Elaine Wolff, 90, of Atlanta, Georgia, a long-time Dumas resident, business owner and civic leader, died Friday, January 13, in Atlanta.
She was born Elaine Waldman in New Orleans in 1932. Her family owned an antiques shop on Royal Street. Her parents moved to Lubbock, Texas, where her father was a salesman. He passed away when she was 9, and her mother and she then moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, where she later attended and graduated from Central High School. The following year she attended the University of Texas at Austin before returning to Little Rock to work and help her widowed mother. Elaine married Haskell Wolff in 1952 and relocated to Dumas, Arkansas, where she and her husband enjoyed over 57 years of married life until his death in 2010. She and her husband were co-owners of Wolff Brothers Department Stores, with stores at that time in Arkansas and Louisiana. Elaine worked six days a week at Wolff Brothers, raised a family in Dumas, and actively participated in community life. Elaine was a member of the Hospital Auxiliary, Dumas Garden Club, the Mainstreet Committee, and participated in other civic organizations and volunteer activities. She helped organize small parties for residents of the nursing home in Dumas and brought them bouquets from her rose garden.
Elaine was elected Woman of the Year in Dumas. She was a member of Meir Chayim Temple in McGehee Arkansas, where she taught Sunday school and served a term as president of the congregation. She was a member of Southeast Arkansas sisterhood. She enjoyed life in Southeastern Arkansas and its social and supportive community life. She learned to fly fish and fry her catch.
Elaine was an avid rose gardener with twenty-two rose bushes. Often she would go out to her rose garden in the morning, cut a lovely bouquet of roses, and take them to someone in town who was not feeling well. Her pomegranate tree produced luscious fruit every year. Her interest in gardening was long-standing. In World War II, as a child, Elaine had a Victory Garden.
Following the death of her husband, Elaine moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to be near her family. In retirement Elaine found time to develop her remarkable talent for painting. She was also an avid reader.
She was a devoted wife and mother. To those who knew her, Elaine was a gentle, warm, kind, generous, compassionate, and loving soul. That is what she will be remembered for the most.
Elaine is survived by her children, Sally Wolff King of Atlanta, Georgia; Samuel Wolff and his wife Marcia Wolff of Washington, D.C.; grandson Daniel Wolff of Washington D.C.; step-granddaughter Elizabeth G. King of Athens, Georgia; nieces Gail Wolff Gavant and Susan Wolff of Atlanta, Georgia; and extended family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Delta Memorial Hospital, 811 Highway 65 South, Dumas, Arkansas, 71639.
