Final farewell to an honored public servant

On Sunday, February 14, after 96 years of life that contained devotion to family, city, and country, Chief Ernest Wood was laid to rest at the Magnolia Park Cemetery located at 205 South Pleasant Hill Road, in Warner Robins, following his homegoing service at Central Baptist Church.

The chief was born and subsequently raised in Gainesville, Georgia, and joined the military as a teenager in 1944 to serve in the United States Navy. He served in the Pacific until 1946, and then provided service to the Boca Raton Air Force Base as Assistant Fire Chief.

In 1959, Chief Wood became the very first fire chief for the City of Warner Robins, and built the department from the ground up, from 10 firefighters to 140, and from one fire department in the city to four. After 27 years of dedicated service to the city of Warner Robins, Wood retired having had three firefighters he trained become fire chief in their own cities. He brought the city’s insurance classification from a Class 10 to a Class 3, started a number of programs designed to instill education and awareness across multiple topics and served on multiple boards and associations.

Chief Wood enjoyed nearly 75 years of marriage to his wife, who survives him. During their time together, they became the leaders of a family that included their four children, 13 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.

At the start of the service, after the family of Chief Wood took their reserved seats, prayer and Scripture were provided by lead pastor of First Baptist Church, Reverend Casey Matthews. A recording of Gia Graddy, Chief Wood’s granddaughter, singing, “It is Well,” was played, and then Dr. Owen Bozeman, a local pastor, briefly spoke.

Another recording provided by Gia Graddy, this one of “Have Faith in God,” was played, and Reverend Chad Wood took the podium to speak about his grandfather.

“The city of Warner Robins is a great town, and I am proud to know that my grandfather helped build it. He was a leader, a servant, an entrepreneur, and a man of great wisdom,” Reverend Wood said.

After Reverend Wood left the stage, Peggy Dunston led the congregation in the singing of the Doxology. Shortly after, family and friends left the church for the burial site.

Margaret Wood, the chief’s widow, was presented with Chief Wood’s military burial flag, a gift given to the family on behalf of the Armed Forces and the President of the United States.

Also present at the burial was an Honor Guard from the Warner Robins Fire Department, as well as many firefighters who were there to honor Chief Wood. During the service, the traditional ringing of the bell rang out across the cemetery, symbolizing the completion of Chief Wood’s service to the Warner Robins Fire Department.

As part of the official ceremony, over a radio, an unidentified firefighter said, “Chief Ernest Wood has completed his duties, his tasks are done, all is well. This is the last alarm for Chief Ernest Wood.”

Just before the ceremony came to an end, the wails of fire trucks rang out across the city memorializing a life well lived and honorably served.

HHJ News