Woodie Assaf (WLBT photo)

Woodie Assaf, Mississippi’s most well-known TV weatherman, and the longest serving TV weatherman in the nation, died Friday of heart failure at the age of 92.

Woodrow “Woodie” Assaf a McComb, Mississippi native, began his career at a Vicksburg, Mississippi radio station WQBC in the 1940's before moving to WJDX radio in  Jackson, Mississippi.  

Assaf would soon after join WLBT TV-3 in Jackson as their weatherman, the first day the station went on the air on December 20, 1953.  (This was in the same building the radio station WJDX was housed)

Assaf would deliver the weather to Central Mississippi for 47 years, becoming the longest serving TV weatherman for a news station (WLBT) in the nation!  Assaf retired in 2001.

Classic Woodie Assaf weather forecast (December 20, 1996)

In 1999, Clarion Ledger readers voted Assaf the most popular TV personality of the millennium in Mississippi.  

He established himself as a powerful fundraiser host for disaster-relief events and charities, including the Easter Seal Telethon, which he helmed beginning in the late '70s.

Woodie Assaf leaves behind two daughters and their families and fans from across Central Mississippi who grew up watching him on WLBT.  (His wife of 65 years, died in January at the age 88.)

(Woodie Assaf doing a commercial for Pork & Beans The Oh Really Archive)

Jackson Weather Examiner:  I was one of those people who grew up watching Woodie Assaf and was partly influenced to go into the weather/meteorology field because of him.  I owe a lot to Woodie Assaf and he will be greatly missed!

 Funeral arrangements:

Visitation:

Friday, November 20th

Wright & Ferguson

350 High Street

Jackson

4:00PM – 7:00PM

 Visitation:

Saturday, November 21st

Alta Woods United Methodist Church

109 Alta Woods Blvd. (off Terry Rd.)

Jackson

9:30AM – 11:00AM

Service:

Alta Woods United Methodist Church

11:00AM

Followed by Burial:

Lakewood Memorial Park

6011 Clinton Blvd.

Jackson, MS