DAVID WAYNE PORTER

PICKENS — David Wayne Porter, 70, husband of the late Martha Powell Porter, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on April 13, 2026.

Born to the late Rev. Charles and Lois Nix Porter, David was a faithful member of Mountain Grove Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher and church treasurer.

In 1977, David began his firefighting career with the City of Pickens as a volunteer and then became a full-time firefighter. He later became fire chief and retired after 35 years of service.

He is survived by his brother, Melvin Porter; brother and sisters-in-law, Doris Garrett, Louise (Rev. Joe) Pace, Steve Powell, Forrest Powell, Bonnie Powell and Karen Powell; many nieces, great-nieces, nephews and great-nephews; one niece that he always said, “was the closest to a daughter,” Michele Pace Howard; and a beloved companion, Susan Kinsey.

In addition to his parents and wife, David was predeceased by sisters-in-law, Judy Porter and Millie (Albert) O’Donald; and brothers-in-law, Samuel, Gene and Carl Powell and Harold Garrett.

Honorary escorts were past and present members of the first responder family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Mountain Grove Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1440 Pickens.

The family received friends on April 15 at Dillard Funeral Home, with a funeral service the following day in the funeral home chapel.

The burial followed the service at Hillcrest Memorial Park with fireman monors.

The family will be at the home of his niece, Michele Howard.

Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the Porter family with their arrangements.

WILLIAM ‘LEON’ WOOD

PICKENS — William “Leon” Wood, 87, passed away on Monday, April 13 in Birmingham, Ala.

He was the son of the late George Nathan Wood and Elza Curry Wood.

He is survived by his wife, Frances (Fran) Haskett Wood, and his two sons, Lee Wood and Brian (Shari) Wood. He has two grandchildren, Matthew (Jessica) and Rebecca, two great-grandchildren, Elia and Nahai, and a brother, Anthony (Esther). Leon and Fran were happily married for 65 years and would have celebrated their 66th in two weeks.

Leon was born in Gwinnett County, Ga., in the Haynes Creek community. He graduated from Conyers High School in 1956 and worked at Callaway Mills in Milstead, Ga., for a short time. From there, he began his career as a draftsman with Southern Engineering Company in Atlanta and was part of an engineering team that mapped powerlines across several states. These mapping jobs eventually led him to Pickens, where he worked with the REA power system to map power lines in and around the Pickens County area. It was during this time that he met Fran, whom he often referred to as the love of his life.

While living in Decatur, Ga., he and Fran were active members of Avondale First