Mama Goodall and Papa (Daddy) Goodall

Ada Purnell born January 4, 1891, married Earl Carson Goodall born October 26, 1891, on October 1, 1914. Their only home was on Trousdale Ferry Pike in the Tucker's Cross Roads community in Wilson County, Tennessee. Their farm was adjacent to the old Goodall homeplace.

Mama Goodall and Papa raised seven children, four girls and three boys. Papa was a farmer and Mama Goodall was a housewife. She taught school before they married. An interesting fact is that she had my mother's father as a student!

I spent lots of time as a child with Mama Goodall and Papa. When I was ten, I moved in with them. I lived there for nineteen years. Mama was a tremendous cook and was famous for her homemade rolls. I remember that she prepared dinner every Sunday, never knowing who would be there. What a grand time we had on Sundays when company arrived! It saddens me to know many of our younger family members missed out on such special times. Today, most everyone is too busy.........

Mama Goodall could sew. She did all her work on a peddle machine. In the first formal picture of Jim and me, I wore a pretty blue dress she made. I was so excited when I got home. I ran to the barn, climbed up on a gate and caught the lace on a nail. ;'(

She was also a good artist. Being artistic was a characateristic of the Purnell girls. She was prim, proper and no one could have been a better Christian example to family and friends.

Papa always had a big garden. He shared a lot of his produce, but sold some to Lebanon Food Center and Rodgers Brothers, too. I helped set tobacco, cut tobacco and hang tobacco and when time came, I stripped the tips. What a fun time we had when that time of year came! I also drove the tractor during hay cutting time and helped feed the cows. I never could milk though.

Some of the most fun memories I have are the Rook parties we hosted. Edna and Benton Purnell, Kitty B. and Herbert Houston, Uncle Walter K, Uncle Albert and Jim were frequent guests. Mama Goodall was known for not bidding often and setting people! When she did bid, Uncle Albert always said, "Don't let Ada have it!"

Mama Goodall died June 7, 1979; two days before our wedding. After talking it over, we decided to go on with our wedding. Mama's funeral was at Ligon and Bobo at 10:00 AM. Cliff and I were married at 4:00 PM. Needless to say, it will be a day that we will never forget. With the Lord's help, we made it through.

Daddy and Peggy moved to TXR to be with Papa. After several years, Papa went to stay with Dot in town and our homeplace was sold. Cliff came to the ballpark to give me the news that Papa had passed away May 27, 1988, after a short illness. They are both buried at the Bethlehem Cemetery in Tuckers' Cross Roads.