Permelia Rodgers Goodson

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Permelia Rodgers Goodson, 90, formerly of Black Oak, passed away Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010, at Craighead Nursing Center. She was born Nov. 10, 1919, in Forrest City on the Graham Farm to the late A. O. and Ophelia Rodgers. She taught for several years at Caraway Kindergarten, Dixie, Monette, and Black Oak Elementary Schools. She also worked as a bookkeeper and enrolled in nurses training during World War II. She was a member of the Black Oak Baptist Church, which in 2007 she was honored as the oldest member of the church. She was a member of the WMU, led GAs, taught Sunday School classes and Vacation Bible School for many years to various ages and organized a Girl Scout Troop for Black Oak. What she enjoyed most was entertaining her grandchildren and great-grandchildren with stories and songs.

Survivors include a son, Judge David R. Goodson and his wife Sharon of Paragould; a daughter, Gayla Schoenborn and her husband Bob Jr.(Lt Col. Retired) of Jonesboro; grandchildren, Heather Moody of Little Rock; Sarah Goodson of Atlanta, Ga., Traci Goodson of Little Rock, Thom and Amanda Schoenborn of Portland, Ore., Stephanie and Bryan Senner of Washougal, Wash.; two great-granddaughters, Grace Elizabeth Moody and Charlotte Gayle Senner; a brother-in-law, Leon Goodson of Jonesboro; two sisters-in-law, Geneva Wallace of Lake City and Bernice Thompson of Heber Springs; a step-great-granddaughter, Erika Senner of Salem, Ore., and three nieces, LaDon Rodgers Brown of Leachville, Beverly Rodgers Sennett of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Lynn Rodgers Kirksey of Huntsville, Ala.

She was also preceded in death by her husband, Ray Goodson; three brothers, Norman Rodgers, Oliver Rodgers and Graham Rodgers; a sister, Ruby Rodgers Rikard, and a nephew, Donald Rodgers.

A celebration of her life was held on Sunday, Jan. 17, at 1:30 p.m. at the Black Oak Baptist Church with Rev. Herb Sennett officiating. Burial was in Jonesboro City Cemetery.

The family received friends and relatives Saturday from 5-7 p.m. at the Gregg Funeral Home in Jonesboro.

Honored to serve as pallbearers were Dr. Robert Flannigan, George Morris, Adam "Bucky" Morris, Paul McAually, Keith Harris, Kevin Thompson and Charles Harris and honorary pallbearers were Ladies of the Adult Black Oak Baptist Church Sunday School Class, Bro. Harold Ray, Dr. Revel Porter, James Hill, Lynn Morris, Jacqueline Howell and Madelaine Berry.

The family requests memorials be sent to the Black Oak Baptist Church or St. Bernard's Hospice 1726 Marie Circle, Jonesboro, Ark. 72401.

Personal condolences may be sent to the Goodson family at www.greggfunerals.com.