Beryl Elfleeda Wood was born on March 29, 1940, in Friendship District, Westmoreland, Jamaica, to Midora Miller and Charlie Smith. She was the seventh of eight children and attended Friendship Elementary School. After losing her mother at an early age, Beryl developed the strength, resilience, and hardworking spirit that characterized her life.

Beryl was the loving mother of seven children: Neville Smith (deceased), Glendon Johnson, Juliet Wood, Marvalee Wood (deceased), Rocky Wood, Wycliffe Wood, and Noreen Wood. Throughout her life, she worked diligently as a farmer, household helper, homemaker, and devoted mother.

Later in life, Beryl accepted the Seventh-day Adventist faith and married Flavius Wood. She embraced church life wholeheartedly, serving faithfully in the Hospitality and Dorcas ministries. After migrating to the United States in 2000 to live with her daughter, Juliet, she became a beloved member of the Calvary Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She participated in nursing-home visitation and became well known for generously sharing her much-loved sweet potato and cornmeal puddings.

Beryl had a remarkable ability to make everyone feel like family. Her home was a place of warmth, laughter, good food, and fellowship. She welcomed many “adopted” children and grandchildren into her heart and found great joy in cooking and baking for others.

Following a period of declining health related to complications of diabetes, Beryl passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 3, 2026, at Civita Rehabilitation Center in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

She was preceded in death by her children Neville and Marvalee; her sisters Zetti, Estelle, and Agnes; and her brothers Lloyd, Seaman, and Jasper.

Beryl leaves to cherish her memory her five surviving children: Glendon, Juliet, Rocky, Wycliffe, and Noreen; her sister, Mervie; six grandchildren—Sheldon, Mario, Christian, Denise, Dwayne, and Chrisanta; ten great-grandchildren; and a host of relatives, friends, adopted children, and grandchildren.

Beryl leaves a beautiful legacy of faith, love, caring, sharing, laughter, joy—and food. Her generous spirit, welcoming heart, and loving influence will remain forever in the lives of all who knew her.