The funeral service for Mrs. Janice Smith Goza will be 11 a.m., Saturday, December 31, 2022, at New Prospect Baptist Church, with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation is from 6-8 p.m., Friday, December 30, at Riverwood Family.
Mrs. Goza ended her life’s journey here after 82 years and entered her eternal rest December 26, 2022, with her loving husband by her side. She was born March 19, 1940, to Ernest V. Smith and Lillie Eugenia Ford Smith.
Mrs. Goza was a faithful servant of the Lord and a willing servant of New Prospect Baptist Church. She truly loved the history of New Prospect, which was organized in 1889. She volunteered her free time to the church as clerk for 30 years. In 1989, she was part of the committee to research the History of New Prospect. Mrs. Janice and her sister Mrs. Ruth were instrumental in compiling and writing the manuscript for publication. On August 6, 1989, during the Centennial Celebration, each member was given a copy. Her husband, Cletos, and she prepared a Cemetery Record listing of all the graves and had it available for all members in the year 2000. She has been a vital part of the work at New Prospect and will be greatly missed and fondly remembered for all she has done.
She is preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Edith, Audrey, Eugenia, Willene, Lucy, and Ruth; and her brother, Donald.
She is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Cletos Truel Goza; her son Bryan Cletos Goza and wife, Daisy; brothers, Ford W. Smith and wife, Carlene, and Bobby G. Smith; sisters, Patricia Case and husband, Edwin and Judy Costilow and husband, Owen; one very precious grandson, Zeppelin Goza. Mrs. Janice is also survived by other loving family members as well as her faith family at New Prospect Baptist Church.
Any memorials may be given to Gideons International, PO Box 1106 Brookhaven, MS 39602, the Baptist Children’s Village, 491 Dickerson Lane SE, Brookhaven, MS 39601, or the Alzheimer’s Foundation, 207 W Jackson St 2nd Fl Ste 1, Ridgeland, MS 39157in Mrs. Janice Goza’s memory.
