It was a cold stormy night in Petal, MS when Viv was born to Henry and Florence Wood on Stephens Street. Big brother Henry Ray was disappointed at first she wasn't a brother.  When Viv was 3 years old the family moved to Laurel where she attended Laurel public schools. After graduating from George S Gardiner High School in 1954 she attended Jones Jr. College in Ellisville. She continued her education at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg receiving her B.S in 1958, her M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling in1963 and her D.Ed. in Educational Administration and Supervision in 1972.

While working at her pharmacy job in Laurel, Viv meet the love of her life, Jack Gunn in the summer of 1958. They both began their long careers in education that fall in the Jones County School system at Glade Elementary. Her career of educating and counseling of Mississippi students spanned 32 years and included teaching in Jones, Jackson, Lamar, Lauderdale and Hinds counties. She retired in 1992 as Central Office Administrator for Clinton Public Schools.

Vivia married Jack Gordon Gunn on April 4, 1959 and they moved to Ocean Springs later that year. The Gunns moved in 1972 to Clinton where they lived until their deaths. They were members of First United Methodist Church of Clinton.

Viv was a member of several professional honor societies and organizations of which she served in leadership roles of some. These included Kappa Delta Pi, Mississippi Association of School Administrators, American Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, past president of Mississippi Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development and vice-president of Mississippi Association of Assistant Superintendents and Council of Public Schools Education Directors and Assistant Superintendents, vice-president and president of Clinton Association of Retired Teachers.

Upon their retirement in 1992 the Gunns cared for their surviving parents and widowed aunts until their deaths. They also enjoyed travels with friends and family, playing bridge with friends, and entertaining their two grandchildren Abigail and Blanton.  Viv was also a member of several social clubs and served as president of the Clinton Town Club. She also volunteered at the Clinton Welcome Center with her good friend Kay Farmer from its opening through the winter of 2023. They could be seen dressed alike on certain holidays. Before that she volunteered at the Clinton Nature Center. Vivia was a superb cook and made the best cornbread dressing. She was so often asked to share her recipes she had a cookbook of her recipes printed for family and friends.

Vivia was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 60 years Jack Gordon Gunn, infant son Jack "Jay" Gordon Gunn, Jr., her parents Henry Ross Wood and Florence Martin Wood and her brother Henry Ray Wood.

Vivia leaves son Mark Gordon Gunn, M.D. and his wife Susan Sullivan Gunn M.D.  of Oxford; grandchildren Elizabeth Abigail Gunn and Blanton Gordon Gunn of Oxford; nephews Henry Ray "Ray Ray" Wood, Brian Adkins of Brandon, and Todd Adkins, M.D. and his wife Natalie and their children Ryan and Anna of Ridgeland; niece Lynne Wood Moore and her husband Adam and their children Cole and Madison of Kalaheo, Hawaii; and first cousins Peggy Carpenter of Brandon and Patricia Sessions of Prentiss. She also leaves her two beloved tabby cats Charlie and Sam.

Family would like to thank her competent caregiver Elsie Hughes, who made it possible for Viv to remain in her home with her cats and family during her last illness.

Visitation will be Monday, June 5, 2023, from 4-6 pm with a short memorial following at Wright and Ferguson in Clinton, MS.  Following a graveside service at 11am on June 6 at the Pachuta Cemetery in Pachuta, MS, Viv will be laid to rest next to Jack and Jay.

Viv enjoyed and appreciated her Wednesday night meals delivered by the First United Methodist Church of Clinton, so in lieu of flowers family suggest donations be made to the church marked for the Wednesday night meal program.