Obituary published in The Smithfield Herald, Tuesday, November 9, 1948:
Final rites for Jack W. Wood, 52, of Route 2, Smithfield, who committed suicide Friday at 11:30 a.m., were conducted at Overby Funeral Chapel here Saturday at 3 p.m. by Elder E. C. Jones. Interment was in the Creech family cemetery.
Mr. Wood, son of the late Henry and Bethsadie Lee Wood of the Buffalo section of Johnston County, shot himself above the heart, with the shotgun load passing through his heart.
Coroner J. Durward Creech, who investigated with Deputy Sheriff Raymond Lynch, said death was a clear case of suicide and no inquest would be held.
Mr. Wood's wife was cooking dinner when she heard the shotgun blast in the bedroom. She found her husband sitting on the side of the bed with a single-barrel shotgun in his hands, one shoe off and bleeding from the left shoulder. He was conscious and told his wife not to touch the gun, that he had shot himself. He got to his feet, but then fell to the floor and died in approximately five minutes from loss of blood.
No motive for the suicide as given. The victim had been in ill health.
Surviving are his wife, the former Mary McKeel; seven sons, Wesley Wood of Route 2, Smithfield, Pfc. James Wood of the army in the Philippines and Leslie, Gletha, Hubert, J. W. Jr., and Mackie Ray Wood of the home; a daughter, May Wood of the home; three brothers, Danius Wood of Route 1, Selma, and Elmon and Harvey Wood of Warsaw; two sisters, Mrs. Penina Parnell of Smithfield and Mrs. Ida Edwards of Goldsboro, and five grandchildren.
Jack W. Wood is buried with his wife Mary in the Creech Cemetery which is located in Johnston County, NC:
