Henry Arthur Goodson, Sr., 85, husband, father, and friend, passed away in peace, Saturday, June 28, 2008 at the North Carolina State Veterans Nursing Home in Fayetteville, NC.

Mr. Goodson was born May 3, 1923 in Eagle Rock, NC, to the late Henry Bryant Goodson and Bertha Hopkins Goodson and was one of 13 children.

He is survived by one brother, Frank Goodson of Eagle Rock, NC; and two sisters, Effie Mitchell (William) and Katie Davis of Raleigh, NC.

After graduating from James E. Shepard High School, Mr. Goodson proudly served in the U.S. Army and was a World War II veteran. He attended NC A&T State University. He owned and operated Riverside Inn for several years but his passion was building and carpentry. Mr. Goodson was a self-employed contractor in Raleigh-Durham and surrounding areas for over 50 years. He loved his family, he loved his friends and he loved his church. Mr. Goodson was a faithful servant, life-long member and leader at Eagle Rock Christian Church. He served as Chair of the Trustee Board and was a member of the Deacon Board. One of Mr. Goodson's proudest achievements was building the present church in 1992.

Mr. Goodson was a loving husband, father, grandfather and uncle and is survived by his wife of almost six decades, Shirley Virginia Goodson; and five children, Claudia Goodson of Columbia, SC, Henry Arthur Goodson Jr. (Carolyn) of Zebulon, NC, Deborah Goodson Jones (Herman) of Garner, NC, Roshea Goodson of Atlanta, GA, and Craig Goodson (Danielle) of London, England.

He was preceded in death by one son, Henry "Tony" Goodson (Margaret).

Mr. Goodson is survived by grandchildren, Tammy Goodson of Raleigh, Dwight Goodson (Talonda) of Bunn, NC, Tonya Furtido (Jerome) and Tonetta Chambers (Chris) of Richmond, VA, Nilaja Goins of Orlando, FL, Rashida Mangum of Cary, NC, Henry A. Goodson III of Zebulon, NC, and Callie Goodson of London, England. He is also survived and loved by numerous great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews too numerous to name.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 3, 2008 at Eagle Rock Christian Church, 6741 Falconwood Drive, Wendell, NC 27591 at 12:00 p.m. Visitation will be held at 11:30 a.m. prior to the services at the church. Internment will follow immediately at the Eagle Rock Christian Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends after the funeral at the family home, 1925 Barwell Road, Raleigh, NC 27610, (919) 231-1519, from 5:00- 9:00 p.m.

Services have been entrusted to Lea Funeral Home, 2500 Poole Road, Raleigh, NC 27610,

(919) 231-1000. For further details, please visit www.leafuneralhome.com

View hours are Wednesday, July 2, between 12:00-9:00 p.m.