Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Georgia Raines Wooden |
| Birth date | August 10, 1946 |
| Birthplace | Prince George, Virginia |
| Parents | Linwood Raines and Florence Bell Raines |
| Guardians after mother’s passing | Sister Mildred R. Taylor and her husband Franklin Taylor, in Petersburg, Virginia |
| Spouse | Benjamin B. Wooden Jr. |
| Children | Mario Wooden (spouse Venita), Karen Huger (spouse Raymond), Bridget Wooden |
| Grandchildren | Rayvin Huger, Brandon Huger |
| Siblings | Lillian R. Simpson, Rebecca R. Richardson, Rev. Doris McCray |
| Church affiliations | Former member, Union Baptist Church, Spring Grove, Virginia; attendee, Second Baptist Church, Richmond, Virginia |
| Date of death | November 23, 2017 |
| Place of death | VCU Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia |
| Age at death | 71 |
| Funeral arrangements | Held in Richmond, Virginia |
Early Years and Roots
Georgia Raines Wooden was born on August 10, 1946, in Prince George, Virginia, a rural town where families found strength in nature and each other. Her parents were Linwood and Florence Bell Raines. A new support structure was created after Georgia lost her mother, and her sister Mildred R. Taylor and Franklin Taylor reared her in Petersburg. Georgia moved to a city with a rich African American history and a close church community, where she grew up with resilience, guidance, and religion.
Early years left a mark. She carried the values of Petersburg, Prince George, and Surry County into adulthood: respect for elders, kinfolk, and church life. Georgia’s steady hand as a sister, wife, mother, and grandmother showed Mildred and Franklin’s legacy.
Marriage, Motherhood, and the Wooden Household
Georgia married Benjamin B. Wooden Jr. as an adult and had Mario, Karen, and Bridget. The Wooden home combined love, expectations, humor, and work. Mario and Venita had a family, Karen married Raymond and became famous on TV, and Bridget worked in Richmond. With Karen, Rayvin, and Brandon as grandkids, Georgia found joy and new duties in grandmotherhood, drawing from her Petersburg upbringing.
Georgia was the peaceful heart of a huge family, according to her friends. She cultivated relationships across generations and branches, celebrated milestones, and preserved secrets. She never sought recognition, but her stability allowed others to shine while knowing they had a home base. Sundays were important, stories flowed, and the next meal was shared rather than rushed in the Wooden household.
Faith and Community Ties
Georgia’s life revolved around church. She attended Union Baptist Church in Spring Grove, a Surry County community center where faith and camaraderie flourished. Later, she visited Second Baptist Church in Richmond, continuing her lifelong worship, service, and neighborliness. These churches were more than addresses. The spiritual houses grounded her weeks, structured her festivities, and helped her put down burdens.
Georgia helped others in church. She demonstrated the importance of consistency, connecting across pews and families, and marking sacred time with common rituals. Her surviving network included cousins, in-laws, nieces, and nephews who may find her at church services or family gatherings, continuing a heritage of connection and worship.
A Wide Circle of Kin
Georgia’s immediate and extended family paints a vivid portrait of the ties that sustained her. The names of siblings, in-laws, nieces, and nephews reveal both depth and breadth, evidence of a matriarch whose gift was connection.
| Relation | Individuals |
|---|---|
| Spouse | Benjamin B. Wooden Jr. |
| Children | Mario Wooden (spouse Venita), Karen Huger (spouse Raymond), Bridget Wooden |
| Grandchildren | Rayvin Huger, Brandon Huger |
| Parents | Linwood Raines, Florence Bell Raines |
| Raised by | Sister Mildred R. Taylor and Franklin Taylor |
| Sisters | Lillian R. Simpson, Rebecca R. Richardson, Rev. Doris McCray |
| In-laws named in family notices | Michael Wooden, Valerie Harrison, Elsie Raines |
| Nieces named in family notices | Michelle Raines-Murphy, Deborah M. Ramsey, Esq., Sharron Wooden, Megan Harrison |
| Nephews named in family notices | David Harrison, Wayne McCray, Ronald McCray, Joshua Beasley, Deron McCray, Donald McCray, Earl Raines, Norman Raines Jr., Larry Raines, Kim Raines, Gilbert Raines, Jack Prophet |
There’s a reason the list is so long. Georgia’s life was interwoven with birthdays, graduations, and Sunday phone calls. Each of the names above refers to a story she knew and a person she encouraged. Families like hers are frequently depicted as trees, but a better analogy may be a quilt, warmed by many hands and passed down with care.
Later Years, Passing, and Remembrance
Georgia, 71, died at VCU Medical Center in Richmond on November 23, 2017. Richmond hosted her funeral, where numerous family members remembered her example and steadfast presence. Her obituary emphasized family, community, and faith over work and finances, reflecting her lifestyle. The family prioritized legacy over situation, thus it did not specify a reason of death.
In the months that followed, her family continued to mourn and cherish her memory. On June 28, 2018, her husband, Benjamin, died, and the family relied on the same pillars Georgia had upheld: church, unity, and resilience. Georgia’s name frequently occurs in the family stories of individuals who follow her daughter Karen, serving as a reminder that the roots of public life grow in private soil.
Timeline of Key Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1946-08-10 | Birth in Prince George, Virginia, to Linwood and Florence Bell Raines |
| Late 1940s to 1950s | Raised in Petersburg by sister Mildred R. Taylor and her husband Franklin Taylor after her mother’s passing |
| Adulthood | Marriage to Benjamin B. Wooden Jr.; birth and upbringing of three children: Mario, Karen, and Bridget |
| Years in Surry County and Richmond | Faith life marked by Union Baptist Church in Spring Grove and Second Baptist Church in Richmond |
| 2017-11-23 | Death at VCU Medical Center in Richmond at age 71; funeral arrangements in Richmond |
| 2018-06-28 | Passing of her husband, Benjamin B. Wooden Jr. |
In Family Memory and Public Conversation
Georgia lived in the background, but her daughter Karen’s fame brings her story back. Media portray Georgia as the family pillar who taught loyalty, religion, and endurance. Rayvin and Brandon continue the family tradition, following their grandmother’s example. The Woodens and Raines family see Georgia as history and a steady hand.
FAQ
Who was Georgia Raines Wooden?
She was a Virginia-born family matriarch known for her faith, her close-knit kinship ties, and her role as a supportive mother and grandmother.
When and where was she born, and when did she pass away?
She was born on August 10, 1946, in Prince George, Virginia, and died on November 23, 2017, in Richmond, Virginia.
Who were her parents, and who raised her after her mother’s death?
Her parents were Linwood Raines and Florence Bell Raines, and she was raised in Petersburg by her sister Mildred R. Taylor and Mildred’s husband Franklin Taylor.
Who was her husband, and how many children did they have?
She was married to Benjamin B. Wooden Jr., and they had three children: Mario, Karen, and Bridget.
Which churches was she affiliated with?
She was a former member of Union Baptist Church in Spring Grove and attended Second Baptist Church in Richmond.
Where were her funeral arrangements handled?
Her funeral arrangements were handled in Richmond, Virginia.
Did her obituary list a cause of death?
No, the obituary did not specify a cause of death.
How is she connected to television audiences?
Her daughter, Karen Huger, is a public figure, which has led to renewed interest in Georgia’s family history.
Who are her grandchildren?
Her known grandchildren are Rayvin Huger and Brandon Huger, through her daughter Karen.
What is known about her career or financial life?
Public records and remembrances focus on her family and church life rather than a formal career or financial details.
