Mr. Joseph L. Gooden Sr.

Funeral service for Mr. Joseph “Jo Jo” Lee Gooden, Sr., 67, of Lanett, AL will be held at 1:00 PM EST Monday, July 29, 2024 at Rehoboth Missionary Baptist Church 206 Huguley Road Valley, AL. Pastor Bradley Gibson, Eulogist and Pastor Karanja Story, Officiating.

Interment will follow in Rehoboth Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.

Public visitation will be held on Sunday, July 28, 2024 from 3:00 – 7:00 pm EST at Morgan & Sons Funeral Home in Lanett, AL. The family is receiving visitors at 2519 55th Street Valley, Alabama.

Mr. Joseph Lee Gooden, Sr., affectionately known as Jo Jo, was born on March 4, 1957, in Valley, Alabama. He passed away on July 23, 2024, at Diversicare of Lanett. He joined the Rehoboth Baptist Church at an early age. He was preceded in death by his son, Antonio Mathis, his mother, Mary L. Gooden, his father, James L. Wright and his sister, Angela Gooden Sharpe.

Jo Jo is survived by his sons Joseph Lee Gooden, Jr. (Atlanta, GA), Nicholas Gooden, Sr. (Opelika, AL), Eric Mathis (Anniston, AL). He was a grandfather to Jordan Gooden, Jabralin Gooden, Nicholas Gooden, Jr., Ethan Gooden, Kadejah Mathis, Erin Mathis, Eletria Mathis, Erianna Mathis and Ericka Mathis. He was a loving brother to Deretha Varner, Anthony Gooden (Cassandra), LaFran Gooden, Major Gooden(Sharon), Melinda Gooden, Affie King, Jeffrey Wright (Loretta), Ray Wright, Steve Wright, Willie Wright, Christopher Wright (LaRevia), Annie Wright, LaVonne Wright, Debra Wright, and Mary Wright. Jo Jo shared a special bond with his bonus mother, Mary Wright and bonus dad, Lewis Washington. He leaves to cherish his memory a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. His best friend of many years was Bruce Wilkerson.  He also had great neighbors at the Garden Greene Apartments where he resided.

Jo Jo was a die-hard Auburn Tigers and Atlanta Braves fan. He was also a beacon of light and one of the most positive and encouraging people that you would ever meet. He was truly one of the realest.