Dr. F. Emerson Wood
(May 6, 1928 - July 25, 2016)

Rev. Dr. F. Emerson Wood, 88, of Huntington, died peacefully surrounded by his wife and children at Hospice House of Huntington on July 25 following an extended illness. Dr. Wood was born in Herndon, WV, the sixth of seven children, to V. Lacy and Ada McKinney Wood. In 1949 he married B.J. Meadows Wood, his lifelong love and soul mate. Their love created four children: Jerry of Huntington; Mark (and Grey) of Charleston; Cheryl (and Michael Myers) of Denver; Chris (and Lisa) of Elkins, as well as 6 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. He graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1955, received a Master of Divinity degree from Boston University School of Theology in 1958, and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from WV Wesleyan in 1973. Dr. Wood served 43 years as a United Methodist minister, pastoring several congregations throughout West Virginia including the Parkersburg, Wheeling and Huntington areas. From 1978 until his retirement in 1996 he served as the senior pastor of his beloved Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church where he was named pastor emeritus at his retirement. His close friend, Governor Cecil Underwood, asked him to found and then serve as executive director of Mission West Virginia, Inc., a not-for-profit working with community and faith based organizations. Dr. Wood was an advocate for peace and equality. Among his many notable accomplishments, he joined Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and thousands of others in the Selma March in 1965; founded the Human Rights Commission in Wheeling; served on the United Methodist General Commission on Religion and Race; elected a trustee at West Virginia Wesleyan College, Alice Lloyd College and the Methodist Theological School in Ohio; and was instrumental in the establishment of Ebenezer Community Outreach Center and the expansion of the Huntington City Mission. In 2003 he was awarded the Governor's Martin Luther King, Jr. "Living the Dream" Peace Award, and was inducted in 2013 to the Huntington Wall of Fame. His life was devoted to faith, family and social justice. Visitation will be on Friday, July 29 from 5:30-7:30 at Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church. A memorial service will occur on Saturday, July 30 at 1:00 p.m. at Beverly Hills United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to either the Johnson Memorial Backpack Ministry or the Hospice House of Huntington.