James Edward Goodman

Mr. James Edward Goodman, 90, passed away Tuesday, January 27, 2015, at his home. Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 29, 2015, at Ray Funeral Home. A second visitation will be 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 30, 2015, with celebration of Life services immediately following beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Ray Funeral Home with Rev. Jimmy Breland officiating. Interment will be at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 31 2015, at Bethany Baptist Church Cemetery in Whynot, MS. Mr. Goodman, a planter and businessman, was born in Riderwood, Alabama on October 10, 1924, to Edward Gray Goodman and Pearl Maiden Long Goodman. He proudly served our country in the United States Army Air Corps during WWII as a gunner and a member of a B-29 flight crew. On December 8, 1945, he married Mary Juanice Fuller in Meridian, MS. Upon graduation from Mississippi State University with a BA in agriculture and LSU earning a MA in agriculture, he worked with the Agricultural Extension Service in Sharkey and Holmes counties. He served as County Agricultural Extension Agent in Bolivar County until the early 60's. Mr. Goodman was interested in the science of agriculture and wrote several books about planting and growing rice and cotton. He, with his friend and business partner Wallace Wooten, farmed near Shelby, MS and owned an automotive dealership that specialized in Mercedes Benz, Toyota, and Chrysler products. He was one of the earliest Bolivar County farmers to plant rice and precision level his farms. He served as a Deacon in his church, and loved to collect Indian artifacts. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Gray Goodman and Pearl Maiden Long Goodman; and brothers, John Commie Goodman and Oscar Gray Goodman. Mr. Goodman is survived by his wife of 69 years, Mary Juanice Fuller Goodman of Cleveland; sons, Thomas Edward Goodman (Elizabeth L.) of Carrollton, Ms and James David Goodman (Carolyn M.) of Cleveland, MS; grandchildren, Edward Augustus Goodman (Elizabeth M.) of Chicago, IL, Jesse Vaughan Goodman Dehombre (Adalberto) of Palm Harbor, FL, Carolina Clements Goodman of Austin, TX, James Maxwell Goodman of Carrolton, MS, and Mary Elizabeth Goodman Harris (Benjamin) of Ridgeland, MS; 7 great-grandchildren; brother, Arthur Martin Goodman (Nell) of Whynot, MS; sister, Gaythel Goodman Dearman of Whynot, MS; and a host of nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be his nephews: Gray Goodman, Carl Goodman, Kenneth Goodman, Keith Goodman, John Goodman, Van Goodman, and Rocky Dearman. In memory of Mr. Goodman, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the charity of your choice.

First Visitation

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Thursday, January 29, 2015
Ray Funeral Home 206 Bishop Road Cleveland, Mississippi, United States

Second Visitation

10:00 am - 11:00 am Friday, January 30, 2015
Ray Funeral Home 206 Bishop Road Cleveland, Mississippi, United States

Celebration of Life Services

11:00 am Friday, January 30, 2015
Ray Funeral Home 206 Bishop Road Cleveland, Mississippi, United States

Graveside Service

1:00 pm Saturday, January 31, 2015
Bethany Baptist Church Cemetery Whynot, MS Whynot, Mississippi, United States