Donald Wood Jr.

"And think of him as loving in the hearts of those he touched...for nothing loved is ever lost and he was loved so much." Donald Wood Jr., made his Earthly Debut on March 29, 1950, the second of seven children, born into the Union of the late Thelma and Donald Wood Sr. He was blessed to be a member of a family where there was so much love. Donald received his education in the Baltimore city School System and upon graduation, he joined the United States Marine Corp. Upon completion of his Service with an Honorable Discharge, he decided to invest in children through teaching. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland and his Masters of Education degee from Howard University. He became a Special Education teacher for elementary school children in District Heights, Maryland and Washington DC public schools. His love for fashion lead him to work for Woodward & Lothrop (Woodies) department store. At an early age, under the spiritual leadership of Rev. Joseph Stewart, Pastor, New Lebanon Calvary Baptist Church of Baltimore, MD, Donald accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Upon moving to the DC metropolitan area Donald attended Allen Chapel AME Church during he early 1980's and later joined under the leadership of the Rev./Dr. Michael E. Bell Sr., Pastor. Donald had a spiritual connection and a love for music; he sang with the Allen Choraleers under the direction of Mark E. Jefferson, Director for several years. He sang and recorded with Donald Vail and the Salvation Corporation and other local groups in the DMV area. Dee Dee, as he is affectionately called by family and friends, was a very loving and outgoing individual. He loved to dance and sing, and was the lead vocalist in the group The EXTREMES, that included Mae Foster-Anderson, Alice Ebb (Pip), and Larry Scott; the group was coached by Dee Dee's uncle Roland Jackson (Uncle Big Boy) who lived in East Baltimore, Dee Dee loved entertaining, family gatherings, and traveling the world. His hobbies included cooking, dancing, lover of the Arts, enjoyed the company of people. Donald enjoyed creative writing; during the early sixties he wrote, directed, and produced a play entitled "The Black People's Movement", that highlighted the oppression and struggles of African Americans during the Pre-Civil Rights Era. The production was performed to a standing room only audience at the Johnson Square Auditorium. Dee Dee was very creative and persuasive that he utilized family members and friends as the cast; many of whom had never been on stage before. Nevertheless, as a result of his creativity, it was an excellent production that left a significant impact on the minds of the young people that were in attendance. After retiring from the DC Public School System, he relocated to Alpharetta, Georgia. He later decided to return to work teaching in the Georgia School system. He resided with close friends Clarence and Sharon Slaughter until he returned home to Maryland in 2016. Dee Dee shared an impenetrable bond with his oldest sister Sondra (Socks), who attended to his medical needs, and was by his side until God called him home. Though his passing laves a void, the memories of him will continue to live on in our hearts. He was preceded in death by his brother Charles (Boo Boo), an his sister Darlene (Nessa). He leaves to cherish his memory: his sister, Sondra Wood; his brothers Kevin (Eartha) Wood and Dwayne (Joyce) Wood; Uncle Melvin Jackson, Aunt Doris Wood, a devoted nephew and family, Darryl Wood; nieces, nephews, cousins, God children, a devoted friend Walter Hayes, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Donald Wood Jr.

March 29, 1950 - January 16, 2020