Dr. Louisa Littleton

Dr. Louisa Littleton, 97, of Charlotte, (formerly of Orlando, FL and Statesville, NC) peacefully passed away on Friday, May 26, 2017. Dr. Littleton was born in Saltville, VA on July 31, 1919.  She was the daughter of the late Dr. Leonidas and Alice Scott Littleton of Emory, Va.  She was a graduate of Emory and Henry College (1939), briefly taught school in Buchanan County, VA, and was a graduate of the medical school at George Washington University (1945) in Washington, DC where she was one of only four women in her class. During 1945-46 she interned at Carolinas Medical Center which was then Charlotte Memorial Hospital.  She was the first female intern there and also served on the staff of Good Samaritan Hospital.  She completed her residency in pediatrics at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond.  In 1951 she opened her private pediatric practice in Statesville, NC in an office in her home where she proudly had an integrated clientele, charged $5.00/visit, and made house calls for $10.00.  Ten years later she moved to Orlando, FL where she worked as a civilian pediatrician at the Naval Regional Medical Center (retiring in 1981).  In 2009 Dr. Littleton moved to Charlotte, NC to be near family.  In 2012 Carolinas Medical Center honored Dr. Littleton with the Louisa Littleton Award which is presented annually to a resident physician.
She was preceded in death by her brother Dr. L. R. “Rosser” Littleton, Jr. (Frances) most recently of Winston-Salem, NC and her brother-in-law The Reverend Dr. George Wesley Jones of Vinton, VA.  She is survived by her sister Rachel Littleton Jones of Roanoke, VA, nieces Sandi Littleton of Simsbury, CT, Carolyn Nelson (Randy) of Charlotte, NC, Janet Littleton of Asheville, NC, Kathy Sanderford (Lonnie) of New Bern, NC, nephew David Jones of Glen Allen, VA, and her nieces’ children and grandchildren.  She was said to be “mother to many, loved by all.” She loved her patients and proudly told people that she had 18,000 children.  
Dr. Littleton loved life and lived it to its fullest---she water skied, took flying lessons, played chess and bridge, was a champion bowler, fished (brought her mounted sailfish to Charlotte), and camped throughout the US in her motor home with her friend Mary Lou Wilde.
Her family thanks the staff of Brighton Gardens of Charlotte for their loving care and support the past seven years, thanks special volunteer Frances Williams who directs the bridge group there each week, and thanks Novant Hospice for warmth and personalized assistance.
A private family service will be held at a later date in Emory, VA.  Memorials to honor the life of Dr. Littleton and to enhance and sustain her award may be made to “Carolinas HeathCare Foundation” at 208 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC  28203 noting that it is in honor of Dr. Louisa Littleton or memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

 Service Information