Mary Jane Gooden Wingfield

Mary Jane Gooden Wingfield entered this world on March 16, 1924, as the fourth of eight girls born to the late Lester and Rosetta Gooden in Columbia, SC. The family later moved to High Point, NC, where she attended and completed the course of study at Fairview School of Guilford County on June 3, 1938; and, subsequently, graduated from William Penn High School in High Point on May 29, 1942. She transitioned from high school to pursue her goal of becoming a registered nurse at the Kate Baden School of Nursing in Winston Salem, NC, which is now the School of Nursing of Winston Salem State University. To start life anew, she moved from High Point to Harrisburg, PA, where she worked at Olmsted Air Force Base. Fulfilling her desire to continue her nursing career, she later moved to New York, NY, where she met and, subsequently, married Raleigh E. Wingfield in August of 1948. Together they moved back to Harrisburg and raised their five children: Delilah, Karen, Raleigh and Ronald (twins), and Marvin. Mary held several positions during her working years. She worked for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Labor and Industry, and for Pennsylvania Blue Shield as a Correspondent Clerk. Changing her life direction, she moved back to her hometown of High Point, where she lived for six years while raising Marvin as a single parent. The two of them returned to Harrisburg to live in 1981. Most important to Mary were her family and friends. As a part of her desire to ensure that her children developed a personal relationship with God, she raised them attending St. Paul Baptist Church where she had been a member for many years. Her close-knit family of sisters was central to her as she spent many weekends and holidays playing cards with them and their husbands, as well as attending many family events. Additionally, she valued her many friendships which she developed throughout her life including those that she endeared during her final months while residing at the Jewish Home of Harrisburg. Mary participated in several activities which were vital to her well-being. She especially became focused on being healthy once she was diagnosed with diabetes at age 65. She participated in exercise programs at the YWCA, rode her bicycle along the Riverfront Park and enjoyed walking with her grandchildren to and from City Island. Affectionately known by her grandchildren as “Mow,” a name bestowed upon her by Marvin in his youth, she could be seen as an integral part of their lives. At the Jewish Home of Harrisburg, on May 7, 2010, Mary Jane Gooden Wingfield departed this earthly life. Mary was predeceased by her son, Ronald; and four sisters, Irene Franklin and Annabelle Harrison of Harrisburg, Lillie May Johnson and Beulah Lawson of Steelton, PA. She is survived by three sisters, Rosetta Young and Carolyn Willoughby of Harrisburg and Willa Mae Tye of Detroit, MI; four children, Delilah Rose Johnson of Portsmouth, VA, Karen Wingfield Gist of Pittsburgh, PA, Rev. Raleigh Wingfield of Harrisburg, and Marvin J. Wingfield of Belcamp, MD; sixteen grandchildren, nineteen great grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed by all. Respectfully Submitted, The Family

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Mary Jane Gooden Wingfield

March 16, 1924 - May 7, 2010