Woodson J. Savage, Jr., 91, of Bolivar, retired Attorney-at-law, died Thursday, January 5, 2006 at Jackson-Madison County Hospital.
Woodson was born in 1914 in Hardeman County, Tennessee, the son of Woodson Jasper, Sr. and Nina Eveline Campbell Savage. He had one brother, Casey Eugene, and one sister, Evelyn Savage Holmes, both deceased.
Woodson met Audrey Downer in Hickory Valley, Tennessee. In 1941, they were married in Hernando, Mississippi. Their married life began in Bolivar and continued there for 63 happy years until her death in June 19, 2004.
During his high school years in Bolivar, Woodson was known for his intelligence and friendliness. He was involved in a number of school activities such as public speaking and acting. During his senior year he served as class vice president and graduated as Salutatorian-Class of ’33. He attended the University of Tennessee Knoxville where he studied pre-law and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. After six years of study, he earned his “Doctor of Jurisprudence†degree in 1939. Shortly thereafter, his career as a Hardeman County attorney began. He practiced General Law because it included Chancery Court work, criminal, real estate, adoptions and divorces, farms, homes and land titles, etc. Several times he took cases as far as the Tennessee Supreme Court. He retired from his law practice in 1984 after serving for 44 years.
Woodson was well known throughout the area for his interest in weaving. He has woven dozens of coverlets in a variety of colors and designs on his floor loom. Other interests included woodworking and plastic gardening. He also enjoyed listening to and recording big band music. He and his wife traveled extensively throughout the world. Many artifacts of the Savage family can be seen at The Little Court House Museum in Bolivar, Tennessee where he and his wife Audrey were members of the Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities.
Woodson enjoyed membership in the Phi Delta Phi fraternity. He was a member of the Tennessee Bar Association; He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Bolivar; served as president of the Methodist Men’s Club; and was a teacher of the Men’s Bible Class.
Surviving Woodson J. Savage, Jr. of Bolivar, TN, are two sons, Woodson J. Savage, III of Cordova, TN, and Kenneth Eugene Savage, Sr. of Bolivar, TN; two grandsons, Kenneth Eugene Savage, Jr. of Eads, TN, and Woodson J. Savage, IV of Atlanta, GA; and one great-grandson, Quentin Raynor Savage of Laconia, TN, who all miss him dearly.
Graveside Services were held at 2 PM Saturday, January 7, 2006 in Union Cemetery, Bolivar, Tennessee, with the Reverend David Cooper officiating.