Essie Jay "SEJ" Clark Goodman

Essie Jay “SEJ” Clark Goodman, the great great granddaughter of Jacob Armstrong founder and pioneer of Texas HistoricalArmstrong Colony (a freedmen’s settlement) established in 1875 in Fayette County, was called up to heaven on January 04th 2022 during the early morning hours in Pflugerville, TX. Essie Jay is a proud descendant of the active Fannie Armstrong Oil Lease in Fayette County.

Essie Jay was born the youngest of 6 children and only daughter to Ernest and Bessie Clark (Lucky) on July 30, 1934, in Booth, Texas. She grew up in Gonzalez, TX, and Galveston, TX before establishing roots in the historic Fifth Ward Neighborhood of Houston TX with her family. She was a graduate of The Phillis Wheatley Senior High School Spring Class of 1952.

After high school she married Raymond Jones on June 04, 1952 in Houston, Harris County, Texas. She was a military wife and travelled about the US with Raymond. Together they had one child, Daughter Carolyn Raven (Jones) born June 6, 1953. Essie Jay married her second husband, Herman Ulyses Goodman, on October 15, 1955 in Houston, Harris County, Texas of whom she raised her daughter with.

She attended Espanola Beauty Cosmetology College in Houston Texas and became a licensed cosmetologist. She went onto work as a baker/cake decorator for the F.W. Woolworth Company before seeking employment with Kroger Food Co in the same positions. She retired from Kroger Food Co at the age of 54.

After accepting Christ as her Lord and Savior at a very early age, Essie Jay lived an obedient and fulfilling Christian lifestyle all the remaining days of her life. In 2008 She joined her final church home Restoration Temple of Deliverance (Bishop John Horne) and was a faithful tithing member.

Proceeding her in death were brothers Herman, Sherman, Early, Loye and Jody. She leaves to mourn Daughter Carolyn Raven & Husband (Dwight); Grandson Dexter Jones; Granddaughter Bridget Jones; Great Granddaughter Shawanna Matthews-Keyes; Great Granddaughter Bria Johnson-Boykins; Great Grandson Devante Matthews; Great Great Granddaughter Caliyah Wilson; Great Great Granddaughter Brielle Boykins; Great Great Grandson D’Andre Keyes, and a host of Family, Extended Family, and Friends.

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