Our mom, Goldie Mae Carpenter, passed away peacefully at her home with family by her side on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. She had been in declining health for some time and received home hospice care for nearly a year. Her love of life, spunk, and feisty spirit will be missed, but we are comforted knowing that she now joyfully resides in her heavenly home free of pain. Goldie, the 10th of 11 children, was born on June 10,1930 in Sumner, Kentucky. She never failed to remind us that, although she was the 10th child, her parents (Hannah and Albert Patrick) still named her "gold.” She was nine when her family moved from the Appalachian "boonies" on the Cumberland River to the neighboring "upscale city" of Williamsburg. That was the first time her home had electricity and she received a real toy (doll).
She met our dad, Paul H. Carpenter, Jr. on a blind date while studying Home Economics at Eastern Kentucky University and they soon eloped. She always marveled at how becoming a military wife instantly transformed her life from being a 'child' of humble beginnings to that of an adventurous world traveler. Goldie was a deeply devout Christian, and a devoted wife and mother who taught her children, born in Japan and Germany, to embrace each "bright blessed day and dark sacred night" (from Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World").
In 1971, after 25 years of military service, the family settled in Clarkston, Georgia. With her oldest off to college and two in high school, Goldie had more opportunities to use her special talents and gifts in service to her new church. Among other things, she and our father volunteered with the Church food ministry, International Sunday School, and Meals-on-Wheels.
Once she began teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to international students through Georgia Piedmont Technical College located at her church, she absolutely thrived. Goldie would continue to teach ESL and to volunteer at her church until after her 87th birthday. We couldn't take her anywhere within a 30-mile radius of Clarkston without someone calling out "mama" or "teacher" and running up to embrace her.
Goldie is survived by her daughters Cheryl Paulette Bowman, Karen Gabrielson (Kenneth); son Albert Carpenter (Laura); beloved grandchildren Clay Bowman (Marie), Clint Bowman (Ashley), Cheryl Gabrielson Cate (Bill), Patrick Carpenter (Amelia), Steven Carpenter (Marie); and precious great-grandchildren Kayla Bowman, Brendan Cate, Joseph Carpenter, Adelaide Carpenter, and Thomas Carpenter. Goldie is also survived by many adored nieces and nephews.
Goldie Celebration of life will be at Floral Hills Funeral Home and Memory Gardens (Tucker) April 28, 2022. Visitation begins at 11:00 a.m. and the onsite chapel service begins at noon. She will be laid to rest next to her beloved Paul Carpenter.
In lieu of flowers, the "Goldie Carpenter Memorial Scholarship Fund" has been set up to support the summer camp program at her church that serves many international children from the Clarkston community. Donations can be made several ways: Send a check or donate cash to Clarkston International Bible Church, 3895 Church Street, Clarkston, GA 30021 (designate "Goldie Carpenter Fund" on the check). For online donations, go to cibcfamily.com and click "GIVE" on upper right side. Scroll down and type in your "Custom Amount" (ex: $10.00). Choose "Goldie's" fund designation and click "Give Now." Our family appreciates all of your kind thoughts and prayers during this time.
Serving as pallbearers are Clay Bowman, Clint Bowman, Patrick Carpenter, Steven Carpenter, Ken Gabrielson, Albert Carpenter, Brendan Cate and Kayla Bowman.
Goldie will be laid to rest in Floral Hills Memory Gardens, Tucker, Georgia.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.floralhillsfuneral.com for the Carpenter family.
