Uncrowned Community Builders

Nan McCarley Wood was the youngest of four children born to Mabel and Belton McCarley on August 26, 1929 in Buffalo, New York. Her parents recognized the worth of an education and encouraged all of their children to achieve their goals. With her familyââ?¬â?¢s support, Mrs. Wood completed her education in the Buffalo public schools, graduated from Buffalo State College with a B.S. in elementary education in three years, 1956-1959, and later earned a masterââ?¬â?¢s degree in elementary education.

Mrs. Woodââ?¬â?¢s first teaching assignment commenced with second graders at School 6 and a year later sixth graders. During her tenure at School 52 as a fifth grade teacher, she accepted the additional responsibility of a supervising teacher who trained student teachers from Buffalo State College. Following this position, she began her administrative tenure as assistant principal at Fillmore Middle School. In 1972, Mrs. Wood, accepted the position of principal at School 53, which had 1200 students by 1987, the largest enrollment of any elementary school in Buffalo.

Under her guidance, many of the students at School 53 came to understand the concept of education and its ability to impact their futures. Through student travel excursions in the United States, Canada and Europe, Mrs. Wood and a dedicated cadre of teachers supplemented the studentsââ?¬â?¢ academic studies and broadened their views of the world. Today many of the students have professional careers as nurses, teachers, doctors and social workers.

Mrs. Woodââ?¬â?¢s parents were among the founding members of St. John Baptist Church which was organized in 1927. She was born into the church and as an active member of St. John, Mrs. Wood served in the Sunday school, the pastorââ?¬â?¢s aide, the missionary society and the Bells of St. John. For many years, she narrated the United Voices of St. Johnââ?¬â?¢s Fourth Sunday night musicals and biennial concerts. She loved the church that her uncle, Rev. Burnie C. McCarley, founded and she had fond memories of her first after school job as a junior secretary to Pastor McCarley. Using a manual typewriter, she eagerly, if not skillfully, typed some of his weekly Sunday sermons.

Mrs. Nan Wood and the late John David Wood were the proud parents of five children: Reverend J. Darryl Wood, Lauren Ducceschi, the late Dennis Wood, Minister Linda Parker, and Laina Kennedy; four of them earned Bachelorââ?¬â?¢s degrees in their respective fields. Dedicated to the education of children, Mrs. Wood and her daughter, Lauren, were the first black mother and daughter to become principals of elementary schools in Buffalo.

Determined to continue the family legacy of educational achievement, Mrs. Wood instituted the Belton and Mabel McCarley College Scholarship Program in 2003 to provide financial assistance for college students from St. John Baptist Church and the community at large.

Over the years, Mrs. Wood supported the efforts of the local chapter of NAACP and the Urban League and she served on the St. John Baptist Church McCarley Memorial Foundation. In recognition of her commitment and service in education, she was the recipient of numerous awards including the P.U.S.H for Excellence Award, 1973 Black Educators Association Educator of the Year Award, RIT Distinguished Teacher Recognition Program Award, and the United Voices of St. John Distinguished Service Award. Still active in her retirement, Mrs. Wood volunteered as an ombudsman at the Deaconess Skilled Nursing Center until her death on May 22, 2007.