Michael C. Wood

Michael Charles Wood, Jr., 48, of Prosperity, died July 26, 2023 at Prisma Health Richland Hospital.

Born on June 14, 1975 in Atlanta, GA, he was a son of Marilyn Jernigan Wood and the late Michael Charles Wood, Sr.

Michael was a 1998 graduate of Newberry College where he played football. He served on the board of the Newberry Soil and Water Conservation District, and was a member of Wightman United Methodist Church. He further served his community through its youth, having been a Boy Scout leader and a youth baseball coach.

He served with the Newberry Police Department since 2003. In 2017, he earned the rank of Lieutenant. He loved serving his community. He organized the Walk and Talk Community Outreach Health Initiative and was awarded the Life Saving Award and the “ADP” Award from the city of Newberry. Michael loved his family and his police family dearly.

He is survived in addition to his mother of Aiken, by his wife, Jennifer Elizabeth Wood; two sons, Brandon Wood and Alexander Wood; a brother, William Wood of Aiken; father and mother-in-law, David and Karen Hughes of Newberry; a niece, Jennifer L. Wood of Aiken; brothers-in-law, Steven Alexander, Chad Alexander, and John Hughes; a sister-in-law, Amy Hughes; and special brothers-in-blue, Richard Mercer and Adrian Navarrete.

Services with honors will be conducted at 10:00 AM Monday, July 31, 2023 at Wiles Chapel on the campus of Newberry College by the Rev. Todd Johnson. The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon from 4:00 until 7:00 PM at the McSwain-Evans Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Serve and Connect, 1721 Saunders Street, Columbia, SC 29201.

Honorary pall bearers will be Adrian Navarette, Richard Mercer, Francisco Torres, Jackie Swindler, Craig Bowers, Kevin Atkins, Chief Kevin Goodman, Capt. Jay Brogdon, Maj. Michael Kennedy, Danny Remian, and Jodie Gaston.

The recording of Michael's service can also be viewed at the link here.