Gussie Lee Parker-Goodrich-Falconer was born June 11, 1925 in Natchez, Mississippi to the union of George Albert Parker and Hattie Rosson. She was the second of four girls born to this union. In 1930, her parents migrated to East St. Louis, Illinois. Gussie accepted Christ at an early age and later continued her membership to Southern Mission Baptist Church where she remained until she entered into eternal rest at age 96.

Gussie started her education in East Saint Louis School District #189 attending Garfield Elementary School and Carver School on Goose Hill. Gussie was the mother of four children, Carmen, Michael, Darrell, and Vonzell. Gussie was united in holy matrimony to Lawrence T. Goodrich in 1944. She later married Homer Falconer in 1969 and remained married until his death in 1992. As a stay-at-home mother she kept an immaculate house wherever she lived. She was an excellent cook and made sure to take wonderful care of her children and later her grandchildren as well.

Her parents, husbands, siblings, Annie Mae Garner, Alice Dawson and Lodell Dunnigan; son, Vonzell Washington, and two grandchildren preceded her in death.

She leaves to cherish her memory her daughter, Carmen (James) Wayne Sr.; sons, Michael L. (Deborah) Goodrich and Darrell (Dorothy) Rice; eight grandchildren, and a host of great grandchildren, other relatives and friends.