JOHN H. WOOTEN SR.
Died Jan. 15, 2007
John H. Wooten Sr., a dedicated humanitarian, died Monday, January 15th at Wayne Memorial Hospital, Goldsboro, NC. Mr. Wooten spent his adult life in service to the Goldsboro community as an educator, politician, and civic leader. He was a graduate of the Goldsboro City Schools and received B.S. and M.S. degrees from North Carolina and Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A & T) in Greensboro, NC. He was a doctoral candidate at Duke University, Durham, NC. During his career in education, he was one of 26 high school principals selected to travel and study high school education in Russia, Romania,Yugoslavia, Denmark, and Bulgaria. In addition, he was one of two North Carolinians appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to serve on the White House Commission for Education.
Mr. Wooten served his country admirably in the United States Army from June 1944 to May 1946. He was a member of the Army Reserves from May 1946 to May 1949. As an employee of the Goldsboro City Schools, he served as a science teacher and as principal of Dillard High School. With the merger of Goldsboro City Schools and Wayne County Schools, he served as supervisor of instruction and as assistant superintendent for curriculum. He was also employed at the Wayne Community College as an instructor and at the Consolidated Cigar Corporation in Connecticut as recruiter for youth workers and a youth camp director.
Mr. Wooten was a life-long member of the First African Baptist Church, Goldsboro, NC, where he served as chairman of the Deacon Board, Vice-Chairman of the Finance Committee and a Sunday School teacher. He organized the Laymen's League for the church and served as its first president. He was also a member of the Usher Board and the Male Chorus.
Mr. Wooten was a member of Phi Alpha Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity in Goldsboro and was Keeper of Finance for the Chapter. He was also past Basileus of Nu Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, past Worshipful Master for the C. S. Brown Lodge, a life member of the NAACP, and a member of Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Delta Kappa, and the North Carolina Association of Educators.
Mr. Wooten served on the Board of Trustees of the NC A & T State University and as its vice-chairman and secretary. He served on the Board Search Committee for a new chancellor and was national president of the school's alumni association. He served on the Board of County Commissioners for 12 years and was its first minority chairman. He also served on the Executive Committee of the Global Transpark Development Commission, the Board of Directors of Triangle Bank, the Board of Directors for Wayne Memorial Hospital and Wayne Health Corporation, the Salvation Army Advisory Board and was the first chairman of the Goldsboro Redevelopment Commission.
Among the numerous awards and citations received by Mr. Wooten are the Good Government Award given Wayne County Young Democrats in honor of Bob Futrelle, the Neuse River Counsel of Governments for Outstanding Commissioner of the Year, the Wayne County Redevelopment Appreciation Plaque, the Board of Directors for Wayne Health Corporation and Wayne Memorial Hospital, Inc. for leadership as a member of the Finance, Nominating, Building and Grounds and Quality Assurance Committees, the Dr. S. B. McPheaters Award for outstanding contributions to the Mental Health Association of Wayne County, Omega Man of the Year for North and South Carolina and the Omega Outstanding Achievement and Service Award in the area of Education.
Mr. Wooten was preceded in death by his parents, William Wooten and Lizzie Hooks Wooten. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Ernestine Whitted Wooten of the home; a son, John H. Wooten, Jr. (Georgetta); and a daughter, Nancy Wooten Coor (Antonio); an adopted daughter, Shannon Whitted Simmons (William); a granddaughter Pamela Wooten Spencer (Abram, III); and two great-granddaughters, Abrianna Spencer and Alysse Spencer.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 18, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at the First African Baptist Church, 803 East Harris Street in Goldsboro, NC. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the scholarship fund at First African Baptist Church.
(Written & Paid by the Family)
Published in Obituaries on January 17, 2007 2:02 PM