Wednesday, July 11, 2012 NoonEast White Oak Baptist Church1815 Water StreetGreensboro, North CarolinaThe Rev. Benjamin W. Mittman Sr., OfficiatingMarilyn Frances Goodson Gant transitioned to her heavenly home July 6, 2012 at Cone Hospital, following a brief illness. Her passing leaves an enormous void for her family and community, but we rejoice in her home going. Marilyn entered the world April 24, 1930 in Robbins, as the second of seven children born to David and Almetter Shamberger Goodson. She attended Moore County schools and graduated from Pinckney High. She was an irrepressible person, full of spirit, humor, love and strength and all her qualities manifested themselves early in her life. Marilyn was baptized in her home church of Long Leaf AME Zion and remained a faithful member there until moving to Greensboro, where she met and married John William Gant. Marilyn and John were wonderful, devoted parents who raised their four children in East White Oak and Woodmere Park, and served those communities faithfully through the years. Marilyn was the long-time director of the East White Oak Community Center and the Woodmere Park playground, which the city of Greensboro dedicated and renamed in her honor in 1994. â??Miss Marilynâ?? and â??Miss Gant,â?? as she was known to a legion of youth, was unafraid to discipline appropriately, even while administering large doses of affection and love to them. She was known for her greeting of, â??Hi honey.â?? She was a member of EWO Community Club.In addition to her children, Marilyn also tirelessly helped raise her grandchildren and was their constant rock. Whether as wife, mother, daughter, grandmother or friend, she was known for unflinching loyalty and dependability. At her passing, she was a member of Outreach Baptist Church and had also belonged to East White Oak Methodist and East White Oak Baptist churches. Before her health declined, Marilyn worked faithfully in various church ministries as an usher, missionary board member, ministerâ??s wife and in other capacities. Marilyn was predeceased by her husband, parents, daughter Deborah Renee, two sisters and three brothers. Although absent in her body, she is now present with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Left to cherish her memory are: daughters, Cathy Gant Hill and husband Anthony of Greensboro, Felicia G. Locust and husband Wesley, of Charlotte; son, Dr. John Eric Gant of Asheville; grandchildren, Rhonda Gant, Eric Wright, John Wright and Truman Hill, all of Greensboro; Willie Wright of Durham; and Wesley Locust Jr. and David Locust of Charlotte; four great-grandchildren; brother Herbert Goodson of Greensboro; sisters-in-law, Julia Duke (Joseph) and Cora L. Seibles (John), both of Greensboro; devoted cousin Evelyn Fuller Hayden, and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.