Willa Mae Goodin

Willa Mae Goodin was born on August 12, 1931 in Brawley California.

She was the third of four children born to Helen and Martin Davis.

In 1948, Willa graduated from Brawley High school. Shortly after graduation, Willa united in holy matrimony with the love of her life, Claude W. Bell Sr.  and of that blessed union Phyllis, Claude, James and Cynthia were born.

While raising her children, she worked at Teledyne Ryan as a Micro Electronic Technician.  Because of her love for children, she later worked for the San Diego Unified School District with jobs ranging from Play Ground Monitor to Special Education Specialist, where she retired after 23 years of service.

Willa joined Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego in 1976 where she met a strong Christian man name Robert P. Goodin. They fell in love and was united in Holy matrimony on February 28, 1977.  Willa loved to sing.  She had a beautiful alto voice. She often mentioned that her happiest moments was when she sang with the Calvary Baptist Church choir. She would often remember with great pride the opportunity she and her beloved choir received when they were invited to perform and sing at Copley Hall, in Symphony Towers.

In 2005, Willa transferred her membership to New Life Baptist church under the leadership of Pastor Troy P. Owens, Sr. where she briefly served with the Deaconesses until her health started to fail.

Willa will be remembered by her witty cliches that she often shared with close family and friends. Here are a few of her sayings, “Im not as good as I once was but, I’m as good once now then I ever was” and, “ It’s better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.”

Willa Mae Goodin will also be lovingly remembered by her beautiful personality, her warm and engaging smile and those passionately warm comforting words that left every heart which she touched feeling extra special.  The family will forever remember her strong faith in God that always carried her through the tough times. Her last words were, “God hands are over my hands” ; which was evident to the family that the Lord was guiding her home. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Helen and Martin Davis, a brother, Roland Davis and her dearest sister, Ethel Stewart.

On Sunday November 26, 2017,  Willa Mae Goodin was called home to glory with a smile on her face.

She was greatly loved by her children who are left to cherish her memories; Phyllis Cook and Sidney Cook of Chatsworth CA, Claude Bell Jr., and Portia Bell of San  Diego, CA., James Bell and Cecilia Bell of Heber CA, and Cynthia Keeve of Chula Vista CA.  She is lovingly remembered by her grandchildren, Divine Dubar, Fabian Cook, Janae Bell, Caitlyn Keeve and Geona Bell; one great grandchild, Edris Bernard; Five nieces, six nephews and a host of other relatives, church family and friends who will cherish her life and mourn her passing.