Sherwood Goff

Our Daddy, Sherwood Lunsford Goff, Sr., 101 years and 6 months old, passed away peacefully surrounded by those who cherished, respected, and loved him dearly on Saturday, February 20, 2021, at the home he built for us in Saucier.
Daddy was born on August 4, 1919, in McLain, MS, and was the eldest of four sons born to Sherwood Bradford and Clara Vene Goff.
Due to unfortunate family situations, Daddy and his brothers were sent to live at the Baptist Orphans Home in Jackson, MS. At the age of 15, he left and hitch-hiked his way back to the Coast to begin making a new life for himself. After Daddy graduated from Richton High School in 1940, he began working as a millwright at Southern Kraft Paper Company in Moss Point, MS.
He joined the service in December of 1941 and was part of the WWII Army Air Corp. Daddy was stationed in England for 3 1/2 years and was there during the "The Blitz". While he was in England, he served as an Airplane Engine Repairman. He never talked much about his time in the war but we always knew that he loved this country and was very proud of the fact that he was able to serve in a small way. As WWII came to a close, he was discharged on the 5th of December in 1945. He immediately enlisted in the Air Force Reserve, and with his final discharge in 1948, he returned to the Coast to begin his formal education.
After he graduated from Perkinston Jr. College, he enrolled at Mississippi Southern in Hattiesburg. While looking for a part-time job to help pay for his studies, he went into the Standard Insurance Company and found not a job -but- our Mother and the love of his life. Daddy said he took one look at their beautiful secretary, Miss Jeroline Cook of Hattiesburg, and told her, right then and there, that he was going to marry her. True to his word, three months later they were married on April 16, 1949.
After graduating from what was then called "Mississippi Southern College" in 1952, he began his long career in education as a biology teacher and coach at Lyman High School in Lyman, MS. He would soon accept the position as principal of Saucier School.
Through the years, Daddy told many wonderful stories about the students that he had throughout his long career. He loved his students and would have done anything he could to see that they were successful. Although Daddy was officially the "Principal", he gladly filled the role of a bus driver, janitor, coach, cafeteria worker, or parent for his students. On Saturdays, even though Daddy was no barber, he would provide free haircuts to those who could not afford to pay for one. After many years as principal of Saucier School, Daddy went to work for the Biloxi School System, where he remained until his retirement.
After retiring in 1982, Daddy went to work on a new venture: starting a family business. With the help of his wife and son they started Hickory Creek Archery. Daddy was involved in almost every aspect of the business, and he spent countless hours working in the shop to make the company the success it is today.

We have often talked of the things that Daddy had seen and experienced during his long lifetime. In his childhood, a horse and wagon was the common mode of transportation; but in his older life, his own grandsons are building rockets for private space travel. The telephone was put into use the year after he was born; now, everyone carries them around in their hands. In Daddy's youth, the brain was the only computer anyone could have imagined; now, even the youngest of his great-grandchildren know about them and how to use them. Throughout his young life and during the Great Depression, Daddy had a hard time finding food to eat. He told us that he would have starved to death if it had not been for the cornflakes and water or the cornmeal that came with weevils in it that he happily ate. Daddy was always truly thankful for the meals he received, and he would always leave just one little bite of something on his plate to show how thankful he was to be full.
Our Daddy's wonderful life will forever be cherished in the lives of his devoted wife of almost 72 years, Annette Jeroline; their 5 children: Sherwood "Tapper" (Brenda) Goff of Summerville, PA , Brad (Brenda) Goff of Marcella, AR , Sherran (Eddie) Ladner, Shella (Don) Hanberry, and Jerry (Lisa) Goff, all of Saucier; his 9 grandchildren: Deia' Goff Davis of FL, Brianna Goff Gunter of Gulfport, Shelene Ladner (Adam) Knight, Shanna Ladner (Chase) Combest, Casey (Amber) Hanberry, Dustin Goff, Daylon Goff, Jaden Goff, and Jewlian Goff, all of Saucier, and his 11 great-grandchildren: Matthew and Tristan Davis of FL, Ryan Gunter of Gulfport, Kylee Capuano, Kane and Kayten Knight, Rowan and Ridge Combest, and Olivia, Olen, and Oaklen Hanberry, all of Saucier. He is predeceased in death by his first-born grandchild, Matthew Jason Goff.
Words cannot adequately describe the man that our Daddy was, or what he was to his family. He never met a stranger and would willingly give anything he had to anyone in need. He never wanted or expected anything for free and always insisted on "paying his part". He was a jack-of-all-trades and always had a project going on. He was never afraid of work and always looked for something more to accomplish. Daddy believed that every project required a proper jig, and he truly relished a challenge. He loved his old shrimp boat and he was a proud Boxing Coach. He loved his "fine looking woman", and told her so at least 15 times a day. He cherished and found great joy in his kids, grands, and greats, and he was not afraid to show all how much. He enjoyed playing "at" the piano and was a wiz with the harmonica. He was an exceptionally honest, extremely generous, and incredibly proud man. He was a lifelong Baptist and was a member of Faithview Baptist Church.
This great man, Sherwood Goff, was truly blessed by God, and we were truly blessed to be able to call him our Daddy. Daddy, we love you, and we will miss you every minute of every day until we see you again.
There will be a private family service at a later date. RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport is serving the family.