In Memory of

John

William

Goins

Obituary for John William Goins

John William Goins, 75, of Brevard passed away on Friday, March 2, 2018 in his home surrounded by his wife, six children and other family members.
John was born and raised in Kings Mountain, NC on April 3, 1942 to the late Boyce and Rosaleen Goins. He was one of eight children and his friends and family all called him “Jake”.
He came to Brevard College, as a first generation college student, in 1960 on a scholarship. He loved Brevard so much that he spent his summers working at Camp Deerwood. He was the editor of the school newspaper at Brevard College. He finished his degree in 1964 at UNC Chapel Hill. He was also the President of the Baptist Student Union at both Brevard College and UNC.
John taught English and Journalism and was a coach for several sports including volleyball and softball. He started the Brevard High School newspaper, the Broadcaster, which won countless state and national awards over the years. John’s students have often stated his style of teaching was different from most teachers. His goals for each student he taught were that each student felt heard, discovered what made them special and that they learned critical thinking skills and improved their written and verbal communication skills. John saw education as a way to an improved life and he mentored countless students and encouraged them to attend college.
John’s impact on his students was immeasurable. He spoke at Columbia University in NY about changes in journalism. Many of his articles were published in magazines and he wrote for the Transylvania Times. He had a guest column, called Senior Citizen Profile, in which he highlighted seniors in the county for their accomplishments. He won a national award for a poem he wrote about his wife Bev and his love for her. He also was a radio announcer at WPNF Brevard for several years. John also served as the manager at Franklin Pool for several summers.
John devoted his time to Transylvania County in countless ways. He coached youth soccer teams, was a referee for many sports and served as a board member for The Transylvania Youth Association (TYA) for almost 40 years. The mission of TYA is to provide financial assistance to any youth in the county who is unable to afford educational, athletic and other activities. His son, Scott, is carrying on his legacy as an active member of TYA for the past three years. John felt like it was his mission to help kids and youth find productive ways to express their feelings and to offer them with outlets which would lead them down a path to success.
While John gave countless hours to his community and was honored by many, his family simply knew him as a loving husband and father. John was able to give a formal presentation representing teachers in the county as easily as he could speak to a foster child who would talk with no one else. He had an extraordinary ability to listen to others and empathize without speaking many words.
John had an immense love and respect for the outdoors. Fly fishing, golfing and camping, with his children, were his passions. Each summer he and Bev took the kids camping across the country and Canada. The trips always included sites of those who had inspired John. When his family visited Walden Pond, he made sure all of his kids swam and added a rock to the site of Thoreau’s cabin, illustrating his love of literature. His wife remembers him as her best friend who was loyal above all else. His kids remember his steadfast patience and unconditional love. His kids note they never needed to look up to anyone famous or infamous because they had dad as their mentor. On Friday nights, after BHS football games, the Goins’s never knew how many additional kids they would wake up to the next morning. His grandkids remember Poppa as the person who taught them to count in an unconventional way. All who know him remember him as a strong and genuine man who was always ready to help anyone and who had a great sense of humor.
John met his beloved wife, Bev Goins, on an arranged Valentine’s Day date at a Brevard High School basketball game. John and Bev were married six months later on August 30, 1970. John and Bev taught in Charlotte, NC for one year then moved to Brevard to teach.
John and Bev were foster parents in Transylvania County for about 25 years. They welcomed countless children into their home, some for just a few nights and others for years. Many of those children stayed in contact with John and Bev over the years.
John is survived by his loving wife Bev Coleman Goins; six children; John Scott Goins and wife Cheryl of Brevard, Jeanne Rose-Elizabeth Goins Dulworth and husband Richard of Sylva, Christopher Todd Goins and wife Beth of Brasstown, NC, Robert “Robb” Brooks Goins of Hayesville, Wendy Slater Goins Berry and husband Brad of Brevard and Jay Scott Goins and wife Lindsey of Marion; two sisters, Diane Wellmon and Karen Moss of Kings Mountain, 21 loving grandchildren and several cousins who are also living around NC.
The family will receive friends from 6:00pm until 8:00pm on Monday, March 5, 2018 in the chapel of Moody-Connolly Life Celebrations. The family will also have a private service at a later date.
In lieu of flowers the family request that John be remembered with donations to the Transylvania Youth Association, C/O Cheryl Gardner (TYA Secretary), 249 Roy C. Whitmire Road, Brevard, NC 28712.
Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com.
Moody-Connolly Life Celebrations, 181 S. Caldwell Street, Brevard, NC 28712.