Kay Goode

Ellen Kay Reece Goode, a beloved businesswoman, entrepreneur, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, joined her husband and ancestors on Monday, 22 September 2025. Her journey on this earth was one marked by love, generosity, and a wry wit evident to her closest friends and family.

Kay was born on Tuesday, 30 September 1941, at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC, to Mr. Weldon E. and Mrs. Laura Ellen Reece of White Plains, NC. She grew up in White Plains and was a member of the White Plains Friends Meeting. Her maternal grandparents were Wyatt and Virginia Hunter, and her paternal grandparents were Weldon W. and Mary Glendora Reece.

The daughter of a High School Principal, education was a significant priority to Kay. She graduated from White Plains High School on 28 May 1959 and from Guilford College with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics on 3 June 1963. During her years at Guilford, she was active in student government, served as a college marshal her junior year, and was a member of the Student Legislature her senior year.

On 23 December 1962, Kay married Lieutenant Charles Dalton Goode. Inspired by the movie "Walk on the Wild Side," they honeymooned in the New Orleans French Quarter. Their first family home was in Bellmead, TX, outside of Waco, TX. Kay and Charlie had a marriage that most couples aspire to, filled with love, shared values, and a culture of growth. They were quickly blessed by sons and created a joyfully noisy home full of screaming children and barking dogs.

Kay will be deeply missed by her three surviving sons, Charles Clark Goode (of Carolina Beach, NC), Kevin Goode (of Clemmons, NC), and Jason Goode (of Marshall, NC), and their respective spouses Christy, Sherri, and Laura. She is also survived by her grandchildren and her great-grandchild.

Throughout her life, Kay resided in many cities around the United States, spending most of her years in Winston-Salem, NC. Kay and her family were members of Fairview Moravian Church. She devoted many years to building her business with Shaklee, where she was an active representative until 2025. Her passions were dancing and gardening. “After all, Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels.” ― Ann Richards

A service will be held for her immediate family. Memorials may be made to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. (https://www.plannedparenthood.org/) and condolences may be sent to the family at https://www.hayworth-miller.com/.

Tremendous and heartfelt thanks go to the truly exceptional staff at Brighton Gardens and the nurses of palliative care at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center.