On Monday, October 25, 2021, Gwenoy Bufford Wood answered God’s call to come home. Gwenoy (Gwen) was the only child born to the late Rev. Dr. Edward E. (Mickey) and the late Joycelyn Bufford (Joy) on June 6, 1957, in Birmingham, Alabama. She was showered with love and affection by her parents and taught how to love and nurture others.
Gwenoy began her education in the Birmingham public school system and later attended Bethune Cookman College & Lambuth University. She moved around the country when her father received pastoral appointments in Los Angeles, California; Memphis, TN; Jamaica, New York; and Nashville, TN.
Gwenoy was first married in 1978 and to that union her son, Jamal Darrow, was born on November 28, 1979. She later divorced and as a single parent, she had the support of her parents, (Daddy Mickey and Grandma), grandparents, James Lawrence and Sallie Mae (Daddy & 2Mama) and a host of other family and friends in Birmingham who helped her nurture her son.
In the late 1980’s, Gwenoy lived in New York, where her father had been appointed Pastor of Brooks Memorial United Methodist Church. She met Derrick Wood, a single father of three (3) children in 1991 and they were married on March 7, 1992. They lived in New York until shortly after her father passed in 2019 when Gwenoy and Derrick moved to Nashville where they resided until her death.
While living in New York, Gwenoy was active with boys’ sports activities (Mule Mom), choir, bowling, dancing, fishing, swimming, and traveling. She loved to read and enjoyed scrabble digital word games. She was a member of Brooks Memorial United Methodist Church.
Gwenoy is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Derrick R, Wood; sons, Jamal (Rose) Darrow, Derrick R. Wood II; daughters, Marla R. Frazier and Derrese A. Wood (deceased); grandchildren, Jazelle Richards, Carmelo Darrow, Mycaiah Wood, My’Yanna Frazier, MySaunn Frazier; two aunts, 1 uncle; and many more children to whom she was affectionately known as Mama Gwen!
Other devoted relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the charity of your choice.
DUE TO COVID-19, A FACE MASK IS RFEQUIRED AND PLEASE KEEP SOCIAL DISTANCE IN MIND AT ALL TIMES.
Please send all Cards and condolences to the funeral home.
We will be streaming live on YouTube.
httpwww.youtube.comchannUcoHhJZtVk3GKc2ExDCJ23tA