Geraldine Bloodworth Gossett, 90, passed into eternity at Piedmont Newnan Hospital on Nov. 25, 2025, surrounded by loving members of her family. Mrs. Gossett was born on June 9, 1934, in Carrollton, Ga., the daughter of Annie Lee and Charles Bloodworth.

She grew up mostly in southwest Atlanta as a preschooler during the Great Depression, starting school at the beginning of World War II. Although life was tough, Mrs. Gossett's mother managed her household and instilled a spirit of compassion and giving. Mrs. Gossett said her mother would offer a piece of cornbread and a glass of buttermilk to hungry people who would knock on their door.

Mrs. Gossett graduated from the former Hoke Smith High School in 1952. In January of 1953, she met on a blind date a young Navy seaman, James H. "Jimmy" Gossett, who was on leave in Atlanta with a buddy from the U.S. Navy station in Norfolk, Va. It was love at first sight. She and Mr. Gossett were married on July 6, 1953, and she moved to the Norfolk area with him, where they lived until Jimmy's discharge from the Navy in 1954. They relocated to Atlanta, where he took a job as an air conditioning and heating mechanic, and she as an administrative assistant. Their first of six children were born in August 1955.

Mrs. Gossett was an early working mother, balancing raising children with homemaking and working full-time jobs.  In the late 1950s, she worked for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Later, during the early 1960s, she worked as administrative assistant for the late Ira Jarrell, director of the curriculum development section of Georgia State Department of Education. Mrs. Jarrell was a landmark educator who was the first female superintendent of Atlanta City Public Schools. Mrs. Gossett later worked for the Georgia Public Service Commission, where she served as administrative assistant to the late J. Mac Barber, who served five terms on the Georgia PSC. She retired in December 1998 after a nearly 38-year career with the state of Georgia.

Mrs. Gossett was preceded in death by Jimmy, her husband of 60 years; daughter, Sheryl; her mother and father; her brothers, Hardwick Yates and Jack Bloodworth; and sister, Opal Hazel Cochran.

Survivors include her sons, Forrest (Laurie), Barry, Kerry (Yvonne) and Terry (Sarah); daughter, Sherry; grandchildren, Corey Gossett (Virginia), Joshua Gossett, Aaron Gossett, Daniel Gossett, Keith Gossett, Heather Flowers, Michael Tosser and Dawn Padham; great-grandchildren: Oliver James Gossett; Atticus Gossett; Deyla Gossett-Plott; Dominic, Gavin, Mason and Hannah Flowers; Colin Zubee; Caleb Wallace; and Jeremiah and Rilynn Rader; nephew, John Yates (Kat); niece, Kathleen Langston; and nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions in Mrs. Gossett's memory may be directed to McDonough Road Baptist Church, 352 McDonough Road, Fayetteville, Ga. 30214.

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 1, 2024 at Hillcrest Chapel with Dr. David Chancey (Retired lead pastor of McDonough Road Baptist Church) and with special music by Mark and Marcia Karki. For those who cannot attend the service, please go to the link below the obituary to live stream the service. Interment will follow in Holly Hill Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.on Saturday, November 30, 2024 at the funeral home.

Higgins Funeral Home Hillcrest Chapel is honored to serve the family of Geraldine Gossett, please visit www.hillcrestchapelcares.com to share your memories or leave a condolence message.