Clabern “Clay” T. Wood, Jr., age 51, went to be with his lord and savior on November 27, 2025, surrounded by his wife and three children. Clay was born in Union, SC on July 5, 1974. He is the son of the late, Clabern T. Wood, Sr. and the late, Fannie “Jean” Anderson Wood. Clay was a graduate of Union County High School Class of 1992.

Clay loved serving his community and he did so by joining the Buffalo Fire Department Junior Firefighter program when he was 15 years old. He told the current Chief at that time that he was going to be the chief of that department one day and take his job. He achieved that goal at the age of 30. At the age of 31, he met his future wife, Vickie, and moved to Columbia, SC, leaving behind the community and fire department that he loved dearly, to marry her and help her raise their three children. Clay and Vickie had a special relationship that only few people find in their lifetime. Clay was a jokester and loved to make people laugh. He did not meet a stranger and had a smile and joke for everyone he met. Clay also had a love for fishing, hunting, and NASCAR.

Surviving is his wife of 20 years, Vickie Cartee Wood, of Columbia, SC, their three children, Brett Austin and his fiancée, Chelsea Thomas, Brandon Austin and his girlfriend, Mila Cooper, and Krysta “Dean” Cartee. Two precious grandchildren, Aiden Trimnal and Remi Thomas also survive Clay. Clay is also survived by a brother, Elbert Wood, and a sister, Susan Lankford and her husband, Robin, both of Buffalo, SC. Two nephews, Trevor Lankford, of Buffalo, SC, and Joshua Wood, of Lockhart, SC. Two nieces, Brooke Bright and her husband, Jeff, of Union, SC and Amber Wood, of Lockhart, SC. Clay also leaves behind two great-nieces and three great-nephews, a special childhood friend that he loved like a sister, Rachel Barber, and a host of in-laws that he loved very much. Clay leaves behind many brothers in the fire department and so many people he called friends over the years. To know him was to love him.

Clay was predeceased by his parents, also by a sister, Kimberly Michelle Wood and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Kenneth and Shirleen Cartee.

Clay’s Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 2:00 pm at Buffalo Fire Department, 132 Bailey Rd. Buffalo, SC 29321.