William V. Woodson III, lawyer turned novelist
November 14, 2024
William Vannoy Woodson III of Charlotte died Oct. 30.
He was born in Greenville, the son of William Vannoy Woodson Jr. and Dorothy Jackson Woodson. Bill attended Davidson College, the University of South Carolina School of Law, Emory School of Law and the University of North Carolina School of Business.
Mr. Woodson had a career in law in Atlanta before moving to Pawleys Island. He was the chief advancement officer at Brookgreen Gardens and executive director of the Pawleys Island Festival of Music and Art.
He was also the first director of the Wall Fellows program for business students at Coastal Carolina University.
Mr. Woodson’s experiences led him to write a novel, “Waccamaw Gold,” in 2013. It tells the story of a wealthy young man who is forced to find a direction for his life after his grandmother is killed under mysterious circumstances. The action moves between Pawleys Island, Atlanta and New York.
Despite the novel’s brisk pace, his goal wasn’t to write a thriller.
“What do you do with the money? What brings my life purpose and meaning and makes a contribution to society?” he said in an interview. Those were the questions he set out to answer.
He published a sequel, “Commander Land,” last year.
He is survived by his children, Harriett Jordan Woodson and Harrison Martin Woodson; sister, Amy Woodson and brother, Tom Woodson.
Another son, William West Woodson, died before him.
A memorial service will be held Saturday at 3 p.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Charlotte. The family will receive friends at the church an hour prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Fund for Davidson, Davidson College, P.O. Box 5000, Davidson, NC 28035 (community.davidson.edu/gift-form).
Condolences may be sent at kennethpoeservices.com.
