Nancy Arcena Goodwin

Nancy Arcena Collins Goodwin, 85, of Jonesboro, AR, received perfect healing Wednesday March 15, 2017 in Jonesboro, AR.

Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday March 17, 2017 at Emerson Funeral Home in Jonesboro.

A memorial service will be held in the Chapel of First United Methodist Church in Jonesboro at 10:00 a.m. Saturday March 18, 2017 with Reverend John Miles II officiating.

A brief visitation and graveside services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday March 18, 2017 at Lee Memorial Park in Tupelo, Mississippi with Brother Roger Smith of Bissell Baptist Church of Tupelo, MS officiating. Arrangements are by Emerson Funeral Home.

Nancy was born in Hamilton, Mississippi to Frank and Nova Taylor Collins on July 7, 1931. She graduated from Hamilton High School where she was on the basketball team and was also “Miss Hamilton High” her senior year. It was there she met her future husband. Nancy and J. C. Goodwin, Jr. of Wren, MS were married on June 10, 1950. The marriage was officiated by her cousin the Reverend Grady McWhirter at his home in Amory, Mississippi.

Nancy lived in McGhee, AR and worked at Wells Lamont Glove before moving to Osceola, AR where she worked at American Greetings and was on the company bowling team. She and J.C. moved to Jonesboro for the first time in 1963. In Jonesboro she worked as a bookkeeper for Pardew Real Estate for thirteen years before retiring to begin a life of loving her grandchildren.

She was involved in Home Demonstration Clubs in both Hamilton, MS and Jonesboro, AR. Nancy was a long time member of the Suzanna Circle of United Methodist Women, Fourth Quarter Club and the Friendship Sunday School Class of First United Methodist Church. She was also active in the Hamilton United Methodist Church in Hamilton, MS when she and J.C. returned to Mississippi in 1982. They returned to Arkansas in 1991 to be near their family. Nancy was also a “Pink Lady” at St. Bernard’s Regional Medical Center after her return.

Nancy, known by many as “Moner”, will be especially remembered for her love of family, and her extended family as well. She was the family historian chronicling everything from births to deaths to broken bones and the passing of family pets. Some of her favorite times were summers. The garden was ready and ripening and the grandchildren were there to spend time with Moner and Granddaddy. She also truly appreciated her special relationship with her extended grandchildren, Logan, Luke, Olivia, Stone, Hundley Rae and Marshall. Nancy enjoyed music from the gospel of the Gaithers to the 1940s Glenn Miller Band. Her real favorite though was Josh Turner; whom, at 82 and 84 years of age, she saw live in concert.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, J. C. Goodwin. Jr.; her parents; a brother, Bobby Hugh Collins of Hamilton, MS; and a son-in-law, Dan Best of Jonesboro, AR.
Nancy is survived by three daughters, Sue Goodwin Best of Jonesboro; Gayle (Richard) Burns of Pocahontas and Dianne (Roger) Bounds of Jonesboro; a brother, Granville (Peggy) Collins of Corinth, MS; three grandchildren; Jennifer (George) Williams of Jonesboro; Alana (Keith) Hardin of Little Rock, AR and Alex (Trisha) Burns of Jonesboro. She is also survived by five great-grandchildren, Bennett Williams of Jonesboro; Hudson Hardin and Keith Hardin II of Little Rock, AR; and Wesley Burns and Kaitlynn Burns of Jonesboro.

While being survived by several nieces and nephews Nancy remained particularly close to a surviving sister-in-law Ruth Goodwin of Wren, MS as well as nephews Grant (Priscilla) Collins of Tupelo, MS; Ricky (Lori) Goodwin of Lackey, MS; and Roger (Kim) Goodwin of Wren, MS. Her childhood friend and “sister” Sara West Brewton of Hattiesburg, MS also survives her as does an aunt, Mamie (Mack) Taylor of Aberdeen, MS.

Pallbearers will be Alex Burns, Keith Hardin, George Williams, Grant Collins, Ricky Goodwin, and Roger Goodwin.

Honorary pallbearers are Dustin Goodwin of Amory, MS; Terie and Wyatt Boyette of Jonesboro, AR; Paul Terry and Kathryn Robertson of Tupelo, MS; Lem and Doris Holman, Steve Holman, Terry Holman of Hamilton, MS; Ellie Mae Sigmond of Aberdeen, MS; Jack and Sara Brewton of Hattiesburg, MS; Friendship Sunday School Class of FUMC, Jonesboro, AR; Susanna Circle of United Methodist Women of Jonesboro, AR; David Ferguson of Jonesboro, AR and Dr. John and Joy Sanford also of Jonesboro, AR.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to First United Methodist Church of Jonesboro, AR, (FUMC, 801 South Main Street, Jonesboro, AR); Arkansas Children's Hospital (1 Children's Way, Little Rock, AR 72202); the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House (1148 East Matthews Avenue, Jonesboro, AR 72401) or a charity of your choice.

The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Ben Owens and the staff of the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House, Amber, Tara, Lisa, Ryder and the Staff of Dierksen Hospice, Betsy Duvall, Dr. Brandon Treece, Dr. Scott Dorroh, Dr. Kevin Collins, and the Staff of NEA Cancer Center.