HELEN MCDUFFIE GOODEN
Nov. 2, 1924-March 5, 2016
Helen McDuffie Gooden passed away at Magnolia Cottage Care in Dover, N.C., March 5, 2016, after an extended illness.
Helen was born Nov. 2, 1924, to the late Walter Currie and Agnes Royal McDuffie in Bladen County, N.C.
She grew up on the family farm, and married her high school admirer, David T. Gooden, Aug. 26, 1944. They later had two boys.
David, who was a United States Marine aviator, was killed in action in Korea Feb. 7, 1952.
With two young children to raise, Helen made the decision to earn a college education. She attended East Carolina College, graduating in three years in 1958. Later, she would earn her master’s degree.
She became the first speech therapist in the New Bern city school system.
Gov. Jim Martin appointed her to the North Carolina Board of Speech and Hearing.
The last few years before her retirement were spent in the Bladen County school system.
She moved to Goldsboro several years after her retirement.
In addition to her parents and husband, Helen was predeceased by all her siblings, sisters, Hilda McDuffie and Agnes M. Barbour, brother, Claude McDuffie, and half-sister, Ruth Vandergrift Stuart.
Survivors include her sons, Michael (Frances) and Stephen (Ruth) all of Morehead City; grandchildren, Dean Gooden (Gay) of Cary, David Gooden (Chrissy) of Durham and Anne Gooden of Winston-Salem; and three great-grandchildren, Giovanna “Gigi” Gooden, Reagan Gooden and Bodhi Gooden.
A memorial service celebrating Helen’s life will be held Saturday, March 12, 2016, at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Goldsboro, with Dr. Glenn Phillips Jr. officiating.
Family will greet friends from 10 to 11 a.m. in the church parlor.
Inurnment of Helen’s ashes will take place at Wesley’s Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Bladen County March 12 at 3 p.m.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Magnolia Cottage Care for its loving care of Helen in her last year of life.
We also wish to thank all those who provided excellent medical support, especially Dr. Jim Stackhouse, Dr. Dan Poole and the staff at 3HC.
In lieu of flowers, and for those who wish to honor Helen’s life, may consider giving a memorial to First Baptist Church, 125 S. John St., Goldsboro, N.C., 27530.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on March 9, 2016 8:40 AM