Dear John and all of the Goforth family, Ive just learned that Mrs. Goforth passed. She was just a lovely lady. She was so full of love and caring. My mom was blessed to enjoy her close friendship for over 50 years. I think they met while attending Westhampton. in Richmond The world has lost a beautiful soul. Keeping all of you in prayers. Sending condolences.

I just heard that my dear friend JOYCE GOFORTH died on the 4th of July. Perfect timing, and I mean that most sincerely! Joyce was the dearest, kindest, and most caring person. She had a great sense of humor to go with that. What a teacher! I met her through the Virginia Education Association where she was a teacher leader. She was on the VEA Board of Directors for decades. Years ago when hundreds of us went to all the VEA and NEA conventions all over the US every summer representing teachers back in Virginia. She stood up and spoke for professional educators and paraprofessionals, secretaries, bus drivers and janitors. What a loss! To those who knew her best, she was a blessing. Barbara Mann North Chesterfield County, VA

My deepest sympathies to the loved ones of Mrs. Goforth. She was my favorite teacher and left me with many fond and enduring memories. I am thankful that I took a moment many years later to let her know what a blessing she was, what an influence she had in my life. I am also thankful that we were able to have a brief \”conversation\” online fairly recently that warmed my heart and gave great encouragement. I know she leaves behind a rich legacy and will be greatly missed. What a different world it would be if it were full of people like her!

My deepest sympathies to the loved ones of Mrs. Goforth. She was my favorite teacher and left me with many fond and enduring memories. I am thankful that I took a moment many years later to let her know what a blessing she was, what an influence she had in my life. I am also thankful that we were able to have a brief “conversation” online fairly recently that warmed my heart and gave great encouragement. I know she leaves behind a rich legacy and will be greatly missed. What a different world it would be if it were full of people like her!

John, Cindy, Pam and family, Our deepest sympathy to you at this difficult time. Mrs Goforth was a friend to everyone she met. She was gracious, kind and a true Southern lady. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

My deepest sympathies to all of the family Joyce was always such a positive spirit, but kept everyone honest. She was one of Betsy’s greatest mentors and a dear friend to her and me. You will all be in my prayers and please let me know anything I can do. I regret that I will be out of town Saturday and wish I could share in the memorial. God bless you all.

Dear Gofirth Family

My deepest condolences to the Goforth family. Joyce Goforth was the quintessential Southern lady, with charm and grace, steely determination and a seemingly endless reserve of patience and love for the hundreds of Caroline County 10-year-olds who had the great good fortune to sit in her classroom over her long and storied career. I count myself as one of those luck y enough to be forced to memorize the counties and county seats of the Commonwealth under her tutelage, among many life lessons I learned from her long after my stint in fourth grade. It would be indulgent for me to go on about my respect and deep affection for Mrs. Goforth, so I will end with a simple wish: May her family find joy in her remembrance, may she rest in peace with the God she loved and served, and may all 10-year-olds whose lives she touched be grateful for the one-in-a-million teacher who gave them so much.

John and family, Lynn and I offer our sincere condolences for your loss. Your mom was a very special person that will be missed by every soul that ever had contact with her. Her life was well lived and I’m quite sure that much celebration is happening in Heaven with her arrival. May God bless you all and grant you peace during this time.

Prayers for the family. We loved Mrs. Goforth. Love, Tommy Satterwhite

Mrs. Goforth was my fourth grade teacher but she was much more than any teacher i’ve ever had. Every day after lunch she would turn out the classroom lights, ask us to put our heads down and close our eyes. Then the “magic” would happen – she would read to us. The characters in the book would come alive as she gave each one their own voice. She turned ordinary stories into extraordinary stories. Growing up in Milford, reading gave me an escape. It was all due to Mrs. Goforth that I learned to love reading. I am truly sorry that I never took the time to tell Mrs. Goforth how much of an impact she had on my life. My condolences to her family and friends as they have truly lost a treasure.