Claire Goolsby

Claire Key Goolsby of Athens and Nashville, Tenn., died Thursday, Oct. 26 at the Blakeford at Green Hills Retirement Community in Nashville. She was born June 13, 1924 in Monticello to Telah and William H. “Billy” Key.

She married her husband of 58 years, Harold Burney Goolsby and, in 1953, they moved with their family to Athens where they lived until his death in 2002.

Mrs. Goolsby nurtured not only her family but many generations of children at Athens First Methodist and Beech Haven Baptist kindergartens. During her life she was active in DAR, the University Women’s Club, Roadrunners, First United Methodist Women’s Circle and Athens Country Club Women’s Golf Association. She served shut-ins in the Athens area through Meals on Wheels and as a Pink Lady at Athens Regional Medical Center.

For more than 45 years, she was known for entertaining large crowds of Georgia fans following all the UGA home games.

She is predeceased by her husband, Burney, and sisters and brothers-in-law, Jo and Jimmy Bridges and Gwen and B.G. Malone.

Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, Lane and Clint Dawkins of Jacksonville, Fla. and Penny and Joe Hodgson of Nashville, Tenn.; six grandchildren and spouses, De and Lauren Dawkins, Beverly Hodgson and Sam Hodgson of Nashville, Burney Dawkins and Morgan Dawkins of Jacksonville, and Mac and Kathleen Hodgson of Atlanta; two great-grandchildren, Witt and Harrison Dawkins of Nashville; one brother-in-law; one sister-in-law; and many other relatives and friends.
A graveside service will be held Sunday, Oct. 29 at 3 p.m. in West View Cemetery in Monticello. Dr. John Brown officiating.

Pallbearers are Burney Dawkins, De Dawkins, Sam Goolsby, Mac Hodgson, Sam Hodson, Pete Malone and Matt Mauthe.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1109, Athens, Ga. 30603 or to the charity of your choice.

Jordan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.