- Date Of Birth: May 19, 1934
- Date Of Death: March 28, 2013
- State: California
Mrs. Goins peacefully passed away at her residence.
Constaynce M. Goins affectionately called Mother, Mom, Nana, Connie, Sis, and Auntie entered this world on May 19, 1934. She was born in Casa Grande, AZ to Christeen Hertt and Vander Brown, Sr.
When Christeen later married Ruben Counselor Smith they moved to Phoenix, AZ and the family later settled in Blythe, CA. As the eldest of her siblings, Connie became her mother’s right-hand helping to care for her brothers and sisters while attending school, and working in the family-owned cafe. Ruben, being a Reverend, taught his children about the love of Jesus and Connie accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at an early age. During her teen years she began playing the piano by ear. Realizing that she had been given a special gift, she committed herself to developing her voice and musicianship.
Connie received her formal education in Blythe, CA and graduated from Palo Verde College with an Associate Degree in Business. In addition to all of her other roles and accomplishments, she was named the first female African American Police Officer in Blythe, CA.
In 1950, Connie and her love, Lloyd D. Bowen, were united in holy matrimony. Their union produced their two precious children, Lloyd Douglas “Doug” and Rochelle Renaye.
Leaving Blythe in 1960, Connie, Doug, and Renaye relocated to San Diego, CA where they continued their fellowship and spiritual growth at Greater Jackson Memorial COGIC, under the late Bishop J.A.
Connie loved sports and she also competed in tennis. She was always encouraging team sports especially in her children and to that end, Doug excelled at baseball and Renaye excelled at track. Her children stated, “Mom was always right there with us cheering us on whether she was in the stands or in the concession stand. She instilled in us, ‘You can do anything you want, if you want it badly enough’.”
While working as a Social Worker in 1965, Connie met and later married her soulmate, James (Jim) F. Goins. In 1969, the family relocated to Los Angeles, CA.
Jim and Connie were avid bowlers, and very passionate about their pets. Jim’s dog, ‘Rusty’, and her kitty, ‘Missy’ were also constant companions. They loved nature and the great outdoors and spent countless hours enjoying camping and fishing. Grandchildren, Jamille and Jeremy, loved their summer fishing and camping trips with Papah and Nana. Upon retirement from many years of working, Connie as a Supervisor in medical records and Jim in aerospace, they would frequently hit the road in their motor home setting out to catch that “big fish”. Even though their favorite fishing venue was the Salton Sea, they ventured to wherever the Lord led them–even as far as Canada. Jim and Connie were inseparable until Jim went home to be with the Lord in August 1998.
After Connie’s health began to decline, she moved back to San Diego in January 2012 to be closer to her children.
On Thursday, March 28, 2013 in the early hours of the morning, as she knelt at her bedside in prayer, God gently transported her from the labor of this life to her reward in heaven. Her soulmate, Jim, was there to greet and welcome her home.
Connie was preceded in death by six siblings: sister, Emma Brown; and five brothers, Ruben Smith, Rudolph Smith, Washington Lee Smith, Kenneth Smith and Rudy Brown.
Connie leaves an incredible legacy of love to be remembered and cherished by her son, Lloyd Douglas (Barbara) Bowen, Jr.; daughter, Rochelle Renaye (Frank) Goring; granddaughter, Jamille ReNae’ Lawson; grandson, Jeremy Edwin Lawson; three sisters, Earline (Amuel) Hilliard and Joyce (Raymond) Shields both of San Diego, CA and Janet Ghazali of Patchogue, NY; two brothers, Vander (Elaine) Brown, Jr.
“If anyone asks for me, tell them: ‘I am with my soulmate and we have gone fishing’.”
Constaynce ‘Connie’ M. Goins
