Mary A. Goodman's Obituary
Mary Alice Goodman was born on April 11, 1925 to William Harris and
Francis Pruitte. She was the oldest of nine sisters and three brothers, who all
preceded her in death (Kathrine Summers, Lola Powell, Charlsie Woodard,
Earnestine Johnson, Fanny Woodard, Anna “Hanna” Bobo, Lucy Mae
Crawford, Ruth Mae Bowman, Tom and Andrew Woodard, Joshua Haynes).
Mary accepted Christ in her life at an early age. She was a faithful member
of Roseview Church of God in Christ in St. Louis until her health failed.
Mary was born in Round Pond, Arkansas. Her parents died when she was
very young and she was taken in and raised by the Haynes family. On
February 28, 1942, she married Herman (Thomas) Goodman and to that
union was born eleven children.
During the early 1960’s, she moved to St. Louis, Missouri where she worked
for a short time at the St. Louis Science Center. She later worked as a
domestic housekeeper for several families until her retirement.
Mary loved her children. She would tell everyone she met about her children
and how much she loved them. If you knew her, you have heard her say, “I
love my children”. Five of her children preceded her in death: James, Violet,
and Lloyd Goodman, Arethea Holman-Burke and Dorethea Bailey.
She had many special friends in the Walnut Park neighborhood who held a
special place in her heart and she referred to all of them as her
children. Many referred to her as momma, big momma or just momma
Goodman and she treated them as her own. As her neighbor, you would
often find her sharing a flower or a clipping from one of her many bushes
that adorned her yard.
Mary’s life was a long and blessed one where she praised God daily. You
could often hear her singing old hymns and reading her Bible. She passed
the love for God onto her children and whenever the family gathered they
would not depart from each other without repeating Psalm 19:14.
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be accepted in thy sight, O LORD, my strength and my redeemer.”
Mary departed this life on Thursday, January 2, 2025 in her home
surrounded by family. She leaves to treasure her memory: her children ~
Betty Jean Grayson, Joyce Ann Goodman, Shalottie Salyda Beaugeard, Viola
Rouwtt (James), Lee Clayton (Phyllis) Goodman and Annette (Alfred) Allen;
twenty-five grandchildren; a host of great and great-great grandchildren, all
her nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews.
What’s your fondest memory of Mary?
What’s a lesson you learned from Mary?
Share a story where Mary's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Mary you’ll never forget.
How did Mary make you smile?
