Mrs. Reba Mae "Big Ma" Goodson

“A great soul serves everyone all the time.

A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again.”

Maya Angelou

Mrs. Reba Mae Change Goodson was born on Monday, February 25, 1929, to the late Mrs. Evelena Mathis in Wrens, GA. She was raised by her grandmother, Hannah Change. Our dearly beloved Reba let go of her earthly tether and made her transition to her heavenly home on Sunday, December 31, 2023.

At an early age, she joined the Thompson Springhill A.M.E. Church in Matthews, GA. She later joined the New Zion Baptist Church of Wrens, GA where she was a lifetime member. She was a Bible Scholar of Sunday School and Bible Study, a Prayer Warrior of Noon Day Prayer, an Emerita Member serving as Chaplain of the Usher Ministry, the Choir Ministry, the Mission Ministry, and a volunteer of the Hospitality Ministry.

In 1943 she was united in holy matrimony to the late Mr. James Goodson, Sr. and from that union they were blessed with eight children of which three preceded her in death: John Willie Goodson, Mervin Goodson, and Alexander Goodson. They were also blessed with dozens of grandchildren, volumes of great-grandchildren and a host of great-great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Reba was lovingly known as “Ma”, “Big Ma”, ‘Ma Rebie”, “Mother Goodson”, simply “Mama” and or “Sister Goodson.” She always welcomed everyone to her home and was very happy to share food and dessert, especially her homemade cakes with whoever was hungry. She wholeheartedly had a passion for cooking and baking. In her employment years, she worked at the former Dairy Queen in Wrens, GA for years. Her daughter Ella joined her there at the age of 13. They worked side by side for several years. Mrs. Reba eventually left and joined the crew at the former Dutch House in Wrens, GA where she continued to please people with her delicious food. Mother Goodson lived a clean yet simple life. It was structured on the basis of a strong foundation of having faith and belief in God and being a forgiving person at all times. She was indeed a good listener, which made it easy to have a conversation with her knowing that your words spoken to her would never be repeated.

She leaves behind a whole community of people who truly loved her. Mother Goodson also leaves behind a loving family who has vowed to honor in her memory her love of family togetherness by fellowshipping often. A lifetime of precious memories are left to be forever cherished by those who have survived her: a daughter, Ella Goodson-Smith (Marty); four sons, Clayton Goodson, Eddie Goodson (Marta), Richard Goodson (Martha) and James Goodson, Jr.; a goddaughter, Bernice Scales; a godson, Walter Thomas; four bonus children, Faye Smith, Eleanor Jackson (Larry), Carolyn Brown and Michael Thomas (Wanda) in addition to many other family members and friends.