Dr. Thomas Purser Wood

Thomas Purser Wood passed away peacefully on Monday, February 15, 2016. He was born in McComb, Mississippi on October 1, 1929 and was the son of Hinton B. and Jennie Meaders Wood. He graduated from McComb High School and was a member of the state championship debate team. Tom soloed and received his private pilot license at age 16 and flew his high school sweetheart, Nancy Martin, to away football games in an open cockpit. Tom served his country as a Navy hospital corpsman in 1947. He then attended Mississippi College in Clinton, MS and finished his bachelor’s degree at Mississippi Southern College. Tommy and Nancy married in 1952 and they have four children. They lived in McComb; New Orleans, Alexandria, Shreveport and Metairie, LA, and settled in Tallahassee in 1967. Dr. Wood received his medical degree from Tulane University. After his internship and residency, Dr. Wood returned to McComb to be a general practitioner taking care of folks from his home town and delivering many babies. Dr. Wood completed a fellowship in clinical and anatomic pathology at Ochsner Foundation Hospital, where he was also chief resident in pathology. In 1967, Tom moved his family to Tallahassee to join the firm currently known as Ketchum Wood & Burgert, Pathology Associates. Tom led a distinguished career in medicine; at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital he rose to the level of Chief of Staff. He was the managing partner at Pathology Associates for many years and served as the associate medical director for two local laboratories in Tallahassee. Dr. Wood served as the District 2 Medical Examiner of Florida from 1980-1994, was a member of the Florida Medical Association State Legislative Committee and president of the Florida Society of Pathologists. Dr. Wood was very active with the College of American Pathologists and was elected president in 1998. In 2006, he was awarded the C.D. Taylor President’s Award from Tulane University for outstanding contributions to medicine in his community and later that year he received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from the Ochsner Clinic Foundation. In their spare time Dr. Wood and Nancy enjoyed spending time at St. Teresa Beach, and traveled to all 50 U.S. states and over 60 foreign countries, including the Arctic and Antarctica. Tom was an avid photographer and bird-watcher. He took phenomenal photos and carried his camera with him on each of their trips. Tom and Nancy were married 61 years until she passed away in 2012. Community involvement was very important to Tom. He served as deacon for Faith Presbyterian Church. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Tallahassee and served in many different capacities, including Club President. He was awarded the Frederick Clifton Moor Award for outstanding commitment to Rotary and the community. Tom was also very active in the Boy Scouts of America, serving as Troop 115’s Scout Master for many years. He served as President of the Suwanee River Area Council and was awarded the Silver Beaver Award in 1974. Dr. Wood is an Eagle Scout; as are all of his sons and grandsons. Tom was predeceased by his parents and his wife, Nancy Martin Wood. He is survived by his children and their spouses: Tom Wood, Jr. (Sally), Tallahassee; Joe Wood (Teresa) Jacksonville; Patricia Wood Merchant (Randy) and John Wood (Jeanie) all of Tallahassee; his grandchildren: Joshua Wood (Bonnie) North Las Vegas, NV; Jonathan Wood (Becca), Brunswick, GA; Andrew Wood (Lindy), San Diego, CA; Paul Wood, Jacksonville; Blair Wood, Tallahassee; John Martin Wood, Tallahassee; Jennie Merchant, Lillington, NC; Laura Merchant, Tallahassee; and Jessie Snyder, Tallahassee; and 10 great-grandchildren. Tom is also survived by his brother H. B. Wood, Jr. (Elaine), Rockport, TX, and his sister-in-law Jocile Martin Parsons (Chris), Seattle, WA. Tom will be greatly missed but we are comforted that his spirit will be in heaven with Nancy and his friends and relatives that have gone before him. The family wishes to thank the staff at Westminster Oaks and Big Bend Hospice for the care and support that they have provided to our father. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tom’s honor to Suwannee River Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Big Bend Hospice, or the Alzheimer’s Project. A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday February 21, 2016 at 2 p.m. at Faith Presbyterian Church, 2200 North Meridian Road, Tallahassee, Florida, 32303, followed by a reception in the Fellowship Hall. Elizabeth Emmanuel of Bevis Funeral Home is assisting the family with their arrangements (850-385-2193, www.bevisfh.com)

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Dr. Thomas Purser Wood

October 1, 1929 - February 15, 2016