Walton, he led his dialysis nurse and his granddaughter’s husband to Jesus.
The memorial service for Milton Lee Wood will be held on Saturday, October 22, at 2:00 PM at the Social Circle First Baptist Church with the Rev. Lee Wood, the Rev. Eric Suddeth, and the Rev. Mike Hardy officiation.
The family requests that rather than flowers, contributions may be made in Pastor Wood’s honor to New Work Foundation to be used for church planting and replanting efforts. Call (770) 438-2776 for information on how to contribute.
