Goldie Irene * Arnold

Goldie Irene Arnold was born November 6, 1921 in Washington, D.C. to the late Leo and Cormora Arnold. She departed this life on Friday, April 27, 2007 at the Brendale Residential Assisted Living Facility. Goldie lived in a time unique to great Afro-American culture and intellectual experience. During the span of years from 1921 to 1950, she studied and interacted with many great thinkers, writers and performers of all time. Naming just a few, W.E.B. Debois, Ralph Bunche, John Hope Franklin, Rayford Logan, Langston Hughes, Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Carmen McCray and many others. Goldie?s loving and caring parents, exposed her to art and music at an early age. Leo was a talented musician. His gifts moved the family to New York City during the Harlem Renaissance, where he played piano for many lead singers in Off-Broadway, Harlem Clubs and Theaters. Her mother was sickly and Leo provided the energy for enrichment in Goldie?s life. While in New York, Goldie received the greatest gift of her life, the birth of her sister, Rena. Goldie took great pride and joy in helping to care for her little sister. She took Rena to museums, plays, school and community events. Goldie?s nurturing of Rena in her early childhood, blossomed into an artistic talent which enabled Rena to become an authority on Afro-American Art History before she died in 1999. The family returned to Washington, D.C. during Goldie?s middle school years. Leo understood the importance of securing a firm financial foundation for himself and became employed in the Federal Government. They settled in Northwest, Washing where Goldie met her lifelong friend, Adele Reid. Goldie and Adele enjoyed walking to school together and special treats from McGuire Drug Store on Ninth Street. After graduation from Cardoza High School and Howard University, ?Goldie and Rena continued their development professionally. Rena became Director of Art for the entire Washington, D.C. Public School system and Goldie enjoyed her role at the seat of power at the Department of Defense as a Budget Analyst. Goldie also enjoyed her long membership and service at Metropolitan Baptist Church. She volunteered weekly to assist Drucilla Bodie in assembling the church programs before the task was automated. She enjoyed the wonderful music of the church and would never miss the procession of the choirs under the direction of Drucilla Bodie and Daisy Hemphill. Goldie also sang with several citywide choirs. While singing with the Musical Arts Choir under the direction of Dr. Othello Wilson, Goldie met another friend, Mildred Slate Hammond. Her circle of friends in the Washington music community included Frank Hinton, Dick Morgan and Shirley Horne. Jazz was her passion and she rarely missed a good jazz set that she could travel to hear. Goldie traveled extensively with Rena and her husband Charles. Rena did the planning, Charles did the leg work and Goldie was the photographer. She enjoyed her trips to New York City to visit and party with her very special friend Al Wilson. She would say, there?s no party like an Al Wilson party, the best food, friends and fun. Goldie?s last five years were filled with many happy times, food, laughs, mind games with the residents and staff at Brendale where Avis, Brenda, Norma, Roxanne and others brightened her life. She especially enjoyed her day trips with Matthew Shannon to the day spa for pampering of hair, nails and a massage which always began with lunch of her favorite meal, shrimp stuffed with crabmeat. Goldie was grateful to all who enriched her life and never forgot to say thank you with a tone of sincerity which always touched deeply. It?s rare in today?s society to know a lady of culture. Goldie was a rare golden Lady of Culture whom we will all miss. Your extended family and friends. To send a lasting tribute or condolences to the Arnold family, please sign the Online Guestbook below. Click "Sign Guestbook".

Tributes

Goldie Irene * Arnold

November 6, 1921 - April 27, 2007