Rev. Dr. James Ralph Wooten

James Ralph Wooten, Jr. "Ralph", 63, passed away peacefully at home in Jackson, Alabama on August 12, 2025, following a pancreatic cancer diagnosis which he handled with dignity and grace. He was born on June 6, 1962, in Chattanooga, Tennessee to James Ralph Wooten Sr. and Margie McKay Wooten.

Ralph spent his life in the North Georgia and South Alabama areas. He was a 1980 graduate of Rossville High School in Rossville, Georgia. He was a proud graduate of the University of Georgia, class of 1985. Music was an important part of Ralph's life and he participated in marching band from the 8th grade all the way through college and was an esteemed member of the UGA Redcoat marching band, playing trombone.

He received his Master of Divinity from the Beason Divinity School at Samford University in 1993 and his Doctor of Ministry in 2010. He was ordained into the ministry in 1992 and pastored several Baptist churches from 1992-2004.

Ralph was a devoted educator and taught English at Eufaula High School from 2004-2015. He also coached varsity soccer and cross country. Ralph and Janet began attending Epworth United Methodist and were loved back into the ministry. While continuing to teach full time, Ralph began pastoring Rocky Mount United Methodist Church in 2007 as well as Louisville UMC in 2013.

In 2015, Ralph re-entered full-time pastoral ministry work pastoring Phenix City First UMC and adding Alexandria UMC in 2017. Ralph was appointed to Jackson First UMC in 2020 along with the South Clarke Charge of Wesley Chapel UMC and Hebron UMC. He has served on the AWF Conference Board of Ordained Ministry since 2012 and has been Chair of the Fellowship of Licensed Local Pastors & Associate Members since 2022. He is a part of the team responsible for Licensing School for local pastors and was currently Dean. Ralph became an Associate Member of the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference in June 2024.

Ralph enjoyed regular motorcycle road trips and adventures to find good barbecue, the latest food oddity, and opportunities to spend time with friends and family. He highly valued his experiences with the Academy for Spiritual Formation at Camp McDowell. Some of his most fond memories are of time spent in Apalachicola and St. George Island eating oysters and floating in the ocean. In recent years, he shared his love of this place with his granddaughter Margot.

Ralph is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Janet, and his children, Michael (Vicki) and Rebekah Wooten. His three year old granddaughter, Margot was the light of his life and he relished the title of "Grandpa Ralph". He is remembered by his sister, Sandra (Wooten) Russell, nephews David "Tad" (Abbie) Russell and Ryan (Sarah) Russell, and great nieces and nephews, Emily, Andrew, Rosie and Davy Russell. He is preceded in death by his parents, James Ralph Wooten, Sr. and Margie McKay Wooten, his brother-in-law David Alan Russell Jr and his best friend golden retriever Duke Wooten.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, August 23, 2025, from 9:00am to 11:00am at First United Methodist Church, 146 College Ave, Jackson, AL 36545. A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at 11:00am at First United Methodist Church Jackson, with the Reverend Dan Morris officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to First United Methodist Church Jackson, P.O. Box 385, Jackson, AL 36545 (https://fumcjacksonal.org/) or the Academy for Spiritual Formation (https://www.awfumc.org/theacademyforspiritualformation)

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"

And I said, "Here I am. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8