Michael Lewis Wood

Michael Lewis Wood, JD passed away December 9, 2025, surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren. Mike was born on August 27, 1949 in Newport News, Virginia, the only child of Lorraine Shields Wood and Robert Randolph Wood, both of whom have preceded him in death.
He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 56 years, Mary Martha Stubbs Wood; by his daughters, Amy Wood Bernecker (Mark) of Williamsburg, VA and Rachel Wood Christie (Mark) of Dandy, VA; his four grandchildren, Adam Michael Bernecker, Maci Elizabeth Bernecker, Caroline Elizabeth Christie and Aubrey Catherine Christie.
Mike was known by many nicknames, but most fondly by “HoHo” which was given to him by his first born grandchild, Adam and “Buddy”, the term of endearment used by his youngest granddaughters, Caroline and Aubrey.
He was a 1967 graduate of York High School, a 1972 graduate of the College of William and Mary and a 1976 graduate of South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas. With the exception of law school, he was a lifelong resident of York County, VA.
Upon graduation from law school, he returned to York County where he was a sole practitioner for 36 years.
In 2008 Mike sustained a life changing spinal cord injury resulting in paralysis. He was confined to a wheelchair but continued to practice law and make Court appearances until retirement in 2012. Life wasn’t easy in a wheelchair, but it didn’t hold him back from attending every possible baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, gymnastics, swimming or cheering event of all four grandchildren. He was an avid fan of William and Mary football, holding season tickets for decades. While in high school he played guitar in a rock band and was a member of the golf team. He took great pride in the no-hitter he pitched in Little League. He was a member of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church and a former member of the York Lions Club where he forged many, very close life-long friendships.
His happy place was by the ocean in Kitty Hawk, NC. Though he could no longer walk the beach, hand in hand with Mary, picking up sea glass, he still always had a smile on his face as he drove his special ATV to the ocean where he shared time with his beach friends and soaked up all God’s creations.
His family sustained him through all the years of disability and we’d like to share with you the song he would sing with his grandchildren whenever it was time to say goodbye: “You are by Buddy, my Pal and my Friend. Whenever I see you I grin. I hope you will know, wherever you go, you are my Buddy, my Pal and my Friend.”
We are grateful that Mike is out of pain and finally able to run free in God’s Kingdom. Should you choose to remember him with a memorial donation, his favorite charity was St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN.
Please gather with us for a Memorial Funeral Service at Amory Funeral Home, Grafton Drive, Yorktown December 29, 2025 at 2:30 p.m.; followed by a Celebration of Life reception at Marlbank Recreation Center, Old Landing Road, Yorktown.