She was preceded in death by her husband, Irvin C. Gossom. Survivors include her son, Kenneth Clark Gossom; her daughter, Jance G. Garrett; a daughter-in-law, Peggy Jones Gossom; a sister, Marie Clark Burgess, two grandchildren, David Hutson and Daniel Garrett; and eight great-grandchildren.

She received her teacher's certificate from Harrisonburg State Teachers College (now James Madison University) and taught school in Prince William County. For a number of years, she was the organist at Haymarket Baptist Church, Haymarket, Va. In later years she worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.D.

She was a member of Second Baptist Church.

Her remains rest at the West Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, 11020 West Broad Street, where the family will receive friends Sunday, August 8, from 6-9 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 12 noon on Tuesday, August 10 at Haymarket Baptist Church, Haymarket, Va., where the casket will be open for one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in Stonewall Memory Gardens, Manassas, Va.