Elizabeth Wade Russell (Liz Goodson)

Elizabeth Wade Russell
(Liz Goodson)

Liz was born to The Reverend Mercer-Logan Goodson and Barbara Mann Goodson in San Angelo, TX on December 30, 1957. As a child, she lived in Fort Worth and Texarkana. She spent her formative years in Bogalusa, LA graduating from Bogalusa High School in 1975.

Liz went to Sewanee, TN and earned her BA in Religion from the University of the South in 1979. During this time she mustered the courage to come out as a lesbian, not common in the late 1970s as a small-town southern woman. She was an early/founding member of the club that eventually became know as the Sewanee Gay/Straight Alliance. The group is still advocating some 40 years later.

After working in social services in New Orleans, she moved to Austin and earned a BS in Computer Engineering from The University of Texas. While studying at UT, she met Prince Charles when he stopped by her workstation while on a tour.

Liz started her IT career with IBM and then she rode the boom of an Austin tech company in the 1990s.
After the tech bust, she built her reputation as a Software Quality Assurance Engineer in both Texas and California.

Liz studied with the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching in 2009. Towards the end of her life she received much help and comfort from Joe Despenza meditations and book club friends.

She leaves behind her dear son, Kirby Goodson; two brothers, John Goodson (wife Melissa and their children Slater and Mason), and Steve Goodson (wife Paula and their children Ian and Eli); as well as numerous other family members across the country.

Liz died on June 8, 2022 after a valiant battle with colon cancer. Special thanks to her teams at Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas, Hospice Austin, and Kindheart Home.

A celebration of Liz's life will be held at St Elizabeth Episcopal Church in Buda, TX on Friday, July 15th at 2pm. Interment will follow on a later date in the family burial plot in Marshall TX.

In lieu of flowers, donations to animal welfare or LGBTQIA organizations are welcome.