Louise Speake Wood

Louise (Lou) Speake Wood, 79, of Clemson, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend passed away January 10, 2023.

Raised in Clinton, SC, she was the daughter of the late Jim and Myrtle Speake. Lou received her bachelor’s degree from Columbia College and master’s degrees from University of Virginia and University of South Carolina. She taught as a professor and served as a department head for many years in the Developmental English Department at Tri-County Technical College. After retiring from her position at Tri-County Technical College, she pursued a second career as a Guardian Ad Litem for vulnerable adults. She continued volunteering as a Guardian Ad Litem in her retirement. Lou was an active member of Seneca Baptist Church (SBC), where she sang in the sanctuary choir and performed as a member of Joy Singers, visiting local nursing homes in the upstate area.  She was formerly an active member of First Baptist Church of Pendleton, where she taught Sunday School and sang in the sanctuary choir.  In addition, Lou enjoyed playing bridge, hosting and facilitating Bible studies, and actively serving in various ministries at her church. Motivated by her love of music, she was also a faithful member of  the Greenville Chorale for over 30 years.

Lou was consistently a champion for the underdog. Through social service work, her teaching career and personal relationships, she never failed to support and encourage those she loved and even those she just met. With selfless love, she poured into others and never expected anything in return. She was her family’s greatest cheerleader, loving all of their differences and supporting every endeavor. To know Lou Wood was to know you were fully loved and seen. Her infectious joy overflowed to those around her.

Above all, Lou was a faithful ambassador of Christ, constantly pointing others to her Heavenly Father. She was dedicated to loving others so that they could receive a small glimpse of Christ’s love for them. Her life, a beautiful example of sacrificial love and advocacy for the forgotten, inspires those who knew her to move towards the broken and love unconditionally, with the love that Jesus has for us.

She is survived by her husband, Jim Wood; son, John Wood and wife Juliette of Knoxville TN; daughter, Rebecca Phillips and husband David of Greenville, SC; grandchildren, Abigail Wood, Caleb Wood, Anna Wood, Christina Phillips, Caroline Phillips, and Claire Phillips.

Lou was predeceased by her parents, brother, Gilbert Blakley, and sisters, Sarah Skenes and Elizabeth Wilbanks.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, January 15, 2023 from 1:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. at Seneca Baptist Church, 1080 S. Oak Street, Seneca, SC.

The funeral service will follow at 2:30 p.m. in the church sanctuary. Burial will be at Memory Gardens, Central SC following the service.

Due to Lou’s love of music, gifts can be made to the Greenville Chorale.  http://www.greenvillechorale.org

Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home is assisting the family.