Name: Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist-North Chapel and Hamilton Memorial Gardens
Address: Hixson, TN

Please accept my belated sympathy. We ha d a lot of fun in the Red Bank band. Especially those bus trips with Barry Jones.   Don Dagnan

It was such an honor to work with Tommy at Big Ridge Elementary back in the late 1980's.   He had a ready smile and a big heart for the kids he taught.  We are all better for having known this wonderful Christian gentleman.  Dear family, may the Lord bless each of you and comfort you throughout the coming days.

I had the honor and pleasure of getting to know Mr. Gooden.  His sense of humor and sweet soul I will miss so much! I will forever cherish every visit I got to see Mr. Gooden.

-Mirisa B.

Lynda, Brian and Amy, There are no words to tell you what a special friend Tommy has been over the years, always an encourager and prayer partner. Thank you for sharing him with so many of us. You are all in many thoughts and prayers as you try to adjust to him not being here. The wonderful thing is that we all know where he is singing for all and always.
Love,
Lynda Fairchild Miller

Lynda, Brian, Amy, and all the rest of the family,

Growing up with Amy at Hixson First, there was never a time Tommy wasn't there.  Whether he was teaching, singing, or being the encouraging dad of one of my friends, I have nothing but the fondest memories of him.  I listened to "Listen to the Hammer Ring" this morning in his honor.  No one can sing it like he did.  So grateful we will all be reunited in Heaven one day.  Holding you all in my heart and praying.
Amy Daniel Germ

I first met Tommy when I moved here from North Carolina, and he became my daughter, Leslie’s sixth grade teacher at Big Ridge.  She loved him because he was someone she could banter with, complain to, and have fun with!  I came to love those same traits  myself when   I was hired, and we became co-workers and friends for my 18 years at Big Ridge.  He seemed to have a sixth sense about when people needed him…appearing with encouragement on bad days, smiles and congratulations on good days, and celebrating with you on the great days.  We became prayer partners of sorts…it didn’t start out well.  When I first asked him to pray for me, he came back the next morning and announced to me:  “I tried that prayer thing for you, but God kept interrupting me and asking, ‘Cindy who?’” (I KNOW some of you are smiling right now because you know that sounds exactly like him!)
  Another fun memory happened when Tommy went to Rock Eagle Camp  with us and our fifth graders for a week.  He had the misfortune of having his birthday fall on the last night of camp when we had a big campfire event.  With the help of some conniving counselors, Tommy suffered a few indignities including having his shoes thrown into the woods, singing goofy songs to the kids, and soaking the seat of his pants by sitting on a huge wet sponge!  He “performed” well and was a great sport, but for some reason, he kept pointing his finger at me for the entire show!!
   He probably would not appreciate remembering the time I sent one of my kids to the office, but instead of reporting  there, the child walked out the front door and  then ran.  Tommy went after him in his car, found him, and was trying to persuade the child to get in his car when the police showed up, thinking he was a kidnapper!!  Back at school, it was all cleared up,  but he definitely had some “air to clear” with me, too!!
  No man ever existed that had a bigger heart, a greater love for his Lord, and a genuine ability to love others.  

Lynda and family, I was saddened to see that Tommy had passed away.  It has been over 25 years ago that I was in your Singles class at Hixson First Baptist Church, but I still have very fond memories of being in that class and all the love and support that you and Tommy provided.  Tommy was such a kind and caring man.  My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family during this most difficult time.  

Linda

You were a wonderful youth director at Memorial Baptist name now Gathering.  We all had so much fun.  You go on our level and made church fun!  Know you were loved by all who knew you!  Barbara Sue



To one of the best teacher and most special people anyone could ever have the opportunity or privilege to ever meet or spend time with thank you and Lynda both for the wonderful memories from tutoring me and my kids at times to being there when my kids were born to being just a shoulder and an ear I will always cherish the time and special memories that was shown to me and my family that will never forget the most important and wonderful people that you didn't have to be thank you both 

With fond memories & deep sympathy!
Linda , Texas sized prayers for you & family!

Bob & Joy 

Tommy was one of my absolute favorite people.  Being paired with him as a student teacher was a highlight of my life & teaching career.  He has taught me so much over the years & was undoubtedly aware that this world was not his home.  He loved Jesus with all his heart & prioritized serving & praising Him above all else. Even living through pain & health struggles for several years, he was always incredibly positive and prayerful when I spoke with him, which was such an encouragement  to me.  He will be missed, but I know his legacy will live on in the hearts of those who knew him because he was pure light & love to everyone.  To know him was to love him.  

Tommy was a very special man and I will miss his cheerful smile.  Love you Lynda prayers 🙏for all. 

It’s hard to put into words the impact Tommy Gooden had on my life and how much I love him. I have have known him since I was 10 years old where he was the music director at the church that my mom and I attended, Memorial Baptist Church in Hixson, TN. He was the one who first instilled in me a love of church music. He was the one I watched, from the front row of the sanctuary, direct choir practice, with my mom in the loft, every Wednesday night. He was the one that encouraged me to take piano. He was the one who had me “fill in” as the pianist when I was only in 8th grade and just smiled when I missed notes…a lot of notes. He was the one to show me how to love those didn’t have much by distributing Thanksgiving food-baskets to those in need. He was the one who encouraged me to move on to Hixson First Baptist Church in 10th grade to play for the Youth Choir there and grow in the Lord and as a musician. He is one who married Lynda McConnell (Gooden), the lady that was my “adopted” sister and who poured into this insecure junior-high kid and taught him how much God loved him and would use him.  And that it was okay to be a musician and not an athlete. Tommy is the one who gave me the privilege of officiating their wedding 34 years ago. He is the one that encouraged EVERY step of the way in my 36 years of serving as a minister of music. He is the man that always had a word of wisdom and especially encouragement. He was always cheering me on and telling me how proud of me he was. He was the one that was not perfect, never pretended to be, and though his genuine spirit blessed my life and many others and taught us to be real. Heaven became a sweeter place Thursday for me and for many. I will miss Tommy. For 48 years he has been that “uncle” and friend that everyone needs. It is one of the greatest honors of my life to call him friend, to have learned from him, and to, with the Lord’s help, be a “Tommy Gooden” in someone’s life.  Well done Tommy, well done. I love you. 

I loved working with Tommy at Big Ridge Elementary.  He was one of the first to welcome me to Big Ridge and was always willing to help with whatever I needed.  He always had a smile, a listening ear, and encouraging words.  He was greatly loved and will be missed immensely.

OBITUARY

Thomas Wesley Gooden Jr.

6 March, 1945 – 23 September, 2021

Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist-North Chapel and Hamilton Memorial Gardens

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