By VICKI BROWN
A convoy of more than 50 wreckers, cars, big rigs and trucks left Parker Rhoden Funeral Home at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday to honor former Green Pond magistrate Richard Wood.
Wood died on Wednesday, August 25 at his residence in Green Pond. He was 75.
The truck, flatbed and big rig funeral convoy with flashing lights, was two miles long, as it passed through Walterboro and down Green Pond Highway, which was lined with mourners gathered along the roadway to show respect to Wood and his family.
A huge American flag was draped across the road to honor him.
Wood was born in Walterboro on October 28, 1945. He attended Walterboro High School, where he was captain of the football team. He graduated from high school on a Friday and, on the following Monday, he and his brother Donald opened Wood Brothers Store in Green Pond.
The brothers eventually branched out to include Wood Brothers Construction, Wood Brothers Wrecker Service, and Wood Brothers Inc.
In 1972, Wood, at the age of 27, became the youngest magistrate in the State of South Carolina. For 33 years, he continued in that capacity.
In September 2009, Wood received The Order of the Palmetto for his dedicated service to his community and state from then S.C. Governor Mark Sanford. The Order of the Palmetto is the highest civilian honor that the governor of South Carolina can confer upon a citizen. It is given in recognition of lifetime achievement and contribution to the state.
Sanford’s letter to Wood at the presentation said he was bestowing the honor on Wood “in recognition of all you have done to better our part of the world over the years,” the governor wrote. He went on to say, “It would be easy to point to specific accomplishments that merit the Order of the Palmetto, but in fact, your entire life and career have been marked by a level of commitment and achievement that brings enormous credit to our state. In Wood’s 34 years as a Colleton County magistrate,” Sanford wrote, “you have established a standard of excellence that is second to none, and your dedication to justice, equity and compassion have helped ensure that folks in Colleton County are well served by our legal system.”
Colleton County Judge Perry Buckner was also at that 2009 meeting. “Richard Wood has been one of the most dedicated and hard-working magistrates I have ever known,” said Buckner. “Colleton County has been fortunate to have one of its own use common sense and good judgment while providing justice to the citizens of Colleton County for over 30 years.
In an editorial from The Press and Standard on September 4, 2009, then then editorial staff of the newspaper remarked on Wood saying, “Mr. Wood’s contribution to the life of our county is a matter of record. But his contribution to the state of South Carolina is of a nature that will grow for years to come.”
Wood was also a charter member of the Green Pond Baptist Church and assisted the community as a charter member of the Green Pond Volunteer Fire Department.
Saturday’s convoy was made up of local wreckers and people who respected Wood and wanted to honor his memory.
“He was a good-hearted and hard-working man,” said Tim Pye of McClure’s Wrecker Service, who participated in the convoy. “He did a lot for the community. I used to go to his store. He was a friendly and caring person.”
