Lois Ruth Cason Wooten

Lois Ruth Cason Wooten (Lois) passed away peacefully at home with her daughter present on August 3, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee. Lois was born April 28, 1929 in Dooly County, Georgia to Ellen Noble and Warren Whitis Cason. Her parents farmed and owned the local General Store and a shingle mill. Lois graduated from Dooly County High School and the University of Georgia with majors in English and Library Science. These early years began her lifelong love of her Georgia Bulldogs and sharing the Farm with those she loved.
Lois was Head Librarian at Northside High School in Atlanta when she met her “Sweetheart,” Frank Wooten, and they married in 1960. They enjoyed life in Atlanta before moving to Savannah in 1965 when Frank joined Southern Nitrogen Company (later becoming Kaiser Agricultural Chemical Company). Lois and Frank dedicated their time, talent, and energies to Savannah and the State of Georgia for decades as an extraordinary team, and she tirelessly continued her civic engagements after Sweetheart passed away in 2007.
Lois shared her talents with a long list of organizations and causes.
Education, the arts, and economic growth were some of her passions. She was the first woman appointed to the Savannah Economic Development Authority Board and to the Skidaway Marine Science Foundation, where she served as Vice Chair. She was a long serving member of the Savannah Airport Commission and a Trustee of the University of Georgia Foundation. Lois relished her work as a volunteer with the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens and its Friends of the Coastal Gardens support organization. Lois championed Savannah as an organizer for the 1996 Olympics. She worked hard in local and state political campaigns and for Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter in his successful presidential service.
Lois and Frank were devoted to their extended families and friends, many of whom they thought of as family. She loved people, loved life, and would often say “my life has been a holiday.” She had a kind word for everyone she encountered and could engage anyone with her storytelling for hours, whether they had the time or not. She gave advice frankly and with love.
Her grandchildren called her “Yo” and that name suited her so well that her family and friends started calling her Yo. After that, when she met new people, she’d say, just call me “Yo.”
Lois and Frank have one daughter, Ann Wooten Langston (Dudley) of Memphis, TN and two adored grandchildren, Francis Byron “Frank” Langston (Lauren) of Park City, UT, and Lois Kathryn “Katy” Langston (“Princess” to her Yo) of Memphis and Solana Beach, CA. She was thrilled to have a great grandson, Carter Richard Langston, son of Frank and Lauren, born June 17, 2024. Lois was preceded in death by her parents, Sweetheart, her beloved sister, Norma Cason Wilson Cheek, and her niece, Judith Cason Wilson.
The family is grateful for her dear friends and loving caregivers, Carolyn Hilliard in Savannah, and in Memphis, Mary Lois Stanback and Debra Williams, who gave Yo her latest nickname - “Georgia Peach.”

A service will be at the Friendship Church and Cemetery in Wilcox County, Georgia on Thursday, August 15 at 11 a.m. A memorial service will be at Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church, 429 Abercorn St, on Sunday, August 18 at 3:30 p.m., followed by a reception at The Chatham Club, 15 Liberty St, 14th floor.
The family requests that remembrances be sent to Church Health, online at churchhealth.org or by mail to 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 142, Memphis, TN 38104.

Canale Funeral Directors of Memphis, Tennessee in charge of arrangements.