Mill Spring, NC- Mary “Melba” Melvelene Wood, 83, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014 in Mission Hospital in Asheville, N.C.

Born in Taylorsville, N.C., she was the daughter of the late Elsie Roberts. Mary retired from Stonecutter Mills in Mill Spring, N.C. She was a loving mother and grandmother. She loved growing flowers, quilting, playing softball and basketball and her pets. She was of the Baptist faith. Mary was proud of her Native American heritage.

Surviving are three sons, Maurice Wood of Forest City, N.C., Ronnie Wood (Nina) of Lake Lure, N.C., and Gordon Wood (Teresa) of Spindale, N.C.; six daughters, Linda Jolley (Mike) of Mill Spring, N.C., Kathy Biddix (Jerry) of Woodfin, N.C., Arlene Smith (Jim) of Sunny View, N.C., Joy Ruff (Phillip) of Mill Spring, N.C., Cindy Bates (Jerry) of Mill Spring, N.C., and Vicki Wood of Mill Spring, N.C. Also surviving are nine grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5, 2014 in the McFarland Funeral Chapel, Tryon, N.C., with Rev. Jerry Jackson, Mr. Chris Melton, and Rev. Gerry Locklear officiating.

The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. prior to the service.

Burial will follow the service in Polk Memorial Gardens, Columbus, N.C.

Memorials may be made to Native American Mission Fund Ministries, 3232 Hendersonville Hwy, Pisgah Forest, N.C. 28768.

An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com

McFarland Funeral Chapel

Tryon, NC