Joan Wills Goodson passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, on Friday, August 12th after a brief illness. Joan was born on December 19th, 1925 to William and May Wills in Stock-on-Trent, England. During World War II, Joan met James Richard (“Dick”) Avery, Jr. while he was stationed in England serving in the United States Army. In 1944, Joan and Dick were married and moved to Dick’s home state of North Carolina at the conclusion of the war. Joan and Dick ultimately settled in Montgomery, Alabama where they raised their three children. After Dick’s death in 1981, Joan moved to Birmingham where she met James (“Jim”) Marion Goodson, Jr. and the two were married in 1987. Throughout their marriage, Joan and Jim shared a love of traveling, often to her home country to see her parents, brother, nieces and nephew. Joan is survived by her son James Richard Avery, III (Lois) of Phoenix, AZ, daughters Susan Avery Nolen (George) of Birmingham, Catherine Avery Nixon of Birmingham, grandchildren Jamie Avery, Clay Nolen (Fef) of Savannah, GA, Shep Nolen (Mimi) of Birmingham, Ross Gwaltney of Atlanta and Avery Lieske (Johnny) of Birmingham, stepchildren James M. Goodson, III (Sue) and their children Colin and Margaret of Castine, Maine and Mary Goodson Samuels (Rick) of Atlanta and their son Ben, and six great-grandchildren. Joan was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Peter George Wills of Shropshire, England and husbands Dick Avery and Jim Goodson. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, August 19th at South Highland Presbyterian Church in Birmingham with a reception to follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to South Highland Presbyterian Church at 2035 Highland Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35205.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.johnsridouts.com for the Goodson family.
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