Katherine W. Springs

Mrs. Springs was born in Charlotte, North Carolina on August 6, 1907, the daughter of Frank and Lela Wooten. She attended schools in Charlotte and Richmond, as well as Hollins University and the New York School of Fine and Applied Arts. Her maternal grandfather, William McKamey, was a confederate soldier in his teens, and her father was an engineer, architect, and inventor; one of his first inventions being the original Coca Cola machine.

In 1927 Mrs. Springs married Eli Baxter Springs II (deceased). Her accomplishments during her life in Charlotte included serving as Vice President of the Board of Trustees of the Mint Museum of Art. She also founded and served as the first President of the Charlotte Debutante Club, established to raise much needed funding for the Mint Museum of Art.

Mrs. Springs was an artist and prolific author, having written many books including The Squires of Springfield, Singing My Song, and Gentleman Surgeon. She is listed in Who's Who in America and in the Dictionary of International Biography. A recognized historian of the city of Charlotte, Mrs. Springs delighted in giving lectures on her memories of early Charlotte, both at schools and the First Presbyterian Church. At 97, Mrs. Springs recorded a two-hour DVD detailing her memories of Charlotte's history for the Charlotte Public Library.

Mrs. Springs was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church, Charlotte Junior League, Charlotte Country Club, Charlotte City Club, Phi Mu Sorority, Colonial Dames of America, Daughters of the American Revolution, and United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Mrs. Springs is preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Eli Baxter Springs II (1977); parents, Frank Wooten (1961) and Lela Wooten (1967), and her son, Eli Baxter Springs III (2001). She is survived by her daughter, Mrs. Katherine Springs Milnor (Dr. J. Pervis) of Memphis, Tennessee; daughter-in-law, Jennie “Rickey” Sherill Springs; grandchildren, Eli Baxter Springs IV, Jack H. Shannon, Jr., Katherine Shannon Owens, Lela Shannon Low (Michael), Sally Springs Alston (Bobby), Amy Springs Houston (Danny), David Springs (Lauren), Anna Springs Plumides (Gregory); great-grandchildren, Neal and Katherine Owens, Shannon and Charlie Low, Meredith Alston Lucas (Perry) and Drew Alston (Michele), Baxter and Mary Cates Houston, John and Krista Springs, Sophie and Davidson Springs, William and Clarkson Plumides, James and Mackenzie Cox; and great-great-grandson, Hudson Lucas.

The family invites you to join them at The Cypress, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday March 26th. Funeral services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 200 West Trade Street, on Wednesday, March 27th at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 200 West Trade Street, Charlotte, NC 28202; Hospice and Palliative Care: Charlotte Region 1420 East Seventh Street, Charlotte, NC 28204; or to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, 310 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202.