Larry Goodman

Larry Dean "Benny" Goodman, 57, of 112 Sorrento Drive, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, October 27, 2010, at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, after a sudden illness. Born May 20, 1953 in Wilkes County, NC, he was the son of the late Thomas Cresswell and Audrey Featherington Goodman. After the family moved to Wilkesboro, NC, Mr. Goodman spent his childhood developing a love of nature and animals. He attended Patterson Private School and continued his education at Lenoir Rhyne College, graduating in 1971 with a BA degree in business. Excelling in sports, he played high school and college footfall and went on to play professional football for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1979 to 1981. He was co-owner of Prime Sirloin Restaurant in Greenville and later managed several restaurants in the Upstate. He and his wife were members of Poplar Springs Baptist Church in Moore. They were both excited about their church family and witnessing for the Lord. He was a member of the Z Sports Car Club for many years and won numerous awards for restoring his favorite sports car, a 1993 Nissan 300ZX. He was loved by his family and friends and always had kind words for everyone he met. He was a gentle man and will be greatly missed by his family and everyone who knew him, especially his little buddy, a dachshund named "Fritz". Mr. Goodman is survived by his loving wife, Dottie Duvall Goodman; a daughter, Krissy (Jamey) McMahan of Easley; a step-daughter, Debbie James of Spartanburg; three grandchildren, Ellagrace Audrey, Deacon, and Roman McMahan, all of Easley; three step-grandchildren, Kellie James, Lauren James Turner, and Robert James, all of Spartanburg; two sisters, Val (John) Parsons of Mouth of Wilson, VA and Carolyn (Bob) Hamilton of Alberta, Canada; a brother, Mark (Lori) Goodman of Hampsted, NC; four nieces in Virginia, three nephews in Canada and two nephews in North Carolina; and a special aunt, Vivian Frances Hall of Fort Mill. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. on Saturday, October 30, 2010 at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel. Funeral services will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Robert Bevill and the Rev. Jarrett McNeely. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Poplar Springs Baptist Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 417, Moore, SC 29369. The family is at the home. Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Larry D. "Benny" Goodman please visit our Sympathy Store.