Rose A. "Penny" (Irick) Gooden

Mrs. Rose A. “Penny” Irick Gooden, 66, of Blackshear, passed away Thursday, September 14, 2023, at Memorial Satilla Health in Waycross.

Born in Dayton, OH on September 13, 1957, she had lived in Cynthiana, KY prior to moving back to Pierce County eleven years ago.  Penny had been a waitress at Cracker Barrel and Howard Johnson restaurants in Kentucky and the Oak Plaza Restaurant in Blackshear prior to purchasing the Oak Plaza and running it for several years.  She loved the outdoors and keeping a beautiful home. Penny enjoyed playing volleyball, bowling, and going to concerts (Celtic Woman and Celion Dion to name a few).  She was of the Baptist faith.

She was a daughter of the late Robert Earl Irick and Juanita Faye Culbertson Strickland.  She was also preceded in death by her step-father, Owen Leroy “Big Hoss” Strickland.

Survivors include her husband of 37 years, Alan Lewis Gooden of Blackshear; a step-daughter, Monica Gooden (Greg Morrison) of Sadieville, KY; two step-sons, Greg (Laura) Gooden of Cynthiana and Shaun (Bethany) Gooden of Nashville, TN; a sister, Terri (James) Higgs of Blackshear; three brothers, Bobby Irick of Blackshear, Keith (Georgie) Irick of Athens, TN, and Barry (Corrina) Irick of Albuquerque, NM; a sister-in-law, Mary Marshall of Georgetown, KY; 6 grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

A memorial service for Penny will be held Friday, September 22, 2023, at 7:00 o’clock from the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Hoboken.

The family will be receiving friends at the church from 5 pm until 7 pm on Friday evening.

Memorialization will be by cremation.

Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online register at www.pearsondial.com.

Pearson Dial Funeral Home of Blackshear is in charge of arrangement. 

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