Mrs. Virginia E. Goines

Mrs. Virginia Sanders Goines, age 99, entered God’s glorious Kingdom on October 31, 2022. She was born on October 28, 1923, to Lauretta and Will Sanders in Johnson City, Tennessee. Virginia was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Claude F. Goines; two daughters, Priscilla Goines and Phyllis Goines Hall; two sons, Robert Goines and Bill Goines; one grandchild, Michael Whittington; two brothers, William P. J. Sanders, and James Copney; and three sisters, Ethel Mae Adams, Ruth Dixon, and Hattie Hale. Virginia is survived by eight children: two sons: Claude “Honey” Goines and Martin “Doug” Goines; and six daughters: Nancy Howard (Norman), Loretta “Tiny” Goines, Georgia Gillespie (Eugene), Claudia Goines, Carrie Whittington (Michael – deceased), and Pamela Bolden (Ronald-deceased); and twenty grandchildren; thirty-five great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Those of us who were blessed to have Virginia touch our lives know exactly what she wants us to do right now. Virginia accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was baptized as a child at Mt. Hope Fire Baptized Church. She was a long-time member of Friendship Baptist Church. In more recent years, she joined Cornerstone Church and attended regularly until her health began to fail. Over the years, God blessed Virginia with a wonderful life filled with His “grace and peace.” She read and studied one of her many Bibles daily, often highlighting specific phrases and verses. She was not one to withhold her knowledge; thus, Virginia often shared God’s wisdom with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many friends, thereby “enriching” their lives. Virginia was intellectually ahead of her time and curious about happenings in the community and world. She was an avid reader of newspapers and was always aware of current events and issues both locally and globally. She loved people and often spent hours on the phone or hosting guests in her home while engaging in stimulating conversations. Individuals who talked with her thoroughly enjoyed their discussions. Ever the loving grandmother, she also had meaningful and constructive conversations with her various grandchildren. It was obvious that she loved each of them, and they loved her! She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother who spread her love and care equally among them all. Her capacity to love her kids and others was endless and enduring. So much so that each member of her family thoroughly loved and adored her, as evidenced by their frequent visits to the family home for Sunday dinners. In addition to prayer, each guest had to recite a Bible verse. This was her way of encouraging everyone to read the Bible. One of Virginia’s favorite Bible verses was Matthew 6:33 – “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Virginia wore “many hats.” While raising her children and spending time with her grandchildren, Virginia worked for many years, as a cook, for several prominent families in Johnson City. Her employers often complimented Virginia for her outstanding cooking skills, coupled with her engaging and cheerful personality! Based on Virginia’s cooking ability, she was often described as one of Johnson City’s finest culinary experts. She was well known for baking light, fluffy, and buttery yeast dinner rolls, which she often gave to friends as a gift. During holidays and on special occasions, she made hundreds of rolls for various families to accommodate the many requests for these delightful culinary treats. In addition to her rolls, she was also known for her ham biscuits, cheese wafers, and “congo squares.” Food was truly her ministry and opportunity to spread the gospel of the Lord with everyone she met. On several occasions, Virginia was invited to travel with her employers on their vacations to provide cooking services. This exposed her to some of the well-known resort areas in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida. On a couple of occasions, true friendships with select employers’ wives blossomed from these relationships. Always quick with a warm smile and kind words, Virginia was a “true confidant” and friend to many in the community. Virginia was certainly a “phenomenal woman” who will be greatly missed! Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, November 3, 2022, at 12 pm from Cornerstone Church, 120 Cornerstone Drive, Johnson City, TN. The family hour begins at 10:30 am. Interment will follow at the Mountain Home National Cemetery, Mountain Home, TN.