Stephanie Jeanette Carpenter Goode was born on December 22, 1951 in Washington D.C. to her late parents - Elenora Jackson Carpenter and Charles H. Carpenter, Sr. Her life centered on her partnership with her husband, George C.W. Goode, III and her close and extended family.
Stephanie and George first met when they were twelve years old and were sweethearts in their teenage years. They married on June 20, 1975 after George returned from military service. They raised three phenomenally kind and caring children - Carol Goode Wells (husband Adam M. Wells Sr,) George C.W. Goode, IV (Misleydis L. Goode) and Stephen A. J. Goode. Stephanie is affectionally known as ‘Mia’ to her grandkids – Adam M. Wells, Jr. and Caroline B. Wells. She is also survived by her siblings, Charles H. Carpenter, Jr., and Deborah C. Brittain, mother in-law Beverly W. Goode, two brothers in-law Steven & Harold Goode, two sisters in-law Virginia Waters and Cheryl McGlotten and a host of nieces and nephews.
Stephanie was raised in Arlington, Virginia and received her early education in Arlington County and later studied at Howard University, while pursuing her runway modeling career through the Ophelia DeVore School of Modeling in New York. She later worked for a variety of consulting firms in the Washington DC area. In 1994, Stephanie and George relocated to Cary, North Carolina to support her husband’s career. She joined George in starting and growing a successful and highly regarded consulting firm, Telecommunication Solutions Group (TSG) in Raleigh, North Carolina. She served as Vice-President of the company and a member of the Board of Directors.
Stephanie’s faith guided every aspect of her life. At an early age, she was a member of Lomax AME Zion Church in Arlington, VA. While in Cary, she joined Pleasant Grove Church and later attended St. Francis United Methodist Church. Consistent with her unwavering faith and her Christian spirit, Stephanie participated in the Tuesday Evening Prayer Group for 15 years, leading the Prayer Group for five of those years.
While the world had Mother Theresa, we had Stephanie. The “Stephanie-way” was that she shared her blessings and extended her kindheartedness and generosity to family and friends (and friends of friends) without hesitation and without expecting anything in return. She knew almost instinctively when people needed a joyful smile, a kind word or a quiet prayer—without having to ask and without much fanfare or personal acknowledgement. She gave generously to humans and animals alike. No one came to The Goode home without seeing a flock of birds and a scurry of squirrels on the driveway pillars eating from the 50 pound bags of bird seed George lugged into the house monthly. No doubt, her family and close friends benefited from her legacy of unselfish service and her heart of gold.
Stephanie had personal style, the gift of hospitality, and a huge holiday spirit. Her two- day Thanksgiving dinners and her warm Christmas décor are legendary. Beyond this she was known for her cooking and especially her spicy dishes which always included Tabasco and cayenne pepper. People traveled thousands of miles for her delicious meals, her graciousness, her laughter, and the unconditional welcoming of everyone.
Stephanie could have continued her career as a runway model. However, she chose to be an everlasting and ever present “model” to all of us by the love she gave, the blessings she shared and the life she lived. Stephanie showed us a way to live our lives on this earth and a path toward God’s kingdom without fear. Our tribute to her is to follow this model and to be faithful to God in all that we do and say. She was a sweet angel living amongst us.
We are assured in our faith that we will meet Stephanie again where she will greet us with a smile and Welcome Home. Who else do we want and need to welcome us to God’s heavenly kingdom! While we will all miss Stephanie, let her faith, caring, thoughtfulness and kindness be a model to us as to how to conduct ourselves with family, friends, strangers and God’s creatures.
Stephanie adored and treasured all. Her job on earth has been done and done well. And for that, it is well with her soul.
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