Helen Goodwin

Helen Thames Goodwin, 94, of Gulfport, died August 7, 2006 at the Maison DeVille Nursing Center in Natchitoches, La.
Mrs. Goodwin (Mother Goodwin) was born in Magee, Mississippi on April 11, 1912, to James and Callie Thames. Mrs. Goodwin was the last surviving child of the late James and Callie Thames.
Mrs. Goodwin retired from Civil Service at Keesler Air Force Base in the Maintenance and Supply Group. She was a longtime member of Grace Memorial Baptist Church, serving in numerous capacities. One of her greatest joys was teaching Junior High Sunday school. Her Christian legacy will be lived on through her children, grandchildren and generations to come.
Mother Goodwin was a wonderful seamstress and her granddaughters benefited from this art. She enjoyed writing Christian poetry and was recognized for these efforts. Mother Goodwin was an avid flower and vegetable gardener. Papa Goodwin and Mother Goodwin will always be remembered for their wonderful food that their children and grandchildren enjoyed during the holiday seasons. The late Katherine Winegarten memorialized these recipes for generations to come.
The children and grandchildren will always remember the faithful and loving devotion given to her Aunt Helen by her niece, Bill Magnan, of Gulfport.
She is preceded in death by her first husband, Joseph William Ellzey; father of her children and second husband, Mr. Arnold James Goodwin; an infant son and a daughter, Mrs. Katherine â₝Kittyâ₝ Winegarten; all of her siblings, five sisters and four brothers.
She is also preceded in death by her grandchildren, Brenda Winegarten Welker and Larry Winegarten.
Survivors include her daughters, Mrs. George H. (Dorothy) Payne, Sr. of Gulfport and Mrs. Hubert (Pauline) Huggins of Natchitoches, LA. Surviving grandchildren are George H. Payne, Jr., Robert A. Payne, Sr., Cynthia Payne Childers, Thomas E. Payne, and Gregory A. Payne, all of Harrison County; Fred Huggins of North Carolina, Michael Huggins, Donald Huggins, Billy Huggins of Florida and Tammy Huggins of Natchitoches, LA; Debi Winegarten Johnson of Florida and Kenneth Winegarten of Oklahoma. In addition to the 12 surviving grandchildren, Mother Goodwin had 32 great- grandchildren and 25 great-great grandchildren.
The visitation will be Friday, August 11, 2006 from 10:00a.m. - 11:00a.m. at Grace Memorial Baptist Church, 2301 23rd. Ave., Gulfport, MS. The funeral service will be at 11:00a.m. at the church.
A private interment will be in Southern Memorial Park in Biloxi following services.
Memorials may be given to Grace Memorial Baptist Church Youth Program (Youth Room Fund) 2301 23rd Avenue, Gulfport, MS 39501.
Pallbearers will be six of her great-grandchildren, George H. (Trey) Payne,III , John A. (Jase) Payne, Robert A. Payne, Jr., Jeffery Payne, Windfield S. (Windy) Swetman, III, and Brandon G. Payne.
Gulf Coast Funeral Homes, Inc., Three Rivers Road Chapel, Gulfport, is in charge of arrangements, and an online guestbook may be signed at www.gulfcoastfh.com.