Mekia N. Goodbee

Obituary For Mekia N. Goodbee

In profound sorrow we announce the passing of Ms. Mekia N. Goodbee. Celebration of Life will Saturday, September 5, 2026 10:00 am at First Afrikan Presbyterian Church 5197 Salem Road Lithonia GA 30038. Viewing will be held Friday, September 4, 2026 12 noon-6:00 pm at Grissom-Clark Eastlake Chapel 227 East Lake Dr SE Atlanta, Ga 30317.

Mekia N. Goodbee, age 55, passed away on August 8, 2026 after a valiant fight with breast cancer. Affectionately known in her professional life by her middle-name, Nicole, she was a woman whose life was defined by love, connection, culture, service, and an unwavering commitment to the people around her.

Mekia was born and raised in Albany, New York on May 2, 1971 to Yvonne Goodbee and Johnny Sturdivant. She carried those New York roots with pride while building a deep and lasting connection in Atlanta where she first relocated to in 1995 and returned to in 2002. Having spent much of her life between the two cities, she affectionately described herself as an "Apple-Peach hybrid"—a perfect blend of New York and Georgia.

Mekia believed deeply in the power of education and opportunity. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders (Speech Language Pathology) from the State University of New York, College at New Paltz in 1994 and later received her Master of Science degree in Higher Education & Student Affairs Administration from Buffalo State University in 2002. Throughout her professional life, she found meaningful ways to help others move forward. Her career included work at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the City of Atlanta, and the Georgia Department of Labor, as well as work supporting young people through the Upward Bound program. She was proud to serve as an HR Specialist at the Veterans Health Administration in the remaining years of her life.

She was particularly passionate about helping people find employment, improve their resumés, and recognize opportunities that could change the direction of their lives. Through her work in human resources and employment services, she touched countless people by simply helping them get a chance.

But Mekia was so much more than her career.

She was deeply Afrocentric and proud of her cultural identity, finding joy in African drumming, history, art, music, and symbolism. She even learned to drum herself, studying under Babba Mehib and playing for First Afrikan Church as part of the Ngoma Lungundu Drummers.

One of her favorite symbols was the ankh, an ancient Egyptian symbol associated with the physical and eternal life. It was a fitting symbol for a woman who believed deeply in living fully and leaving something worthwhile behind.

Mekia had a natural curiosity about the world. She traveled to Belize, Mexico, Jamaica, Bahamas, Los Angeles, New York, and London, collecting experiences and memories wherever she went. She even collected playing cards from every country and state she visited, a reflection of her appreciation for culture, travel, and the little things that make each place unique.

She loved cats, from the smallest house cats to majestic lions, and tigers. She enjoyed theater, concerts, house music, R&B, and neo-soul, with artists such as Erykah Badu and Brandy among her favorites. Her interests were as vibrant and eclectic as her personality, and her favorite color, silver, reflected a taste for something distinctive and timeless.

Above all, Mekia treasured people.

She prioritized her family and friendships and understood that relationships were among life's greatest treasures. She was the type of person who maintained connections, made people feel remembered, and valued the friendships she built throughout her life. Her family and friends were not simply people in her life—they were part of her life story.

Mekia was preceded in death by her grandmother Patrice Vincent and grandfather Archie Goodbee. Her greatest personal legacy continues through her daughter, Machaela Goodbee, and her beloved twin granddaughters, Nasira and Reign Goodbee. She also leaves behind to cherish her memories: Mother, Yvonne Hairston; Father, Johnny Sturdivant; Sister, Miya Branch-Simpson and Brother-in-law, Barrett Simpson; Nephew, Jeziah Stovall; Brother Mesha Branch; Nephew Mahsayah Branch; Nieces Mahlia Branch, Mahkiyah X, and Mahriyah Branch, as well as a host of other extended family members, and the many friends whose lives she touched.

May her spirit remain as vibrant as the life she lived, and may the love she gave continue to live on through all of us.

Mekia Goodbee
Daughter. Mother. Grandmother. Sister. Friend. Mentor. Traveler. Cultural Enthusiast. Community Servant. A woman who lived between worlds and made every place she touched a little more meaningful.

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