Eunice Drawdy Gooding

Grandma , my buddy , why did you have to leave me !! Losing you is the hardest t5hing that I have ever and will ever have to do !! I am so lost without you !! I just don't know what I am going to do without you ! You were and will always be the most amazing person that I have ever met ! I just wish that my friend , George Robert Francis III , would have been able to have met you ! I will never be the same having lost you and my dad was right , now i really do regert no0t spending enough time with you , but I know that someday I will be with you forever ! I miss you and love you so very much !
Love Your #1 Granddaughter ,
Amanda !

From the time we met Elaine and Kenny
Vickers,more than 40 years ago, we've
been made to feel that we were family.
Our children grew up together, and holidays were shared 'family affairs.'
Elaine invited me to join Wolfson's Hospital Auxiliary, which I did. During my involvement with the Auxiliary, I heard that a volunteer Santa was needed, to accompany Judge and Mrs. Gooding with his annual Christmas photo-of-the-hospitalized- children-project.
I volunteered Bruce,and he portrayed
Santa with the judge, and continued to do so for over 25 years with the Gooding family.
We are fortunate to have been involved with the Gooding family for all of these years.
I am blessed to have had Elaine as my dearest and best friend for all of these years. I truly love her.
We extend our sincere sympathy to the entire Gooding family.
Bruce and Marilyn Kendeigh

MY DEAR MARILYN AND FAMILY I SEND MY CONDOLANCES AND MY LOVE TO YOU ALL. I WAS SO SCHOKED AND SADDEND TO OF MRS, GOODING PASSING. I WILL ALWAYS AT THE TROUPE D KENT PRODUCTIONS THAT MARIA AND ANOTHONY JR WERE IN. SHE WAS A GRACIOUS AND LOVING WOMAN. MARILYN I WILL BE IN TOUCH OR PLEASE CALL ME. I AM PRAYING FOR YOU AND THE FAMILY.

ALL MY LOVE ALWAYS,
MERRITT

I had the opportunity to meet. Ms. Gooding on one occasion when my little brother Robert had so many duties that day, he allowed me to cut her grass. The way Robert had always spoken of Ms. Gooding, their relationship seemed more like a parent and child. Robert is a tough guy, but when he spoke of Ms. Gooding, you could sense her tenderness and love for humanity in his voice. Robert talked about her volunteerism, her community leadership roles, and love for family. I had the pleasure of meeting Judge Gooding, his wife Cathy, and a sibling Kathy. It was a pleasure to know and feel the love and compassion this family has always shown Robert and his family over the years, especially, Ms.Gooding. Through Robert, I truly felt that Ms. Gooding was one of the most dedicated, caring and compassionate human beings to grace the face of this planet! Without a doubt, she will truly be missed by her family, friends and, the Jacksonville community.
May God continue to bless the family.

Lovingly and respectfully submitted,
Cecil & Shirleen Hughes, Burlington, NJ

The more you are blessed, the more it hurts when you lose that blessing but she lives on in all of those who loved her and whose lives she touched. She is now in the presence of The Lord.

David,
I am sorry to hear about the homegoing of your mother. She must have been a wonderful person. I know you followed in your father's footsteps of being an attorney and then a judge.

I have not worked with you for years, but used to work with you at the State Attorney's Office years ago.

Your mother's spirit lives on in her children. Your emphasis with adoption is reaching out to families who otherwise would have been childless. You are an endless advocate for others as well as your mother was.

May God give you comfort at this time. You can rest assure that she is in the Heavenly Father arms and your Dad is now by her side once again.

Eunice Drawdy Gooding was a great credit to her family, church, & community. I know that she is in a much better place at the present. God Bless her memory and her entire family.
Tom Vann, 33°

A tru;y remarkable woman and mother.

you will be missed by all. guess i won't be calling you anymore. i will miss that. signed david ellis campbell.today's date is january thirteenth two thousand ten.the time is 1:32am

To the entire Gooding Family,I want to extend my deepest sympathy to your family in the loss of Mrs.Gooding.Although i didn't know her personally.I have heard my late Grandmother Thelma Owen speak well of the late Judge Marion Gooding.My Grandfather thought a lot of him.I am glad that they are all together now again in Heaven.God bless you all.Sincerly,Andrew Lau

What a remarkable and selfless woman she was. Our sincere sympathy on the loss, but God needed a remarkable angel and now he has one.

DEAR SUSAN VESS,

WHAT A WONDERFUL GRANDMOTHER YOU'VE HAD THE WONDER OF KNOWING.

THINKING OF YOU AND FAMILY. GOD BLESS.

LINDA HACKETT

Marilyn, Maria and the rest of the family, My thoughts and prayers are with you. Love, Henry Brewster

Eunice was special as the founding member of the Wolfson Children's Hospital Auxiliary in 1973 and remained involved in many ways. Her continued guidance and encouragement were valued.
The Wolfson Auxiliary also cherished Eunice keeping her family involved to continue Judge Gooding's, with Eunice along side, starting in the 1960's Santa's Annual Arrival visit to the patients. The photos taken of the patients and Santa become cherished family keepsakes. ....Our Auxiliary's frequently used quote is exemplary of Eunice: "Some people come into our lives and quietly go . . .Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same."

Wolfson Children's Hospital Auxiliary

Dear Gooding Family,

I am so sorry for the passing of your mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother. I met your mother a long time ago through my grandmother (Emma Belle Bowden) at Southside Baptist Church. My prayers are with you all.
Life matters, no matter how long or short. And it lasts. Trust that God's promise of unending life is real. And trust that your life today matters, too.
Love,
Cheryl Barfield

Our love and prayers to the family.

Nancy Westbrook
Peggy Hyatt
Clara Dockery

To Billy, Elaine and David (only ones I can remember), I am so sorry for the passing of your Mother. She and your Father both set a fine Christian example for the youth of yesterday and today. She will be greatly missed by many.
Margaret (Harris) Dixon

It is a rare occurance when someone lives a life as full and for others as she did. You will be so missed down here, Grandma, but continuously cherished among the angels!!!!

To the Gooding Family the Spark created by the blissful coupling of
Eunice and Marion Gooding in November 1937 left 37 grand
And great grandchildren. So, is represents a loss to those left behind,
But not a sadness. Now she enters another life with our Lord and
The Comfort of Marion, to watch after her pride and joys.
All those memorable year they created.
Ian Jay Germaine

The Gooding Family, my heart-felt condolences go out to each and everyone of you and may your faith in God comfort you at this time. I never had the pleasure of meeting your Mother in person but that didn't matter I felt as though I had. My brother Robert talked about her in just about every other conversation we would have on the phone. I had gotten in the habit of asking him "how's Mrs. Gooding doing"? He always talked about how kind she was and treated him well. I know you will all miss her,and he will miss her and I will miss her also. God bless you all.

Our deepest sympathy to the family of Mrs. Eurnice Gooding. The writing of Mrs. Eunice's life was very moving and inspiring to do all that we do with passion and purpose. She truly was a vessal of honor pouring herself out to others, honoring the one that gave her life and gave her life abundantly. What a legacy she has left to her family and to all that knew her. God bless her family. Bob and Wanda Clemons.

Dear Cathy and David,
So sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Love, Willa Farrell

Aunt Eunice was one of my favorite people and I owe her and Uncle Marion more than I could ever thank them for. She has earned her rest and the recognition of "a good and faithful servant". My entire family: siblings, nieces, nephews, children and grandchildren, send our condolences and share your loss.
Janice Wetherington Smith Evans

Deepest sympathy to all of the family of Grandma Gooding. She was a very loving and caring lady who will be forever remembered as such.

I would like to entend my synpathies to this large and obviously loving family upon the loss of your lovely mother and grandmother. Though I did not know her personally, I took ballet with you, Elaine, from Mary Weaver Luker, who also recently passed. I am certain I rode frequently with your mother as you, I and the Susan Brownette carpooled together. Your mother was truly a magnificant woman in so many ways, according to her gifts and deeds, and I feel certain that she has planted those legacies in all of you. May she remain close to you all in your memories and hearts until you are reunited again.

Sincerely,

Lora Holsenbeck (the former "Loie" Herring).

To Gooding Family
I do not where to begin how express our deepest sympathy to your family. Your mother has meant so much to our family through out the years. Even when the few years were not going the same church. I remember sitting with her at the HAB baseball games and the Southside Football games one year that Matt was doing football.Even seeing her at the surgical waiting room when Matt had his tubes put in. Your mother had a warm and caring spirit for people and service. Psalm 46:1

To The Gooding Family,
Please accept our most sincere sympathy in the death of your mother. We have known this lady for more than 25 years...and it was a pleasure and a privilege to have known her. She will be remembered for a long time..as she touched many lives.I know, too that your faith and courage will bring you peace even in midst of this great sorrow.
With loving thoughts,
Bill and Helen Blount, Jacksonville

To The Gooding Family,

My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time. MOURNINGS on Earth are temporary. MORNINGS in Heaven are eternal. You will see her again in the MORNING.

On behalf of the Hughes family in New Jersey and elsewhere we would like to express our very, deepest condolences to the Gooding family and friends.
I personally didn't have the pleasure to meet Mother Gooding, but I can only imagine your loss, having had my mother pass away a few years ago.
Your mother was very well loved by my brother Robert Hughes and his family. I feel as though I knew Mother Gooding from the fond memories and the highest respect that my brother shared with our family of her through the years that he embraced their friendship and love. We too mourn your loss today.
Mere words cannot seem to express the loss that we feel for you.
May God comfort you and your loved ones and give you peace at this very difficult time. God bless you.....