Mr. James Wood, Jr. affectionately known as “Minnesota” was born to the late James and Jennie Wood on September 23, 1954 in Manhatten, NY. He departed his life on Friday, March 15, 2019 at Duke Regional Hospital after several years of declining health. Minnesota received his early education in Manhattan Public School System. Once moving to Durham, NC he attended Whitted Junior High School, Durham High School and he obtained his diploma from Hillside High School. Minnesota had a love for living life. He loved to travel and ride his motorcycle. He was well known in the Durham community. People loved and respected him. He was a single father and the one thing that he prided himself on was his children. Any conversation that you had with him he would always talk about how proud he was of them. James was preceded in death by his wife Dianne Wood; his mother, Jennie Wood; father, James Wood and daughter, Carsha Nichols. Surviving to cherish his memory are his children Tarcha Nichols, Yamako “CoCo” Wood, (Christie), Sybil Dianne Wood, Jamiette Wood Green (Quenton), and Malcolm H. Wood (RaeDean). His grandchildren Precious Boyd, Sam Nichols, Jamesha Nichols, Khyla Wood, Crystal Nichols, Yamako Wood, Jr, Malachi Wood, My’Tasha Nichols, Malcolm R. Wood, Jr and Zora Grace Green. One Uncle, Khalil Hanifa; mother-in-law Missouri Green along with a host of relatives and many, many friends all of which cherished and adored him.

Funeral service will be at Peace Missionary Baptist Church, 2608 NC Hwy 55, Durham, NC, will be on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, at 12:00 noon, visitation at 11:00 am.