Alfred Eugene Wood, 85, of Mechanicsville, MD passed away peacefully on July 14, 2024 in his home on the farm that his great grandmother bought in 1916.
He was the son to the late Sidney M. Wood Sr. and Mildred Ann Pilkerton Wood. As a child, he grew up on Forest Hall Farm in an 18th century Georgian Colonial house helping the family to grow tobacco.
At an early age, Alfred honed the skills needed to raise and produce an oversized garden that created a produce stand called "Plantation Produce" in the 1970's and 1980's. He then moved on to planting apple trees and ran "Plantation Apples" from 1985 to 2001. He continued his oversized garden well into his eighties, generously giving extra produce to his family and friends, as well as to the Mt. Zion Food Pantry where he often volunteered his time.
In April of 1960, he married Mary Jean Grove at Immaculate Conception Church in Mechanicsville. Together they raised six children as Alfred worked fifty-two years as a meat cutter with Safeway and McKay's Grocery Stores. They were married for 47 years until Jean's passing. Alfred married Barbara Jean Swartz in 2009.
Alfred is survived by his wife, Barbara Jean Wood of 15 years; his children Thomas Wood (Cheryl) of California, MD; Joe Wood (Vicki) of Troutdale, VA; Robert Wood (Lisa) of West Oraville, MD; Jason Wood (Sandra) of Mechanicsville, MD; Loretta Moats (Walter) of Cheraw, SC; 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his children's mother, Mary Jean Wood; daughter, Brenda L. Manzie; and grandchildren, Christopher and Taylor.
The family will receive friends for Alfred's Life Celebration on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with prayers celebrated at 7:00 p.m. at Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, 41590 Fenwick Street, Leonardtown, MD 20650. A funeral service will be celebrated by Rev. Corey Sharpe on Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. in Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, 27108 Mt. Zion Church Road, Mechanicsville, MD 20659. Interment will follow at Mt. Zion Cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers will be Alfred's sons Robert Wood, Joe Wood, Jason Wood, Tommy Wood, and grandsons James Wood and Mike Wood.
Memorial contributions may be made in Alfred's name to Hospice of St. Mary's, PO Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 or Mechanicsville Volunteer Rescue Squad, PO Box 15, Mechanicsville, MD 20659.