Jo-Ann Ragland Booker

Entered into eternal rest April 3, 2013, in the 83rd year of her age Jo-Ann Ragland Widney Booker, daughter of the late Rev. Charles Leonidas and Bertha Clay Ragland Widney of Charleston, SC. She was born Oct. 24, 1930, on the Domain of the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee, where her father served as rector of Otey Parish Church (Episcopal). She made her debut in Germantown (Memphis), Tennessee, and graduated St. Mary's Episcopal School in Memphis. She attended Memphis State University and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in English by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She subsequently earned a master's degree in elementary education from the College of Charleston. She was married Aug.28, 1954, in Columbus, Georgia, to the late William Edward Booker, III of Knoxville.

Jo-Ann's long career as an educator unfolded at Miss Mason's /Mason Preparatory School where she loved and educated generations of Charleston's children. She also directed Mason Prep's after-school program and was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma sorority. She inspired daughters Elizabeth and Nancy and granddaughter Laura to follow in her footsteps as educators.

A member for 50 years of St. Philip's Church (Episcopal) where her father served as assistant rector and priest-in-charge, Jo-Ann was active in the Episcopal Church Women and altar guild. She was an avid reader and devotee of the visual and performing arts. She traveled Europe extensively with family, branching out in recent years to destinations including Egypt, Morocco and Peru. An ardent Anglophile, she enjoyed many summer weeks in the company of dear friend and faithful navigator Louise Perry, meandering England's roads less traveled.

Jo-Ann was preceded in death by her beloved brother, Charles Leonidas Widney, Jr., of Beirut, Lebanon and New York City, a diplomat and international banker. Survivors include: son William Edward "Beau" Booker, IV of Charleston; daughters Elizabeth Booker Altman of Jacksonville, NC, Nancy Booker Warren of Charleston and Bertha Booker of Charleston; grandchildren Philip Altman, Mary Altman, Laura Warren Osborn and Lindsay Warren; and great-grandsons Cameron Osborn and Connor Osborn.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 6, 2013 in St. Philip's Church (Protestant Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina), 142 Church Street, at 3:00 p.m.with interment following in the churchyard. Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR, INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to The Jo-Ann Booker Memorial Fund, Mason Preparatory School, 56 Halsey Blvd., Charleston, SC 29401.