Claudine Kennedy-Wood

Claudine Kennedy-Wood

September 25, 1934 – March 15, 2025

Rachel Claudine Kennedy-Wood passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 15, 2025. Claudine, affectionately known as “Dink” or “Dinky”, was loved by all. She was a lifelong member of the Deep Run community, living in the triangle for most of her long life. She was married on August 28, 1949, to Billie Kennedy, until his death on November 29, 1987. God blessed their union with four children. On June 30, 2001, she married Edward Wood. During their marriage she enjoyed the love of stepchildren and his other immediate family members. Ed passed away on June 9, 2008.

Her favorite pastimes were studying God’s Word, being with her family, and music. Claudine has been a member of Deep Run Original Free Will Baptist Church since childhood. Her church family was very dear to her heart. When one lives to be 90 and active in the church for more than 80 years, many roles have been performed. She had been a Sunday School teacher, Bible School leader, choir member, and Women’s Auxiliary member. She held many leadership roles within those groups. Her current Sunday School class members were her best friends, and she cherished these relationships for years.

She was the last living member of the Deep Run Golden Girls. This group of ladies had been in the same class throughout their school years and remained lifelong friends. This group loved to travel, enjoyed cruises, weekends by the lake and shopping. If they went anywhere together, they had fun.

Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were her reasons for living. She loved spoiling each of them in their favorite ways. With her children, she taught them responsibility, kindness, and charity. With her grandchildren, she made chores fun and prepared their favorite foods and gave the best back rubs in town. Her last few years have been filled with the births of great-grandchildren. She beamed when anyone of their names were mentioned.

Claudine is preceded in death by her husbands, Billie Kennedy and Edward Wood; her mother, Ethel Williams, grandmother Penie Williams; and some very special lifelong friends. She is survived by a daughter, Brenda Kennedy Raynor; three sons; Gary Kennedy (Jeanette), Billy Ray Kennedy (Connie), and Walter Kennedy (Teresa); grandchildren, Michael Raynor, Laura Raynor, Frederic Kennedy (Kaeli), Taylor Kennedy (Megan), Braxton Kennedy (Allison), Madison Kennedy (Daniel), Maggie Harper, and Anna Walters (George). In addition, she had the love of 13 great-grandchildren who gave her the best cuddles, Summer, Isaac, Jacob, Gideon, Silas, Elijah, Aurora, Mollie, Aubree, Kate, Perry, Davis, and Margaret; along with two special cousins, Shirley Griffin and Sula Riding.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, March 22, 2025, at Deep Run Original Free Will Baptist Church, 2390 John Green Smith Road, Deep Run. Visitation will be at 11:00 a.m., with the funeral to follow at 12:00 p.m. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Family members may be visited at her home, 2705 John Green Smith Road, Thursday and Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The family is requesting that all memorial gifts be given to her church. Make payable to Claudine Kennedy-Wood Memorial Fund, Deep Run OFWB Church, Attn: Bill Hawkins, 3556 Mark N Smith Road, Deep Run, NC 28525.

Arrangements entrusted to Howard-Carter Funeral Home, Kinston.