Miranda Elizabeth Yearwood Godena
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Miranda Elizabeth Yearwood Godena passed away at home on July 23, 2022 at the age of 85 surrounded by her husband and children.
She was born on September 27, 1936 in Knoxville, TN. As a young girl, Miranda moved to Fontana, NC with her family and was one of the "The Dam Kids" during construction of the dam. The Yearwood's ended up in Oak Ridge, TN, which she forever more considered her hometown. Upon graduation from George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville, TN she moved to Pensacola, FL where she started her career and family. Miranda returned to Oak Ridge with her husband, Manuel, in 1968 to raise their girls. Miranda taught special education in Anderson County 1972-1994 at both Shinlever and Grand Oaks Elementary Schools and was affectionately known as Miss Randy by all who knew her. She was one of those rare people in our lives who made us realize that there is almost nothing you cannot accomplish if you focus more on what you can do than on what you can't. She humbled and enriched the lives of everyone around her.
Miranda is preceded in death by her parents, Carl Yearwood and Agnes O'Connor Yearwood, her sister Margaret Fontenot, and son-in-law Scott Thurman.
She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Manuel Godena, children Pam Love (Doug Sanville), Debbie Ferguson (Barry Reid), and Nancy Thurman (Scott Thurman, deceased), grandchildren Aaron and Michael Love, Spencer (Lauren Garris) and Christopher Ferguson, Marie (Nate Casey) and Brittney Thurman, great grandson Oliver Thurman, and sister Susan Kopicki. In addition to a large extended family, Miranda leaves behind many friends including the ladies of the Book & Movie Club and the Retired Teachers Group.
The family would like to thank Covenant Health Hospice, especially her primary nurse, Beth, and care assistants Donna & Cynthia, along with all the compassionate staff including nurses, HHAs, and sitters, Rick and Sonnie, that helped us care for mom at home.
Receiving of Friends will take place at Click Funeral Home, 9020 Middlebrook Pike, on Thursday July 28th from 3:00-6:00pm.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday July 29th at 10:30am at All Saints Catholic Church, 620 N. Cedar Bluff Rd. Knoxville, TN. Interment will be in the Oak Ridge Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, 119 Dameron Ave, Knoxville, TN 37917.