Josephine S. (Stewart) Goode

JOSEPHINE STEWART GOODE, age 89, passed away quietly on May 19, 2014 in New York City with her son and trusted companion, Irene, by her side. Born on January 22, 1925 to Pearl Ruth Singer and Joseph Franklin Stewart in Columbus, Ohio, Josephine will be remembered for her love of family, her understanding and support of those in need, and for her wry, “gotcha” wit that she dispensed unexpectedly with a sly smile. Josephine was born on her father’s birthday and was very proud of being named after him. Among her fondest memories was him gathering “…all of us around him. He would sing to us, while Mama fixed our dinner. He had a beautiful singing voice and to me, he sounded better than that old Bing Crosby.” As a child and in her youth, Josephine was studious, resourceful, and athletic. She could still throw a good pitch across home plate in her mid-80s and enjoyed reading books and working jigsaw puzzles throughout her life. Josephine graduated Central High School in Columbus and attended several semesters at The Ohio State University before working at Curtis Wright. She then took a job with the State of Ohio and became a statistician for the Bureau of Unemployment Compensation where she worked until she retired in 1988. Josephine’s husband and soul mate was Floyd Goode, who she met in church when she was 14 years old. They were married 62 years before his death in 2006 at the age of 82. Thereafter, with spunk and courage, she moved to New York City to be with her children. After moving to New York, Josephine spent a good deal of time considering life’s ironies and their impact on her own life, those of her family, and on the lives of her friends, who she treasured. She was proud of what she achieved, never regretted her choices, and continued to consider what else might be possible in the world around us. She described herself as a short brown-skin woman, five feet tall, of average weight who liked jigsaw puzzles because she believed life was “…similar to living in a jigsaw world.” Josephine is survived by her daughter, Linda Bryant; her son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Maria Martin Goode; her grandchild, Kenneth and his wife Nina Gentile Bryant; her great grandchildren, Foster, Claire, and John Bryant; her friend and brother-in-law, Harold E. McDaniel, DDS; nieces, Gypsy Riddick, Dr. Jeanette McDaniel and Dr. Annette Turner; nephews, Fred Goode, Ronald and Gary Page, Myron, Michael and Steven Lowery, and Keith Jackson, PhD; members of her extended family and friends; and the companions and aides who cared for her. Josephine is much loved and will continue to live in our hearts.