Celebration of Life

"O Lord you have Examined my Heart and know Everything about Me"

Gwendolen Hope Goodwin-Kelly was born on Monday, January 31, 1977, in Manning, South Carolina, to Mr. Isiah Goodwin and Mrs. Claudia Ann Rush Goodwin. She was the paternal granddaughter of the late Mr. Willie Goodwin and Mrs. Neather Mae Goodwin, and the maternal granddaughter of the late Mr. Joe Rush and Mrs. Lula Cunningham Rush.

On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Hope graciously accepted God's invitation and peacefully entered eternal rest.

Affectionately known as "Hope," she was the fourth of five children. She was preceded in death by her brother, Rodney Craig Goodwin.

Hope began her educational journey in the Williamsburg County Public School System at Cades-Hebron Elementary School. She later graduated from Kingstree Senior High School in 1995, where she was an exceptional student, graduating in the Top Ten of her class and earning several scholarships, honors and academic accolades.

She continued her education at South Carolina State University, where she earned both a Professional Mathematics Degree and a Mathematics Education Degree in 2000 and 2001. While attending South Carolina State, Hope became a proud member of the Beta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, in the Spring of 1998.

At an early age, Hope attended Saint Michael Baptist Church where she accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. She later became a member of Trinity Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina. Above all, her unwavering faith in God remained at the center of her life. The love she shared, the wisdom she imparted, and the memories she created will forever remain in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

Hope dedicated her life to education and had a deep love for mathematics. Throughout her career, she touched the lives of countless students while teaching high school mathematics at Woodmont High School in Greenville, South Carolina; Fairfield Central High School in Winnsboro, South Carolina; Columbia High School in Columbia, South Carolina; Kingstree Senior High School in Kingstree, South Carolina, the Upward Bound Program at Williamsburg Technical College in Kingstree, SC; Adult Education Program in Kingstree, SC and later as a Mathematics Interventionist at Kenneth Gardner Elementary School in Kingstree, SC. Hope served as a Head Cheerleading Coach and Assistant Basketball Coach at Kingstree Senior High School in Kingstree, SC. Hope  also served as an advisor to many clubs and organizations during her tenure as an educator within the various school systems.

Hope lived a life filled with love, strength, and compassion. She was known for her keen intelligence, kind heart, warm smile, and the genuine care she showed to family, friends, colleagues, and students. Her presence brought comfort and encouragement to those around her, and she positively influenced many lives both inside and outside the classroom.

Although our hearts are filled with sorrow, we will rejoice because she is at peace. Heaven has truly gained an angel, and her kindness and many memories will love forever in our hearts. She leaves to cherish her precious memory a loving family, devoted children, siblings, relatives, and a host of friends whose lives were richly blessed by her presence.

Those left to cherish the memory of Hope are: her two loving sons, Michael Kelly, II and Tyler Kelly; loving parents, Mr. and Mrs. Isiah and Claudia Goodwin; three siblings, Mr. Brian (Simona) Goodwin, Mr. Bryce (Matia) Goodwin and Ms. Andrea A. Goodwin; paternal grandmother, Mrs. Neather Mae Goodwin; four nephews, Mr. Bryce Landon Goodwin, II, Mr. Christian Goodwin, Mr. Braylen Goodwin and Mr. Bradley Goodwin; two nieces, Ms. Alyson Goodwin and Ms. Breanna Goodwin; one goddaughter, Miss Nia Hope Polkey; seven uncles, Mr. George (Margaret) Rush, Mr. Thomas (Cassandra) Rush, Mr. George (Lydis) Goodwin, Mr. Robert (Julia) Goodwin, Mr. James Goodwin, Mr. Jimmy (Shirley) Goodwin, Mr. Joe "Ricky" Scott and Mr. William (Roxanne) Scott, Jr.; seven aunts, Mrs. Cora (Windell) Lawrence, Mrs. Laura (Ernie) Jean Nesmith, Ms. Gwendolyn Rush, Ms. Evoin Magazine, Ms. Roslyn Rush, Ms. Reatha Franklin and Ms. Cassie Wilson; one godsister, Ms. Annie Mae Brown; a special cousin, Mr. Marcus Rush; a host of cousins and very dear friends.

All arrangements and professional services have been entrusted to Henryhand Funeral Home of Kingstree, SC. 843-354-2292 .