Margarita Diane Goodwin

Margarita Diane Goodwin, affectionately known to many as Marge, was born May 25, 1939, in New York City. On August 6, 2026, at the age of 87, she peacefully transitioned from this life at her home in Melbourne, Florida, with her devoted husband, John, by her side.

Margarita was a woman of intelligence, compassion, determination, and quiet strength. She possessed a creative spirit and enjoyed sewing, arts, and crafts. She was thoughtful, independent, socially conscious, and deeply committed to the people and causes she loved.

Raised in New York, Margarita attended John Adams High School, where she served as captain of the swimming team. Although marriage and motherhood interrupted her formal education, she never allowed that interruption to determine the rest of her story. Years later, she earned her GED and continued her education at New York University and Long Island University, proudly earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1980. From 1983 to 2004, Margarita worked for the District Attorney’s Office in the Homicide Division as a paralegal.

Margarita also believed in using her voice and her presence to make a difference. During the Civil Rights era, she volunteered with NAACP voter registration efforts in the South and participated in the historic March on Washington in 1963. Her professional life included work with the telephone company and law firms in New York. Through it all, she worked, learned, raised her three sons—Robert, Tony, and Chris—and continued moving forward with determination and grace.

After completing her college education, Margarita met her beloved John. Their relationship grew through companionship, shared interests, and adventure. They enjoyed playing tennis and traveling together, including cruises and trips to Hawaii, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Margarita and John were united in holy matrimony in 1988.

Faith remained an important part of Margarita's journey. In New York, she was a member of Bridge Street AME Church, where she served with the Missionary Society and Legal Aid Society, and later St. Paul AME Church in Hempstead. After relocating to Florida in 2004, she and John united first with Mt. Moriah AME Church in Cocoa and later made Greater Allen Chapel AME Church in Melbourne their church home.

Margarita treasured relationships and maintained friendships that became like family. During her lengthy illness, those relationships surrounded her with love and support. In her final years, John faithfully and tenderly cared for his wife, remaining by her side and providing extraordinary care until the very end.

Margarita's life cannot be measured simply by the number of her years. Her legacy lives in the sons she raised, the education she refused to abandon, the causes for which she stood, the churches she served, the friendships she nurtured, the beautiful things she created, and the love she shared.

She lived through changing times and changing circumstances, yet she continued to learn, to grow, to serve, to love, and to move forward.

Margarita Diane Goodwin—our beloved Marge—lived a full and meaningful life. Though her presence will be deeply missed, the strength of her example and the memories she created will remain in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Jennifer Jack; her mother, Grace Jack; her stepfather, Punter Jack; and her son, John Goodwin Jr.

She leaves to cherish her precious memory her devoted husband, John Goodwin; her sons, Robert, Tony, Chris, and Clarence; her brother, Peter (Shirley) Jack, and their children, Noland and Aaron; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; and a loving circle of extended family, church family, and friends.

Visitation will be held at Allen Chapel AME Church, 2416 Lipscomb St, Melbourne, FL 32901, US, on August 15, 2026, beginning at 9:00 am, followed by the Funeral Service at the same location on August 15, 2026, beginning at 10:00 am.

A Committal Service will take place at Florida Memorial Park and Cremation Gardens, 5950 South US Highway 1, Rockledge, Florida, on August 15, 2026, beginning at 12:30 pm.

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