Hundreds of pastors joined elected officials and several thousand other mourners on Friday during a moving three-hour memorial service at Allen Temple Baptist Church for its First Lady, Joanna Goodwin-Smith.
    Goodwin-Smith passed on Aug. 12 in Cincinnati, Ohio while attending a Baptist convention with her husband, Rev. J. Alfred Smith Sr. She was 76 and had been battling Alzheimer’s disease.
    Before her open casket was closed, Rev. Smith kissed his wife of 55 years for the final time. Pink and white flowers were near her photograph. The funeral program contained photos of the couple and their five children.
    Among those at the memorial service were Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, Bishop Bob Jackson, Rev. Phil Lawson, William Patterson of EBMUD, Dr. Robert Scott, and former Oakland Superintendent Ruth Love.
    Born on an 80-acre farm near Knob Noster, Missouri, Goodwin-Smith wanted to become a missionary. After graduating from high school, she won a scholarship to attend Western Baptist College in Kansas City, Missouri, where Rev. Smith was a classmate.

    Goodwin-Smith graduated from Bishop College in Dallas in 1960 with a degree in education. In the Bay Area, she was hired to teach adult education in Oakland, and she also taught English to newly arrived immigrants. She helped bring a Spanish worship service to Allen Temple.
   “She was a strong First Lady ... a beautiful black woman who loved her family, husband and community,” said Lee. “She was a blessing to this community and her legacy will be kept by those whose lives she touched.”
    Mayor Brown declared Aug. 18 “Joanna Goodwin-Smith Day” in Oakland. “She was the power behind the man. We honor you and are grateful for your contributions,” he said.
    Bishop Jackson observed, “I’m married to a First Lady, and I know the hills and valleys they have to go through. It takes a special woman of God and great lady to be a First Lady ... she was able to comfort many.”
    The Allen Temple Music Department sang “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” and there were scripture readings from reverends Martha Taylor, Cheryl Ward, Cheryl Elliott, Eunice Shaw, Jackie Thompson and James Perkins of the Progressive National Baptist Convention.
    Nonameko Rigmaiden, a granddaughter, sang a solo before the eulogy by Rev. Kenneth Ray, a classmate of Goodwin- Smith in Kansas City.
   “She was the cream in his coffee,” said Ray. “Joanna was always at (Rev. Smith’s) side, for better or worse. Hold onto God’s unchanging hands. There are three reasons to thank Him. He’s been good, He’s been good and He’s been good.”
     A choir sang “Lead Me Gently Home, Father,” and Father Jay Matthews of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church said, “May angels lead you into paradise to find everlasting life.”
    Along with seven greatgrandchildren and 14 grandchildren, Goodwin-Smith is also survived by her children, Amy Jones, J. Alfred Smith Jr., Shari Rigmaiden, R. Craig and Anthony.