Shirley Thomas Goodwin

Shirley Thomas Goodwin, 87, of Hayes, died on Saturday, September 16, 2023, at the home of her daughter. She was born in 1936 in Lynchburg, VA, to the late Martha Spangler and John E. Thomas. Shirley has been a resident of Gloucester since 1972 and a member of New Covenant Church, Hampton. She retired from BASF Corporation, Williamsburg, as Senior Secretary in 1993 after 21 years of service. Shirley has been a volunteer driver for the American Cancer Society, Bay Aging, or through local doctor's offices since 1995. This was not simply a volunteer activity but a ministry sharing the love of Jesus through driving patients from Gloucester, Mathews, and Middlesex counties to doctor appointments locally and in Norfolk, Williamsburg, Richmond, and Hampton – wherever they needed to go. These “patients” became special friends for life. Shirley was an active member and Past Commander of Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary No. 58 in Gloucester since 1999 and Chaplain of Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary for the State of Virginia since 2001. Helping disabled veterans and their families or planning community activities such as parades in Gloucester was a unique challenge and joy. She volunteered with the AARP Taxaide Program in Gloucester from 2000 until 2018. Shirley enjoyed the challenge of tax preparation but, most importantly, felt truly blessed to be able to assist people and help them through a very stressful time. For fun and relaxation, Shirley enjoyed yardwork and crossword puzzles and loved to play Scrabble, especially with her children and grandchildren. Shirley was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who will be dearly missed and always remembered. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Vernon B. Hungate, Jr. and William R. Goodwin; son, David A. Hungate; and grandson, Ricky Suarez. She is survived by her children Pamela Soukup, Cynthia Suarez (Armando), Judith Poland (Gary), grandchildren Christopher, Christina, Elizabeth, and Stacey Soukup, David Hungate, Jr., Jennifer Montgomery and Michael Hungate, April Poland, John Ligon, Nicholas Ligon, Heather McFarland and nine great-grandchildren. We would also like to thank her wonderful caregivers, Stephanie Cann, Alexis Carew, Holly Mullins, and the Riverside Walter Reed Hospice Staff. The family will receive friends on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at Petsworth Baptist Church, 2471 Hickory Fork Road, Gloucester, VA 23061, from 1:00 – 1:45 p.m., followed by a funeral service, officiated by Pastor John Pouchot and Chaplain Myles Shipp at 2:00 p.m. Interment to follow in Rosewell Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Disabled American Veterans Gen Anthony Wayne Chapter 58, at PO Box 58, Gloucester, VA 23061—services under the direction of Hogg Funeral Home.