Carrie Lou Cline Gosdin, known by so many as Gigi, passed away on July 7, 2022. She was born on 26 July 1926 in Greasy Cove, Alabama to George Cline and Emma Starling Cline.
Survived by her daughter Robin Gosdin Farrell (Joel) and grandchildren Revin Farrell (Brittany) and Jordan Farrell. She has two surviving siblings Bobby Cline (Patsy) and Janie Pannell. Her 10 siblings blessed her life with numerous nieces and nephews, whom she loved, adored, and doted on.
She was preceded by her husband Revin “Rebe” Gosdin, her parents, and siblings LG Cline, Christine Lancaster, Dick Cline, Leo Cline, Clara Collett, Frank Cline, Bernice Sullivan, Mac Cline.
She served as a Dietician and School Lunch Manager for the Montgomery Public Schools, including Morningview Elementary and Brewbaker Elementary, as well as substituting at various schools after her retirement.
She had a wealth of experiences in her 95 years. As a child she lived through the Great Depression. She also grew up on the Goodyear Golf Course in Gadsden where her father constructed and managed the course. During World War II, she was nicknamed Lil’ Bit while working at Goodyear because she could crawl inside rubber fuel bladders for bombers to inspect for leaks. After she married the love of her life, they traveled for USO shows with her husband’s gospel bluegrass group Rebe and Rabe and the Sunny Valley Boys. She continued to travel with her husband’s group to small communities across the South. With her husband’s career in music and working at WBAM she often had to host and entertain at the last minute when her husband called to say he was bringing special guests/new entertainers on the circuit to the house for lunch or dinner. She was a wonderful cook and won a ribbon at the Alabama State Fair cooking/baking contest. Carrie and her husband were involved in the campaign for Governor John Patterson and were also instrumental in the Governor increasing funding for foster and adoption agencies after they adopted their daughter, Robin.
She began her married life in Bessemer, Alabama prior to moving to Montgomery. She was a founding and active member of Evangel Temple Assembly of God. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She played bridge weekly with a local group of ladies and was also involved with her daughter’s school activities. She enjoyed chaperoning and hosting activities for the JD Band and Mr. George Hammett from 1976 to 1980. After retirement, she served as a tour guide for several senior church groups. They traveled to Nova Scotia and other venues.
She moved to Auburn in 2005 to be closer to her daughter, son-in-law and her grandsons who were the light of her world. She was an active member at Cornerstone Church and attended regularly until her physical mobility limited her attending. While in Auburn, she was involved in her grandson’s school activities as well as later in their sports and band performances. She attended a weekly ladies Bible study and played weekly bridge until the pandemic. She was an avid Atlanta Braves fan and an Auburn University football fan.
Visitation, Service and Graveside were held on 12 July 2022. Visitation was held from 11:30 to 12:45 at Jeffcoat-Trant in Opelika, AL. Funeral service was held at 1:00 PM in the Jeffcoat-Trant Chapel. Graveside Service will be in Montgomery, AL at Greenwood Serenity Memorial Gardens at 3:30 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations in Gigi’s memory as listed on the Jeffcoat-Trant site www.jeffcoattrant.com.
Auburn University College of Nursing
Memorial gifts for Carrie Lou Cline Gosdin may be made to the “Auburn University Foundation” to the Carrie Lou Cline Gosdin Annual Fund for Excellence in the College of Nursing to support students in the Family Nurse Practitioner Program and mailed to:
Gift Processing
317 S. College Street
Auburn, AL 36849
Mercy Medical Ministry and Clinic: www.mercymedicalauburn.org/
Baby Steps: www.babysteps.org/
Agape: / www.agapeforchildren.org/
Women’s Hope: www.womenshope.org/