Goss funeral was Sunday

Gospel music writer, singer and producer James W. Goss, 40, Sugar Valley Road, Route 5, Cartersville, was killed in an airplane crash Wednesday night, October 2, 1980, near Cartersville.  The body was recovered from the Stamp Creek area of Lake Allatoona around 2:30 Friday.

Goss was born in Bartow County, April 13, 1940, son of Mrs. Anna Mae Elrod Goss and the late B.A. (Red) Goss.  He was a graduate of Cass High School and attended West Georgia College.  He was a member of Cartersville Lodge #63 F&AM, Cass High Band Boosters and was a Shriner.

For a number of years, Goss and his brothers sang and recorded together as one of the nation’s top gospel music groups.  More recently he had been a producer, recording Rex Nelon Singers, Johnny Cook, McDuff Brothers and Hovie Lister and the Statesmen.  He was also an accomplished songwriter and one of his songs, “I Won’t Have To Worry Any More” was at the top of the gospel music charts for several months.

Goss was a music director for the Pumphouse Players and had also served as organist and Minister of Music at Victory Temple Church, where he was a member.

Survivors include his widow, the former Janice Kennedy, to whom he was married June 16, 1963; two sons, Andy and Chris Goss; two daughters, Dana and Georgi-Anna Goss; two brothers, Roni Goss, Marietta and Lari Goss, Greenville, South Carolina; mother, Anna Mae Howell, Route 2, Cartersville; two stepsisters, Mrs. Louise Williams and Mrs. Sylvia Williams, both of Woodstock.

Funeral services were held Sunday, October 05, at 3:30 p.m. at Victory Temple Church with the Revs Glen Wilson, Danny May and Edwin Clack officiating.  Interment was in the Center (Baptist Church) Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Sam Simpson, Ray Womack, Raymond Carr, Ernie Reece, Joe Smalley, Larry Hobgood, Lynn Chance and Rufus Harris.

[NOTES: The Daily Tribune October 06, 1980 edition features a front page story on the plane crash.  He was a member of the Oak Ridge Boys for a short time during their earlier years.  His tombstone features his signature.]