Larkspur Conservation – Nashville, Tennessee

Obituary

Our precious daughter, Emily Britton Goodwin, was called home to her Savior, on December 14, 2022. Emily was born to Mike and Rebecca Goodwin, in February 1989. Born a triplet, she shared her birthday with brothers, Andrew Goodwin and Stewart Goodwin. Without question, her dearest role was as mommy to 8-year-old identical twin daughters, Britton Lucille Goodwin-McElveen and Lillian Jane Goodwin-McElveen. Her girls were the absolute joys and loves of her life.

Emily was born to Mike and Rebecca Goodwin, in February 1989 in Washington D.C. As a child, she lived in a number of locations growing up, including Augusta, GA, San Antonio, TX, and Springfield, VA. She attended grades K-4 at Barksdale Elementary in Clarksville, Tennessee before moving to Brentwood, TN in 1999. She attended Scales Elementary, Brentwood Middle, and was a 2007 graduate of Brentwood High.

As she grew up, she became a woman who cherished the present moment. Her compassionate, empathetic heart shined bright. Emily cared deeply for others with radical kindness; she was someone who made you feel seen, loved, and heard. She was brave, always willing to reveal her strength to help others. Her brothers remember her as a fearless leader, always ready to test the limits & go first.

As a nurse, Emily found the profession that she was born to do. She was able to show Christ's love through her sacrificial heart. Her patients and their families loved her deeply, as she always sought connection with each person. She particularly enjoyed working in memory-care units; loving and engaging with patients who needed her compassion most. She cheerfully met each person wherever they were in their mind, and helped brighten their day. She told of one patient that she especially loved caring for - a man who liked to listen to music from the 60's. She would crank up the stereo, help him out of his chair, and have a dance party in his room! Such was the fun-loving spirit of this angel of mercy.

Ultimately, nothing compared to the love she had for her two precious daughters. Britton and Lillian helped us make a list of their favorite things to do with mommy. They reveled in finding fun everywhere they went: going for walks (especially in the rain!), playing cards & board games, eating Mexican food, going on bike rides, hiking, eating at Viking Pizza, singing Let It Go, climbing trees, jumping in puddles, playing in the snow, shopping at Hobby Lobby, drinking Starbucks (with a cake pop in-hand), dancing to classic rock, catching fireflies, going to concerts, swimming, wading in the Harpeth River, and looking at The Lord's vast universe through Emily’s telescope.

Emily loved nature and felt a deep connection to God's creation and often liked exploring on her own; always hiking, being near water, camping, and being adventurous. The girls said some of Emily's favorite things were owls, blue birds, bunnies, puppies, pine trees, rainbows, roses, and rain. Nature was her happy place, her refuge, where she felt closest to God, and the resting place of her earthly body. She will be laid to rest on December 29th, 2022 at Larkspur Conservatory in a meadow with walking trails that will be surrounded by wildflowers & butterflies come springtime.

We keep going back to one main truth as we remember Emily. She was unabashedly herself. Always encouraging strangers on the street, dancing like no one was watching, and bringing a whole room into laughter. We can't help but picture her care-free smile when we think of our girl. She was a kid at heart. A friend to all.

A Celebration of Emily's life will be held at Christ Community Church, 1215 Hillsboro Rd, Franklin, Tennessee on Friday, December 30th at 3:00. A reception with the family will follow the service. The Celebration of Life is open to the public.