Lillie Jean Housman

Jean (Lillie Jean) Goodrich Housman, of Decatur, Georgia, died peacefully in her sleep at home Sunday, November 19, 2012. She was the youngest child and last survivor of the 6 children of Rev. Arthur Leon and Rosa Mann Goodrich. She was the widow of the late Walden G. Housman, who predeceased her in 1994. Jean was born June 12, 1930 in Louisville, Ky. She grew up in Clinton, Miss. where her father was the long time editor of The Baptist Record. She attended Mississippi College, and was studying nursing when she met her future husband. She and Walden married on February 11, 1949, in Clinton. Walden was employed in the commercial construction trade, and Jean joined him in moving around the south, living at various times in Del Ray, Fl., New Orleans, Natchez, Miss., Thibodaux, La., Winchester, Ky. and Louisville, Ky. among other locales. In 1959, the family decided to settle in the East Atlanta area, and moved to Decatur in 1963. At that time the family joined Avondale First Baptist Church. Both Walden and Jean were active in the affairs of the church, with Jean participating in WMU, the choir, playing piano for her Sunday School class, working with the charity outreach programs, and most memorably, preparing the Wednesday night meals for the church, and the monthly meals for the Golden Age group. When Walden and Jean moved to Dekalb County, they became foster parents for Dekalb County. Over the course of the next 30 years, they provided a home to over 100 foster children, mostly in long term placements. Walden and Jean were foster parents of the year for the State of Georgia, and Jean served multiple terms as president of the Georgia Foster Parents Association. After her two oldest children left home, Jean attended Dekalb Community College (now Georgia Perimeter College) where she obtained an associate degree in child psychology. Jean was a long time poll worker for Dekalb County, substitute teacher and school volunteer, and AARP defensive driving course teacher. She continued to teach the defensive driving course even after she herself could no longer drive. Jean was also a long time participant in the DeKalb County Juvenile Court Citizen Panel Review Program, in which she participated fully until her final illness. She considered her participation in this program as another opportunity to provide for the care and nurture of abused and neglected children. An active member of Starlight Chapter #421 (Clarkston) of the Grand Order of the Eastern Star, she was a past Worthy Matron of the chapter. Jean considered herself a homemaker and mother, but she devoted her life to serving God and church by ministering to the needs of others in diverse ways, as a result of which countless people young and old had their lives enriched. Jean Housman was predeceased by two children, Jean Ellen and Gerald Gilman Housman. She is survived by three sons, Walden G. Housman, Jr. (Gale), Athens, Arthur T. Housman (wife, Cynthia), Buford, and Steven J. Housman (wife, Betty), Tucker, one grandchild, Christine Purcell, and two greatgrandchildren, Hanna and Carly Purcell. The family would like to express their deep appreciation to Celestina Alabi and Paula Everson, who provided great comfort, companionship, and care to their mother and grandmother in her final months. The body will be cremated. A memorial service will be held at Avondale First Baptist Church on Sunday, December 2, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. The family will receive friends Tuesday, November 20, , 2012 from 4:00pm until 7:00 pm at A. S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home and Crematory.



Funeral Home:
A.S. Turner
2773 N. Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033