LOUISBURG – Mary Sykes Wood, 70, of Lake Royale, died Monday, Sept. 8, 2008 at her home. Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, in the chapel of Strickland Funeral Home, with Rev. Kevin Byers officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. Burial will follow in White Level Baptist Church cemetery.

Mary was a daughter of the late Al Van and Sarah Carter Sykes. She was preceded in death by her husband, W.T. Wood; sisters, Elsie DiBendetto; Marjorie White and Ida Sykes; brother, Alvin Lee Sykes. Mary was a member of Bunn Baptist Church and the secretary of Pilot Baptist Church.

Surviving: her son, Bill Wood of the home; sisters, Kezia Griffin of Spring Hope, Jessie Johnson and Susie Ledford, both of Raleigh, Shirley Jackson of Wake Forest; brothers, David Sykes of Seaford, Va., the Rev. John Sykes of Norfolk, Va., Charles Sykes, Jimmie Sykes and Quesnel Sykes, all of Spring Hope.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bill Wood for his continued care, 173 Lake Royale, Louisburg, NC 27549. Arrangements are by Strickland Funeral Home, 103 W. Franklin St., Louisburg.