Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada for Mr. Sykes Wood, 91, of Grenada, who died on Sunday, July 21. A private family burial with military honors followed in Smith Cemetery in the Rosebloom Community of Tallahatchie County. Dr. Jim Nunnelee officiated. The family received friends from 2 p.m. until service time on Saturday, July 27, at McKibben and Guinn.
Sykes was born on Feb. 5, 1933, in Calhoun City, the son of the late Joseph Vandiver Wood and Ivy Baker Wood. He honorably served our country in the United States Army Reserve. A man of unwavering dedication, Sykes knew the value of hard work and instilled those same values in his children and grandchildren. A skilled electrician, Sykes owned and operated Sykes Wood Electric in Grenada for more than 40 years. His commitment to his work was only surpassed by his love for his family.
Sykes was a devoted member of First Baptist Church in Grenada. He enjoyed vegetable gardening and greatly enjoyed sharing the vegetables that he grew each year with his friends and family. He was also a cattleman and enjoyed spending time outdoors on his farm tending to his cattle. Sykes took great pride in being a devoted caregiver for his precious wife as well as his sisters and parents in their final days. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
In addition to his parents, his wife and the love of his life, Janie Chapman Wood, and three sisters, Oleda Simpson, Lanelle Couch and Charlene Edmondson, preceded Sykes in death.
Survivors include, his daughters, Leta Lanell Wood of Nashville, Tenn., and Anita Jo Byrd (Joe) of Jackson, Tenn.; two grandchildren that he adored, Courtney Elizabeth Byrd and Charles Lambert Byrd, along with other loved ones, which include Debbie Guthrie, Ashley Nicole Roebuck (Owen Roebuck, Baron Roebuck and Tyler Egbert), Sue Ann Edmondson Teer, Austin Kinsey, Kaitlyn Kinsey Foster (Zane), Billy Joe Couch and Jimmy Couch as well as a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Charles Lambert Byrd, Joe Henry Byrd Jr., Pat Golding, Austin Kinsey, Dr. Benjamin Lambert and Tim Turner honored Sykes by serving as pallbearers and carried him to rest in Smith Cemetery. Carl Clark, Marshall Wade Estes, Bobby Heath, Tommy Hudson, Brent Mims, Brooks Moss and Bobby White served as honorary pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to the Smith Cemetery Fund or First Baptist Church in Grenada.
Online condolences can be expressed to the family at www.mckibbenandguinn.com
McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada was in charge of arrangements.
