Inspired By Eneth Gooden
Eneth moved to Clayton (West Yorkshire) wasn’t an easy place in those days for a black family; particularly a black family living in a predominantly white neighbourhood.
Racism was rife. It was a difficult and challenging place, but inspite of the bruises, the knocks and verbal assaults Eneth carried the light of Christ in her heart.
35 Years As A Registered Nurse
"Moving and painful"
Her resourcefulness and faith helped her to navigate a path in life for her 9 children. She single handedly managed to put them through School with all the challenges that came with the territory so that they could have professional jobs at the end of the day and still have their integrity about them.
To hear the narrative of the family was moving and painful. But Eneth instilled in them the light we carry to borrow a phrase from Michelle Obama’s book.
Generous, kind, loyal and lovely person
You see Eneth was a generous, kind, loyal and lovely person. She stretched her generosity even when she didn’t need to. She’d even ply the workmen who came to do work with food.
Everyone knew where to go for her baking, her cooking and her parties even when she was reeling from the racism around her in a toxic environment when councils would neglect families of colour because of engrained racism.
Eneth ends her piece by saying may Christ richly bless you as you continue life’s pilgrimage in the love and care of each other and service to others.
Somehow, she kept her dignity. She was a superwoman who relied on her strong faith to overcome her many challenges
She gave love unconditionally. It speaks volume of her children that they are here today bearing testimony to her story of resilience, and courage and fortitude. She was the glue that held the family together.