The Chemistry Was Right

Written By: Marlene Osteen | Issue: August - 2022

Jody Lovell was about to start a new chapter in her life.She had just completed post graduate studies as a lawyerat Oxford and was moving from London to Atlanta to workfor the prestigious law firm King & Spalding. And she waseagerly looking forward to her new residence – a condo in ParkPlace, home to Elton John.Married once before, Jody recognized that the only thing miss-ing in this idyllic scenario was someone to share her excitingfuture. It was 1995, and the internet was still in its nascent days– years away from a place where relationships were created.People generally met on blind dates.She was mulling all this over with a colleague when her friendremarked that she was pals with a guy whose wife had died theyear before. She would see if he might be ready to start datingagain. 48-year-old Wood Lovell was the father of two boys andthe owner of a real estate company that traded in apartmentcomplexes. He was, as it turned out, ready for a match up.And so, their story moves on to their first date at a trendyrestaurant in Atlanta’s Virginia Highlands neighborhood –during which, as it was told to me, “We immediately fell in love.”Jody recalls that “He was so handsome and kind. The chemis-try felt right.”Wood speaks of that first date with affection, “I knew rightaway this was the kind of woman I wanted to marry. She hadeverything I wanted in a partner – a great sense of humor,intelligence, great looks. It was a fantastic first date and wewere tight from then on.”As it happened, Jody beat out what she refers to as the “cas-serole carrying crowd” – the bevy of Atlanta divorcees in hotpursuit of Wood, one of the rare bachelors in town.Jody claims that it was really her status that won the day – “nochildren, no pets, in short, no baggage.” (“Not so,” says Wood.)Within a year the relationship became, as Wood said,“very serious.”But his main concern was his sons, his foremost priority. Andso, it wasn’t until three years later, on a trip to Venice with Jodyand the boys, that Wood finally proposed. While Jody was out shopping, Wood told the two young men that he was thinking ofasking her to marry him, and they responded enthusiastically,“You would be crazy not to.”That evening on the Piazza San Marco under a moonlit sky ona summer evening, orchestras played in the background andcouples milled about while Wood proposed.They wed In December 1999, with Wood’s sons officiatingas co-best men, at a small ceremony at Atlanta’s All SaintsEpiscopal Church.It was during their dating years that Wood started playing golf,and he and Jody began regularly visiting Highlands – eventu-ally buying a home on Flat Mountain. In 1999 they joined theCullasaja Club.The following year the Arvida Corporation sold the club to itsmembers, vacating their real estate office. Hearing the news,Wood was motivated, “Jody was traveling all the time and I hadbeen doing the same thing for 35 years. So, I decided to makea play for the real estate office, and they turned the keys over tome.” They moved to Highlands full time, and within a few daysJody joined Wood in the office.In 2008 Sotheby’s was searching for a company to representtheir brand and selected Jody and Wood. From their start in2000 with a staff of three, they now employ 36 brokers. It’s anaccomplishment they cite as a demonstration of the strength oftheir marriage.“I am proud of the fact that we came up here not knowinganyone and through work and friendship we were able to build astrong company with incredible people,” Jody said. “We are oneof the few couples that can live and work together 24/7.”Wood describes life in Highlands as the most joyous time of hislife, “Every day we get up and pinch ourselves. We can’t believewe live here and have made so many great friends. Highlandsoffers so much, the people who come to the Plateau are some ofthe nicest and most genuine people in the world and we get tomeet them.”Their sons, attorneys with a total of five children between them,visit frequently from their homes in Raleigh and Atlanta.by Marlene Osteen