Charles Keith Wood Sr. of West Point died at home on Wednesday,May 7, 2014.
Born Sunday, June 28, 1931 in Lanett, Mr. Wood was son of the late Vana Keith Wood and the late James M. Wood, Sr. He grew up in Lanett attending Lanett Schools and Auburn University.
Survivors include his wife, Carole Mackool Wood of West Point, daughter, Lynn Wood Beck (Kevin)of Atlanta, GA., Sons Charles Keith (Carol) Wood, Jr. of Locust Grove, GA; Carlton Wood of Murfreesboro, TN. Grandchildren are Jonathan Sansom of Baton Rouge, LA; Alex Wood of Jensen Beach, FL; Ryan and Abigail Wood of Locust Grove, GA; Carley Wood of Murfreesboro, TN; and great granddaughters Logan and Brooklyn of Murfreesboro, TN. Brother, James M. Wood of Jonesboro, GA and sister Nancy Fredeman of Dothan, AL.
Mr. Wood served in the United States Air Force from 1951 to1954. After the Military service, he was employed at Lockheed Aircraft in Marietta.
Mr. Wood started his Public Safety career in 1957 with the Smyrna Police Department. In October, 1961 on returning to West Point he worked for West Point Pepperell as Pension and Tax Assistant and at the West Point Foundry. On returning to the Atlanta area in 1968 Mr. Wood was Operations Manager for the Clayton County News Daily. In 1977 he was back in Public Safety in Clayton County working as patrolman, detective, Director of Communications and Director of Emergency Management. As Director of Communications he established the combined Public Safety Communications center in Clayton County, one of the first 911 systems in Georgia. He developed the Communication Dispatcher course that is now required for communication dispatcher certification in Georgia. He retired from Clayton County in 1998 from the position of Director of the Clayton County Airport. Mr. Wood was active in the Clayton County Rotary Club serving as president.
The Woods returned to West Point in 2003. Mr. Wood has been active in his church, Holy Family Catholic, where he served on the Pastoral Council. He also represented West Point on the LaGrange-Troup County Aviation Authority and represented Chief Kerr on the Chattahooche Law Enforcement Council. He was a member of the Metropolitan Atlanta Police Emerald Society. He also served as a Reserve Police Office for the City of West Point.