Toby Wood, 75, born March 26, 1936, in Greenville, MS, passed away on July 23, 2011, in Saucier.
Mr. Wood was preceded in death by his wife, Treva Nell Wood; his parents Alice and Tobe Wood; and his sister, Alie Ann Fant.
He is survived by his daughters, Tammy Moore of Saucier, and Tracy Alfonso and her husband Terry of Saucier; five grandchildren, Toby Collier, Zachary Moore, Allie Alfonso, Trevar Alfonso, Caleb Toby Alfonso; and two great-grandchildren, Joshua Moore, and John Moore.
Toby was a man of honor who loved the Lord, his country, and his family. His life was devoted to serving others through his military service and extensive law enforcement career. He began with the Greenville Police Dept. where he set records with arrests and solved several high profile case. He then became Chief of Police in the cities of Belzoni and Pearl. In 1973 and 1974 he served as president of the MS Chiefs of Police. Toby stood for Civil Rights in the MS Delta by fighting the KKK earning the respect of the black community. He attended The Federal Bureau of Narcotics School in Washington D.C. and The Southern Police Institute in Louisville, Ky. He was a member of The International Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association. He was ahead of his time with his efforts to help keep kids off drugs by speaking to youth groups all over the country on the dangers of drugs. In the early 1970's he helped to write the drug laws for the state of MS. He also pushed for the formation of the MS Bureau of Narcotics.
After retiring from law enforcement, he owned Wood Investigative Services and DST America. In his last years, Toby lived his life in the country, riding his tractor, loving to help the neighbors by cutting their yards. He was most happy being Paw Paw and spending all his time bringing joy to his grandchildren and all those around him.
A great man has gone to be with the Lord and his beloved wife Treva. They spent 43 years together on earth and now have eternity with each other. He will be sadly missed by his family, friends, and church family.
The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 27, 2011, at 12:30 PM at Extended Hands Assembly of God, on Shaw Rd., in Saucier. Visitation will be from 11:00 AM until service at 12:30 PM. Burial will follow at Gulf Pines Memorial Gardens, Long Beach.
The RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, Gulfport, is in charge of arrangements.