Eleanor A Hooten

Eleanor Ann Woodard Hooten was born November 5, 1935, to the late John Wesley Woodard Sr. and Emma Ann Newsom Woodard. She passed away peacefully at home in her sleep at age 89. Eleanor was the central figure in the lives of her family and friends. She was Mom, Auntie, Granny, “Ham,” sister, and friend. Her home was the one everyone came to for the best food, words of wisdom, comfort, care, and laughter. If you were in need, Eleanor was the first to offer aid. Caring for others was her natural disposition, and, as such, she worked as a healthcare aide until she retired at the age of 81.

Eleanor’s family was always her focus. She loved being surrounded by her children, many grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends. In her home with her family is where she was happiest. But if you were coming by, you better call first – cause Eleanor was always on the go. Her grandchildren would say, “Granny is always busy.” And she was -- busy cooking, taking care of others, exercising, visiting friends or going to church. She was educated in the public school system and worked tirelessly to provide opportunities for her kids.

A testimony that she liked to give about the goodness of God was from the flood of 2010. She was returning home by herself in her car when the street became a rapid, raging river. The car was stopped in all the water. She didn’t know what to do until she heard God say, “Step out.” She listened, stepped out of the car and climbed up on top of it. She was missing for over five hours, and the family was worried and frightened. The song “Wade in the Water” came to her mind. Then she prayed and not long after that the rescue boat found her. This is the story that she always told to let everyone know that God saves and is there in your time of trouble. She quoted Matthew 28:20 that says, “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Eleanor was preceded in death by her four brothers and sister – John Woodard Jr., Wade Woodard, Thomas Woodard, Gale Woodard, and Sylvia Lane; husband John T. Hooten, and her son Ricky Woodard. She is survived by her loving children: sons, Caesar (Barbara) Woodard, Ken (Jennifer) Woodard; daughter, Sharon Peters; nieces, Shirley Smith, Carolyn Jones, Vella “Darlene” (John) Johnson, Cynthia (Risharde) Applewhite, Emma (Wayne) Taylor; nephews, Fred (Faye) Woodard, Thomas (Betty) Woodard, Jr.; and a host of beloved grandchildren, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and close friends – Barbara White, Attorney Hubert Crouch, Dr. Decatur Rogers, and Geraldine Stanford.