Lavonia Googe

Obituary For Lavonia Googe

Lavonia Rita Googe Obituary Lavonia Rita Googe was born on September 3, 1965 in Brooklyn, New York to Roosevelt Wemple, and the late Lola Grace (Richardson) Wemple, and she grew up in a loving home, with her parents, and older sister, Daisy.

Lavonia attended the N.Y.C. public school system in Brooklyn for elementary, middle and high school. She studied podiatry at William H Maxwell Vocational HS, from where she graduated, and received her diploma in June, 1983.

Lavonia began her higher education learning at Brooklyn's Kingsborough Community College where she studied Early Childhood Education, and received an Associate's degree in May, 1985. She continued her collegiate career at Pennsylvania's Cheyney University, one of the HBCUs - Historically Black Colleges and Universities. At Cheney, she studied Social Relations, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology in April, 1991. Lavonia's roommates describe her as having been a sweet, loving, helpful sister-friend. A "wonderful woman" with a "natural, welcoming smile", and a "genuineness" that made you feel comfortable, and feel as if you belonged in this new "home" that you chose for four years of your life, possibly all while reassuring herself of these same things. While at Cheyney, Lavonia became a Phi Beta Sigma "Dove", which is like a little sister, and assistant to that fraternity of brothers. However, a few months before her own graduation, she pledged Zeta Phi Beta, and joining that Sorority gained her another family of Sisters.

Lavonia, and her future (now former) husband, Robert Googe, met at True Worship Church in Brooklyn, NY. They courted for a few years before they were married in May, 1997, in the same church where they met. To this union they had one daughter, Tatyana A'aliyah, in October, 1998, and her birth added to the family that had also included Robert's two sons, Titus and Tiquan.

Lavonia began her employment career with the City of New York as a Caseworker at the Department of Social Services. During her years there she learned, grew, and increased her knowledge by taking extra HRA training, and work-related computer courses, which eventually led to a promotion to Fraud Investigator. After about 25 years with Human Resources Administration, Lavonia retired with the title of Associate Fraud Investigator.

While working for HRA, Lavonia was bit by the travel bug. She and her "built-in roommate", (daughter Tatyana), have been on at least ten Carnival cruises to destinations in the Caribbean, and Southern Caribbean, such as Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Grand Cayman; Puerto Rico, Barbados, Saint Kitts, etc. This traveling also includes three Disney cruises. Her wish was to go on a Hawaiian, and a European cruise, but, those places will just have to wait.

Lavonia was a fun and, outgoing spirit who loved life and enjoyed doing things and going places. As a teenager she was very active, and good at the usual "kids" games like double-dutch, bike riding and roller skating - but, don't try to challenge her at "Skelly"! When it was her turn to play, she would make so many straight "pots" that you may as well just sit down and relax, because she was just basically going to go through most of the board by herself, leaving other players in the dust!

Lavonia also loved to eat just about anything, especially her mom's turkey wings, mushroom chicken with stuffing, homemade ice cream, and banana pudding. A couple of her favorites were crispy bacon, or boiled whole crabs, with her father's special Old Bay sauce mixed up for dipping. A bottle of hot sauce had to be near by, because she would shake that sauce on any food that she felt needed it!

Lavonia Rita Wemple Googe was a God-fearing, Christian woman, an obedient daughter, a protective sister, a faithful wife, a trustworthy best friend, a helpful and reliable employee and coworker, a strong-minded, confident, and dedicated person overall, and now, she is God's newest angel.

Lavonia leaves behind one daughter, Tatyana A'aliyah Googe of the Bronx, NY; her father, Roosevelt Wemple, of the Bronx, NY; one sister, Daisy Olivia Jackson, of the Bronx, NY; one brother-in-law, Eddie Clay Jackson, of the Bronx, NY; one nephew, Darren Clay Jackson, of the Bronx, NY; one half-sister, Gale Jones, of Hampton, VA; one maternal aunt, Starlean Robinson, of the Bronx, NY; and a host of cousins, family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances.