Imogene "Genie" Talley Goode

Imogene Medlock Talley was born on October 25, 1938 in Atlanta, GA to Marion Parks Talley, Sr. and Maurine Wilson Alexander Talley. She attended R.L. Hope elementary, graduated from Northside High School in 1956 and briefly attended Auburn University. On June 8, 1957, she married Jamie Joseph Goode. They lived in Peachtree Hills and raised four children.

Imogene was preceded in death earlier this year by Jamie, her husband of 63 years, on January 20, 2021. She was the oldest of five siblings and was also preceded in death by her sister, Ellen. She is survived by her sister Mary (Bill) Horah, brothers Parks (Anne) and Mike; four children, Dan (Cynthia), Marian Rosenberg, Mike (Margaret), and Kathy (Phil) McGonegal; nine grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.

Imogene was very responsible from an early age. Her father had hoped for a boy to help with yard work, but since his first three children were all girls, Imogene, the oldest, got stuck with that in addition to many other significant chores until Parks, ten years younger, was old enough to take them on. She fed chickens and gathered eggs - which she said was “fun unless you had to do it every day.” When Ellen was born, Lizzie Bryant (Nursie) was employed to help with cooking, cleaning, and caring for the growing family. When Papa and Maurine were out of town on business, Nursie and the children would host a formal dinner for themselves. In this way Imogene learned a lot about cooking, keeping house, and good manners. As she became more capable, she was like a second mother to her four younger siblings. At 16 she was often sent out in the car to run errands for her parents accompanied by her 3-year old brother, Mike. Since the car did not have seat belts, her brother would stand on the seat beside her and she quickly learned to “throw out my right arm to keep him from falling into the dashboard”. Imogene especially loved her sister and best friend Ellen and was mad at her for many years for dying too soon. She remained close with her sister Mary throughout their lives, continuing regular trips to the Varsity for PC on ice and chili dogs. Imogene had many dear childhood friends, some of whom still get together for “no-bridge bridge club.”

Imogene graduated from Northside High School, left her friends and family, and went off to attend Auburn University to major in home economics. But she had already met Jamie, fallen in love, and decided to get started on what she really aspired to be - a wife and mother. They married at Christ the King when she was 18 at which point she put all her housekeeping skills to good use as she and Jamie added four children to their family over the next six years. A capable and determined young woman, Genie (as she became known to her adult friends) learned what she needed to know to run the household, making ends meet by setting a budget, and making the most of what they had. Because a young graduate student/teaching assistant (and later college professor) didn’t make much money, she quickly mastered the art of stretching a dollar. Typical meals included eggs on a pile of grits, chili on a pile of rice, sloppy joes on a pile of buns, and tomato sauce on a pile of noodles. Other specialities included meatloaf, bologna with yellow mustard on a toothpick, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, tuna fish sandwiches, and hot cheese toast on cold school mornings. She bought day-old bread to stock in the freezer and often sewed clothing for herself and her children. Teachers’ gifts were usually homemade - bread covers, yardstick holders, aprons. She continually learned new homemaker skills such as refinishing furniture, painting Tole serving trays, and replacing the weave on lawn chairs.

She did much of this economizing without a great deal of help from her absent-minded-professor husband. Her sister, Mary, remembers Imogene running out of gas, twice, early in their marriage and realizing then that she would have to manage even more of their day-to-day needs. But they loved each other dearly and were of one mind on everything important, making decisions together. Even though she didn’t have a PhD, Genie amazed her children when watching Perry Mason together after school (while snapping beans in front of the TV in the den), by always being the first one to know who did it! She was a good neighbor, hosting dinners and other gatherings and knowing everyone on the street. For those community-building dinners she recorded the guest list and date in her cookbooks along with useful preparation notes. Her southern manners allowed her to interact pleasantly with anyone, almost always with poise (bless their hearts). She loved to chat and sometimes frustrated her less socially inclined children and husband when they went out among strangers and had to interact with everyone.

The church was very important to Jamie and Genie and the Christ the King community played an important role in the young family’s life. They formed many lifelong friendships with other couples they met through the church, eventually forming a long lasting couples book club as an excuse to continue to gather regularly. In the 1960s they engaged with civil rights action through church connections.

When her children got older, Genie started playing tennis (continuing into her late 70’s), competing on multiple teams, and making new friends. She joined the Georgia Tech Faculty Women's Club (where she served as President, 1991-92) and its Investment Club, a Needlework Club, took furniture refinishing classes, and volunteered at the Buckhead Thriftique. Her sense of humor, held in reserve for most of her child rearing life, frequently emerged in her gift giving at birthdays and Christmas. A gift would arrive for a child or a grandchild, beautifully wrapped, whimsically chosen at the Thriftique, and including a check or some cash cleverly hidden. One learned to look very carefully in all the nooks and crannies as the gift was unwrapped. Her childcare responsibilities were replaced by caring for older relatives, especially Jamie’s aunt Mary Jo Nelson. Genie enjoyed weekends at the “mountain house” in Ellijay and hosting summer “Granny Camp” for many of her grandchildren. Family members remember her always in the kitchen with food on the stove and a dish towel over her shoulder, ready to give advice or help with a problem.

In her own way, Genie practiced mindfulness - living in the moment, watching the birds and clouds and the wind blowing the leaves, working jigsaw puzzles with her family, and moving to the beat of music. Even during the last months in memory care, she still gave a great back rub, smiled and laughed with visitors and staff, and said “I love you”. The family is forever grateful to the staff at Brighton Gardens and Agape Hospice for their care and support.

Funeral mass to be held at the Cathedral of Christ the King on Friday, December 10th at 10:00am. Reception immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers: donations to The Cathedral of Christ the King, St. Vincent de Paul or Alzheimer’s Association

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hmpattersonOglethorpe.com for the Goode family.