Mary A. Terrell Goodwin, age 87, of Water Valley, MS passed from this life at the Yalobusha General Hospital in Water Valley on June 3, 2007. The daughter of the late Clifton Earl and Annie Bell Vick Terrell, she was a member of the First Baptist Church of Water Valley, the Yalobusha County Historical Society and was president of the Yazoo County Home Demonstration Club for several years where she won numerous Blue Ribbons at the Jackson State Fair.
Services will be held on Wednesday, June 6, 2007 at 11: 00 AM in Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral with Dr. Randy Bain, Brother Hal Clark and Dr. Paul Odom conducting the service. Visitation will begin one hour prior to and continue until the service time at the Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Hopewell Cemetery in Water Valley with Jimmy Stewart, Keith Marchbanks, Lynn Terrell, Randy Marchbanks, Sam Goodwin, Ricki Goodwin, Jimmy Goodwin and Bob Norwood serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are; George Stewart, Joe Davis, Keny Goodwin, Richard Terrell and Paul Parker.
Surviving Mrs. Goodwin are; her husband, James Daniel Goodwin, Sr of Water Valley, MS; daughters, Jimmie Sue Goodwin & husband Jimmy Leo Crain of Crane, TX and Barbara Ann Goodwin Densing of Dallas, TX; son James Daniel Goodwin, Jr. of Norfolk, VA; sisters, Ann Terrell Marchbanks of Southaven, MS, Dorothy Jean Terrell Benson of Olive Branch, MS, Jeanette Terrell Marchbanks and Frances Terrell Stewart both of Water Valley, MS; She leaves eight grandchildren,9 great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter.
In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by a son, Ronald Wayne Goodwin and three brothers, Nathan Earl, Charles Henry and Bobby Dean Terrell.
Born October 4, 1919 in the Hopewell Community of Yalobusha County, Mary’s first years of school were in the one room, one teacher Hopewell school her parents had attended through the eighth grade. She was reared in the Hopewell Baptist Church founded by her ancestors. Grandfather Richard T. Vick and great uncle William Evans were Deacons for many years. Uncle John Vick served as deacon and caretaker of the cemetery for 41 years. After his death, his son Carl Vick faithfully took over the care of the cemetery for over 30 years. For almost two centuries, Vick and Evans ancestors have been buried in Hopewell Cemetery and have contributed much to the community in many ways.
The Terrell’s moved to Yalobusha County and the Jeff Davis area in 1930 during the depression years. Mary graduated from Jeff Davis School, where she was on the varsity basketball team and on the track team that received both District and State recognition. Mary married James Daniel Goodwin during the WW II years. When he returned from the European Theatre of Operations, they settled in Water Valley. He was employed with the Soil Conservation Service and was later transferred to Yazoo County, MS where he worked as District Conservationist for 32 years. While there, Mary was active in community and church activities. She was president of the Home Demonstration Club and won her share of Blue Ribbons at the Jackson State Fair each year. She worked as a pre-school teacher and was a professional seamstress making many bridesmaid and wedding dresses including ones for her daughters’ weddings.
The Goodwins’ were members of a fishing and hunting club in Yazoo County since 1969. The club had its headquarters in the 3-story Hollamon House in the Phoenix Community between Yazoo city an Vicksburg, MS. Used as a hospital during the Civil War, the home still had the beautiful architecture that made it famous. She loved cooking for the club and cooked for 30 to 40 people, receiving nothing but praise for her good cooking.
Mary had numerous interesting and famous ancestors. Among them was Rev. Newitt Vick, founder of Vicksburg, MS and ancestor of the owners of the famous Martha Vick Home there. He was a descendant of Joseph Vick who came from Gloustershire, England and settled in the Isle of Wright, VA. Later the Vicks and the Evans’ migrated to the Hopewell Community and nearly two centuries later some still live there. Another interesting relative was Henry Vick, the famous clock maker who made the huge clock that is still on the town hall in Paris, France. Local Water Vallians Bob and Glenda Singleton visited the city hall and took pictures of the clock while on vacation in Paris and it was included in the Vick History of the Yalobusha County Historical Society Pioneers. Then there was Sam Vick. Mary was present in 1972 for the Vick Family Reunion. Eleven states were represented and over 200 people attended. Not only was Mr. Sam famous for his peach orchard in Panola County, but was a famous National Baseball Hero. He was the only person ever to pinch hit for Babe Ruth!
After 54 years in Yazoo City and the rearing of their four children, they moved back home to Water Valley and settled at 105 Prospect Drive. Mary still enjoyed her flowers and of course her sewing machine. She was always looking for something to sew for her family. She also enjoyed Sunday School at the First Baptist Church and attending meetings of the Yalobusha Historical Society. The Terrell girls are a very close family and they all enjoyed shopping and visiting together. Her sisters showed their love of her by being there by her side during her illness.
Memorials may be made to the Yalobusha County Historical Society, Inc. , PO Box 258, Coffeeville, MS 38922-0258.