Julia Heflin Wood November 17, 1928 – February 04, 2019 Share this obituary Sign Guestbook Julia Heflin Wood, affectionately known as “Judy” or “Nana,” 90, of Charlottesville, Virginia, peacefully departed this life on February 4, 2019. Born on November 17, 1928 in Paducah, Kentucky, Judy was preceded in death by her parents, James Truman Heflin and Laura Heflin Jones, her beloved husband Robert Aldine Wood, and a son, Barry Colin Wood. Judy is survived by four children, R. Craig Wood and wife Lisa; Kevin Wood Spady and husband Jim; Jaime C. Wood; and Scott C. Wood and wife Almarie; twelve grandchildren, Robert Wood (Claire), Emily Wood Luck (Steven), Ashley Wood, Marshall “Skip” Wood (Anne Collier), Rudy Salvatierra (Veronica), Laura Wood Moreland (Jack), Thomas Wood, Caitlin Wood Grimwood (Jack), Kelly Wood, Joshua Wood, Michael Wood, and Alex Spady; and six great-grandchildren, Adelyn, Braden and Cars Luck, Kate and Caroline Wood, and Mary Marshall Wood.
Judy’s greatest joy in life was her sprawling, loving family and all the shenanigans that went along with it. Judy graduated from Baylor University with a B.A. in Music as an accomplished performing pianist. She married Robert in 1950, and gave up her music career to raise five children.
But she never gave up her love for music. For years she taught piano lessons from home, and when she wasn’t teaching, she was playing. Then as her children advanced in school, she returned to higher education, earning a Masters degree from Old Dominion University.
She then launched a second career as a high school English teacher, a calling she pursued with as much dedication as she had poured into her music. When Robert died in 1988, Judy moved to Charlottesville to be closer to her children and grandchildren. For the next 20 years Nana’s house was a place of laughter, the smell of cookies baking, and all of the simple joys she loved so much.
She threw herself into church activities at Trinity Presbyterian Church. Since she never met a stranger, it was no surprise that she soon was hosting Bible studies in her living room, and calling on older friends who were less mobile but who loved lively company. Eventually she fell victim to Alzheimer’s Disease, and spent the last ten years of her life at Our Lady of Peace under the loving and watchful eyes of their dedicated staff.
Even as her memory and reason faded, her love and joy radiated to all who would spend a few minutes sitting with her. The light of her Savior shone through the ravages of her disease, and sustained her until He took her home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Trinity Presbyterian Church, 3101 Fontaine Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22903, or to Our Lady of Peace Christopher Center, 751 Hillsdale Drive, Charlottesville, VA, 22901.
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