Obituary for Amber Yvette Goodwin

February 2, 1982 - January 18, 2025

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved daughter, mother, sister, niece, and friend Amber Yvette Goodwin, who was taken from us on Saturday January 18, 2025, just shy of her 43rd birthday. She was a source of love, enthusiasm, support, humor, advice, and warmth to all who had the privilege to know her and even to strangers who she thought could use some extra kindness.

Born in Tullahoma Tennessee on February 2, 1982, to Ginger (Goodwin) Tomes and Jerry Goodwin, Amber grew up like a Gypsy in the wind getting to experience life across the U.S. before returning to Tennessee to graduate High School. Following High School, she served honorably in the U. S. Navy reaching the rank of Petty Officer Third Class. She later graduated from Tennessee State University with a B.A. in Criminal Justice with a Minor in Psychology. A true “Jill of all Trades”, she had experience working as a bartender, dispatcher, paralegal, and most recently as a Senior Operators Administrator, Human Resources, at FedEx. Even with all she had done and seen in her 42 years of life, Amber was always proudest to be a mom to her two kids Reagan and Savannah.

She is survived by her loving family, including children Reagan Smith and Savannah Smith and their father Chris Smith; mother Ginger (John) Tomes; father Jerry Goodwin; brother Clinton (girlfriend Beth) and his children Madalyn and Annabelle; brother Charleton (Tessa) Goodwin and his children Layton and Avelyn; sister Katie Goodwin and her son Maverick; brother Jacob Goodwin and his children Elias, Sofia, and Kristen; step-father Sonny Petersen; step-sister Christina Petersen; step-brother David Petersen; Aunt Rebecca Tomes; Uncles John Tomes and Uncle Warner (Rhonda) Tomes; and a host of cousins, relatives, and friends who she made family. She was preceded in death by grandparents Jimmye Ruth Tomes, John Tomes, Clara Dean Goodwin, and Ralph Goodwin.

Amber will be remembered for her strength of spirit, endless sense of adventure, larger than life stories, tenacity, compassion, generosity, can-do attitude, silliness, and for all the love, light, and laughter she poured into our lives. We joked that Amber was like a butterfly: not because she was soft and delicate, as she was one of the strongest people we’ve ever known, but because of the way she constantly was flitting about. She was always on the move. Even with two jobs and two kids, she was on a constant rotation of visits between family and friends, attending events that caught her interest, or hitting the road on a random whim. She was as alive as one could be, but no matter where she went or what she did, she always came back around to sit a while before taking off again. We’re devastated by the reality that she won’t be coming back this time, that she’s gone somewhere we can’t reach, but we know that she would want us to focus on the positives she brought to all our lives.

A memorial service will be held on Monday January 27, 2025, at Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home in Tullahoma, TN where family, friends, acquaintances, and anyone else who happened to get swept up into Amber’s orbit along the way will gather to celebrate her life and share their memories. Visitation will be held from 11 AM to 1 PM with the funeral service to begin at 1 PM.

Her passing has left a hole in our worlds that can never be filled, but we will do our best to keep her spirit among us by sharing the lessons she taught us: never take yourself too seriously; say yes to a chance to see or do something new; keep your eyes on the light even in dark times; spread love at every opportunity; and to live, truly live, during the time you are given.