Virginia Daile (Pickney) Goff of Hoxie passed from this life and transitioned to her eternal home on Monday, December 11 at the age of 62, following an 8-month bout with cancer. Though she lived life vibrantly and loudly, in her final moments she was muted and at ease – realizing her final wishes of peacefully passing at home with her immediate family whom she loved so dearly and unconditionally.
Virginia was born on August 22, 1961, on the island of Trinidad at the Naval Base Trinidad in Chaguaramas, beginning a military childhood that would take her around the globe to foreign locales such as Thailand, the far reaches of the United States all the way to Adak Island in Alaska, and many spots in between. With her extensive travel, Virginia had no choice but to make friends across the map – a practice she would continue throughout her life. No matter the location she rarely met a stranger and was at her happiest when striking up a conversation that would inevitably result in unbridled laughter.
At age 19, she had one of these conversations with a young man named Leon – which soon blossomed into a relationship that led to their marriage on February 14, 1981. Just more than a year later they welcomed to the world their son Josh, then fast forward seven years and the family was made complete with the birth of their daughter Rachel.
Throughout her life, Virginia was a deeply caring and loving individual – and those traits were on their brightest display when it came to her babies, whom she protected fiercely and doted on relentlessly right up through her final days. Even outside the home – with extended family and friends both lifelong and new, she maintained a strong desire to see that her people were taken care of. This presented itself in many forms – though the most prevalent was through food. She loved cooking for as many people as she could feed and was satisfied only when everyone went home completely overstuffed.
Her love of service to others was manifested throughout her professional career – spending many years in a variety of roles assisting special needs children and adults at both the Lawrence County Cooperative School and Haynes House in Portia, and in-home care; and serving the citizens of Hoxie and the surrounding area as a dispatcher for the Hoxie Police Department – where she formed many cherished relationships with what would prove to be lifelong friends.
Virginia will be remembered for many things – but none more so than her brilliant smile and infectious laughter, both of which she shared with as many people as possible. Preceded in death by her parents Gilbert and Ina (Fears) Pickney and her sister Cyndi McGough, Virginia leaves behind not only her husband Leon Goff and beloved fur baby Tuffy – both of the home; son Josh Goff of Sherwood; daughter Rachel Goff of Jonesboro; and sister Pam Snow of Walnut Ridge; but also legions of extended family and friends in locations near and far.
Virginia’s final outing was one to fulfill a long-held dream of having her husband and children all join her in a trip to one of her most beloved locations – the casino. As luck would have it, the machines were in her favor and that night she left the building just as she left the people she touched in her life – happier and richer.
Funeral Service will be Saturday, December 16, 2023, at 12 P.M. in the Bryan Chapel with Bro. Gerald Fears, Darrel Fears, and Jon Fears officiating. Pallbearers will be Bubba Blackwood, Daniel Hill, Dewayne Barker, Tim Carey, Kevin Simmons, and Josh Goff. Interment will follow in the Trinity Cemetery in Bono.
Visitation will be Friday evening from 6 P.M. till 8 P.M. in the Bryan Chapel.