Obituary for Montrose Darden Wood
On January 1, 2023, the trumpets sounded, and the gates of heaven opened to welcome our dear sweet Mother home. That afternoon, our Mother and Queen, Montrose D. Wood, received her eternal crown and was ushered into eternal rest with our Lord and Savior. Montrose Darden Wood was born on November 2, 1932, the beautiful daughter of the late Joseph Fate Darden, Sr. and Lucille Mary Frances Griffin Darden, in Ahoskie, North Carolina. Montrose was preceded in death by her husband, Leo Wood, and her brothers, Eltrentrose L. Darden and Joseph F. Darden, Jr.
Montrose was raised in Norfolk, Virginia, and was a member of the United House of Prayer, which served as a steppingstone to her unyielding faith. A lifelong, fervent believer in Christ, she went on to join First Baptist Church of Norfolk and continued the tradition of Christian faith in her family. Montrose matriculated through Norfolk Public Schools, where she graduated from Booker T. Washington High School and attended North Carolina College at Durham, known today as North Carolina Central University.
In her earlier years, Montrose pursued various clerical occupations, including medical records management at Norfolk Community Hospital and clerk to the Norfolk Public School System. Her desire to be present for her children led her to entrepreneurship. She departed the traditional work force, forged out on her own, and opened her own business emphasizing the early education of young minds. Opening her business out of her home and with her license in hand, her goal was to provide an educational experience for children that would feed their minds in a safe, warm, and welcoming environment. With most of her parents being educators in either the Norfolk or Virginia Beach School systems, the bar was high for her to achieve her goal and…achieve it she did.
Montrose developed a well-rounded curriculum that mirrored what would today be called a Pre-K program. Setting up one side of the room as a classroom, children set at miniature desks for attendance, lessons of the day, recess, and home cooked balanced meals. Of course, the children also had mandatory “devotion” and “quiet” time. The same faith-based and educational beliefs she instilled in her own children were instilled in the children who were fortunate enough to walk through her doors. Montrose strongly believed that all children could learn and learn they did…she was a master teacher.
Her family used to joke her by saying that she was a “gypsy” in that she was always moving the family from home to home. The family thought their home on Plaza Trail was their last move; however, this was not the case. She had one more move in her when she packed up the house and moved the family and her business to the Fox Run area of Virginia Beach. This last move would lead her to be a trailblazer in the protection of home daycare businesses. Once she set up operation in her new home, the neighbors were not welcoming of her business. Unbeknownst to her, she was no longer protected by the grandfather clause for a home business and would have to seek a use permit from the planning commission and city council to continue operating her program. Numerous articles were written about Montrose and Leo Wood’s efforts to champion their right to maintain their home daycare business. After much fanfare, the City Council voted in favor of the use permit; she prevailed and was able to continue her goal of educating young minds, a career and legacy that lasted until 1990 when she retired.
To know Montrose was to know a unique and full personality. She accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior early in life. She would willingly share her beliefs with all who would listen, especially her children. Whenever, there was trouble or uneasiness, she would always say “have you prayed today?” All she wanted was for her children to have a relationship with God, which we all have to this day. She would often tell her grandson that she was proud of the way him and his wife were raising their little girls to love God. A lover of music, she frequently listened to gospel music during the day on her “Alexa.”
Montrose was very devoted to her family and very protective of those she loved, regardless of age. When she spoke, she meant what she said, and some would say she was unfiltered. She would often share her thoughts and opinions with you even if you didn’t want to hear it…but with love. Her grandchildren would often say, “Don’t’ ask her for her opinion if you don’t want to hear the truth.” Talking was indeed one of her strengths as she never met a stranger. We used to tell her that she would strike up a conversation with the vegetables in the store if they had a voice. Speaking of food, Montrose was a master in the kitchen! She enjoyed sharing her cooking talents with others and her recipes have been passed from generation to generation with love,” the secret ingredient.
She had a passion for all genres of music and would sometimes play the keyboard, a talent acquired early in life. Later, she developed a desire to play the guitar and like everything else she purchased several guitars. Montrose was always up on the latest innovations and gadgets and would purchase items that others had yet to acquire. Back in the late 1960’s she purchased our family’s first microwave oven. With the promise of being able to cook food faster, she eagerly attempted to bake a cake without reading the instructions. Let’s just say it was so hard, it could easily have been used as a weapon.
Montrose was creative on so many levels. Some would say she created “commode protection covers.” When taking her children on field trips, she would purchase plastic shower caps, cut an “X” in the middle, and place it on the seat to protect the child’s posterior from germs. Additionally, the children did not have to worry about washing their hands as she would prepare wipes in a plastic bag with water and oil, creating hand wipes for them to use that would prevent their hands from being “ashy.” Always the comedian, she would make the funniest comments with little to no effort. She was a natural.
Montrose leaves to cherish her precious memory her loving children: DeLynda Wood Wilson of Virginia Beach, VA, Monty Reginald Jones of Elizabeth City, NC, Dr. LeMonte A. Wood (Toni) of Las Vegas, NV, and Judith R. Wood of Virginia Beach, VA; six grandchildren: LaVah Wilson (Krystie), LaKeesha R. Wilson, LaShonda L. Carter (Waskin), LeMonte A. Wood, Jr., Alanna Wood, and Kaci Wood; two great-grandchildren: Jordyss S. Wilson and JayceLynn R. Wilson; special son-in-law, Jesse (Skip) Wilson, Jr., a loving cousin, Frances Giddens and family, sister-friend, Shirley George and family, extended family Ashleigh C. Turner and son Peyton, and a host of nieces, nephews, “bonus” grandchildren, relatives, and friends.
Montrose was raised in Norfolk, Virginia, and was a member of the United House of Prayer, which served as a steppingstone to her unyielding faith. A lifelong, fervent believer in Christ, she went on to join First Baptist Church of Norfolk and continued the tradition of Christian faith in her family. Montrose matriculated through Norfolk Public Schools, where she graduated from Booker T. Washington High School and attended North Carolina College at Durham, known today as North Carolina Central University.
In her earlier years, Montrose pursued various clerical occupations, including medical records management at Norfolk Community Hospital and clerk to the Norfolk Public School System. Her desire to be present for her children led her to entrepreneurship. She departed the traditional work force, forged out on her own, and opened her own business emphasizing the early education of young minds. Opening her business out of her home and with her license in hand, her goal was to provide an educational experience for children that would feed their minds in a safe, warm, and welcoming environment. With most of her parents being educators in either the Norfolk or Virginia Beach School systems, the bar was high for her to achieve her goal and…achieve it she did.
Montrose developed a well-rounded curriculum that mirrored what would today be called a Pre-K program. Setting up one side of the room as a classroom, children set at miniature desks for attendance, lessons of the day, recess, and home cooked balanced meals. Of course, the children also had mandatory “devotion” and “quiet” time. The same faith-based and educational beliefs she instilled in her own children were instilled in the children who were fortunate enough to walk through her doors. Montrose strongly believed that all children could learn and learn they did…she was a master teacher.
Her family used to joke her by saying that she was a “gypsy” in that she was always moving the family from home to home. The family thought their home on Plaza Trail was their last move; however, this was not the case. She had one more move in her when she packed up the house and moved the family and her business to the Fox Run area of Virginia Beach. This last move would lead her to be a trailblazer in the protection of home daycare businesses. Once she set up operation in her new home, the neighbors were not welcoming of her business. Unbeknownst to her, she was no longer protected by the grandfather clause for a home business and would have to seek a use permit from the planning commission and city council to continue operating her program. Numerous articles were written about Montrose and Leo Wood’s efforts to champion their right to maintain their home daycare business. After much fanfare, the City Council voted in favor of the use permit; she prevailed and was able to continue her goal of educating young minds, a career and legacy that lasted until 1990 when she retired.
To know Montrose was to know a unique and full personality. She accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior early in life. She would willingly share her beliefs with all who would listen, especially her children. Whenever, there was trouble or uneasiness, she would always say “have you prayed today?” All she wanted was for her children to have a relationship with God, which we all have to this day. She would often tell her grandson that she was proud of the way him and his wife were raising their little girls to love God. A lover of music, she frequently listened to gospel music during the day on her “Alexa.”
Montrose was very devoted to her family and very protective of those she loved, regardless of age. When she spoke, she meant what she said, and some would say she was unfiltered. She would often share her thoughts and opinions with you even if you didn’t want to hear it…but with love. Her grandchildren would often say, “Don’t’ ask her for her opinion if you don’t want to hear the truth.” Talking was indeed one of her strengths as she never met a stranger. We used to tell her that she would strike up a conversation with the vegetables in the store if they had a voice. Speaking of food, Montrose was a master in the kitchen! She enjoyed sharing her cooking talents with others and her recipes have been passed from generation to generation with love,” the secret ingredient.
She had a passion for all genres of music and would sometimes play the keyboard, a talent acquired early in life. Later, she developed a desire to play the guitar and like everything else she purchased several guitars. Montrose was always up on the latest innovations and gadgets and would purchase items that others had yet to acquire. Back in the late 1960’s she purchased our family’s first microwave oven. With the promise of being able to cook food faster, she eagerly attempted to bake a cake without reading the instructions. Let’s just say it was so hard, it could easily have been used as a weapon.
Montrose was creative on so many levels. Some would say she created “commode protection covers.” When taking her children on field trips, she would purchase plastic shower caps, cut an “X” in the middle, and place it on the seat to protect the child’s posterior from germs. Additionally, the children did not have to worry about washing their hands as she would prepare wipes in a plastic bag with water and oil, creating hand wipes for them to use that would prevent their hands from being “ashy.” Always the comedian, she would make the funniest comments with little to no effort. She was a natural.
Montrose leaves to cherish her precious memory her loving children: DeLynda Wood Wilson of Virginia Beach, VA, Monty Reginald Jones of Elizabeth City, NC, Dr. LeMonte A. Wood (Toni) of Las Vegas, NV, and Judith R. Wood of Virginia Beach, VA; six grandchildren: LaVah Wilson (Krystie), LaKeesha R. Wilson, LaShonda L. Carter (Waskin), LeMonte A. Wood, Jr., Alanna Wood, and Kaci Wood; two great-grandchildren: Jordyss S. Wilson and JayceLynn R. Wilson; special son-in-law, Jesse (Skip) Wilson, Jr., a loving cousin, Frances Giddens and family, sister-friend, Shirley George and family, extended family Ashleigh C. Turner and son Peyton, and a host of nieces, nephews, “bonus” grandchildren, relatives, and friends.