Dr. William Verdell Booth

William V. Booth, MD, FACS “Bill” was born in Auburndale, Florida on May 15, 1941.  He passed away on March 4, 2024 at his home in Hartwell, Georgia.

Bill grew up and completed his high school education in Marshall, Texas.  From there he enrolled at McNeese Sate University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.  He transferred from McNeese to the University of Southwest Louisiana in Lafayette, Louisiana where he was accepted into the LSU Medical School program. It was during his time in Lafayette that he met Janice Formby “Cherry” the love of his life, whom he married in 1962 after dating for six months. They shared life together for 62 years.  

Medical school and residency training were interrupted by a two-year tour of duty in the Navy which included a year aboard the hospital ship USS Sanctuary in Vietnam.  He achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander and received an Honorable Discharge and was awarded a Vietnam Service Medal.  

Bill graduated from LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans, LA where he also specialized in general surgery.  Following residency training, he practiced general surgery first in Dexter, Missouri and then in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he retired in 2001.  After retiring from medical practice, Bill and Cherry moved to the mountains of north Georgia.  He also provided his medical expertise post-retirement at a free clinic in Jasper, Georgia. 

During his career he became known for his medical competency and skill as a surgeon.  He was a leader in providing laparoscopic surgical techniques to the Baton Rouge community and also served as Chief of Staff at the Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge.  Throughout his career he maintained his status as a member of the Fellowship of American College of Surgeons (FACS). His genuine concern, compassion and care for his patients was reflected in the many cards and letters he received during his career.  Throughout his career he most enjoyed helping elderly patients enjoy a better quality of life.

Bill loved life and enjoyed many hobbies.  He was a true gentleman outdoorsman and conservationist that had a deep love for spending time in the outdoors enjoying activities such as hunting, fishing, fly tying, hiking, camping, bird watching, scuba diving, sailing, boating, astronomy and also carving decoys, to list some of them.  He loved being on the water or in the woods.   He passed on his love of the outdoors and respect for nature to his children and grandchildren. 

Bill was an avid reader and enjoyed many types of literature ranging from Earnest Hemingway, Jack London and James Lee Burke to cowboy poetry by Baxter Black.  While residing in the Big Canoe development in north Georgia, Bill started a book club that remains active.  He also wrote many short stories about his early life, college days and our family which he published as a book entitled Down on Caddo.  He also published a collection of fictional short stories as a book entitled This Old House and also wrote and published a novel entitled Blood of a Stranger, which earned him nomination for Georgia Author of the Year in 2007.

Preceding him in death are his father Odell Booth, mother Verdie Booth and brothers Gene Booth and Bob Booth.  Survivors include, his wife Janice “Cherry” Booth, and their four children, Denise Waters Lewis (Keith), John Gregory Booth (Lori), Cynthia Lynn Adams (Keith), and Gary William Booth; seven grandchildren, Nicholas Waters (Brianna), John Garrett Booth (Breanna), Jacob Booth, Madelyn Waters, Dylan Simoneaux, Harrisson Adams and Olivia Adams.

The family is planning a celebration of life ceremony at a later time for family and close friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Ducks Unlimited in Memory of Dr. William Verdell Booth https://donate.ducks.org/donateOnlineSecure.aspx?promoKey=MemorialHonorGiving&_gl=

Services have been entrusted to Coile and Hall Funeral Directors, 333 E. Johnson Street, Hartwell, GA 30643

Condolences can be sent for the family by visiting www.coileandhallfd.com