Cynthia Regina Gooch Baldwin was born at San Francisco General Hospital on November 17, 1951. She was the oldest of six children born to Bessie "Jones" Gooch and the late Retired 1st Sergeant Charles Nathaniel Gooch. Cynthia, known as Jeannie by family and friends went home to rest in the arms of Jesus on Monday, December 1, 2015.
With her father being a career military man, Jeannie lived in Verdun, France; Fort Lewis, Washington, Augsburg, Germany; Fort Ord, California and Seaside, California. She graduated from Seaside High School in 1969. Upon graduating high school she attended and graduated from beauty school and also briefly attended San Jose University. She Began working for the Department of Motor Vehicles in 1977 where she retired over 30 years later as a well-liked and respected Manager.
Jeannie married her childhood sweetheart, Jimmy Wayne Clewis in 1970. To this union, one son, Jimmy Wayne Clewis, Jr., was born. Cynthia became a widow in 1972 with the tragic death of Jimmy, Sr.
Years later, Cynthia met and married Billy Baldwin I n September of 1977 and had a daughter, Tiffany Joyrenese. Since Billy was in the military, she continued her travels and lived in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Guam, Atsugi, Japan and visited Thailand, Singapore and Alaska.
Jeannie loved spending time with family and friends especially her 10 grandchildren. They were the joys of her life. Her life-long friends in include Gwen Bradford, Sandra Lee, Cheryl Burwell, Carlyss, Alona, Greta, Paulette, Charles, and Barbara. If she considered you a friend, you were a friend for life. Every year she calendared and attended the Monterey Blues Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival and the San Jose Jazz Festival. She enjoyed cooking and was known for her cornbread dressing for thanksgiving and amazing gumbo for Christmas. Jeannie had a love for life. She liked dancing, being goofy at times, she loved her peanut brittle, Hungry Bear cookies and her 49ers. With her caring nature, she became "Ma", "Mom", "Momdukes" or God Mom to many.
Jeannie's heart problems began in 2010 and she became a candidate for a heart transplant after a series of strokes and heart attacks, In 2014 she became one of the 1st people in Fresno to have an LVAD placed in her heart. As a result, became a part the campaign for Community Hospital Centers and also the LVAD procedure.
Jeannie is preceded in death by her father Charles Nathaniel Gooch.
Cynthia leaves to mourn and rejoice in her home going celebration 1 daughter, Tiffany Baldwin of Fresno, 1 son, jimmy Wayne Clewis, Jr., wife Amanda of Fresno, California; husband Billy of Fresno; her mother, Bessie 'jones' Gooch of Fresno; 10 grandchildren, Victoria, Alysse, Evan, Cole, Desiree, Kienan. Michael, Amaya, Sophia and Marquis; 1 great granddaughter, Makailee; 2 brothers, Keith Nathaniel, wife Lynette; Charles Patrick Gooch and wife Jolie; 3 sisters, Doris Pondexter, Connie Price, Velda Weaver and husband Donnell, adopted daughter, Lamisha wife Nita and a host of friends, relatives and co-workers.
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