James Goodson

Officer James Goodson was checking the premises of a bar on 22 Avenue South, near 7 Street, in St. Petersburg when another officer observed a man in possession of a weapon outside. Hearing a struggle, Goodson went outside to assist the other officer. The suspect fired, hitting Goodson, who died of his wounds early on the following morning, Christmas Day 1947. The suspect was later arrested in Pinellas Park.

Officer Goodson was survived by his father; his new wife of 13 days, Dorothy Maxine (Osborne); his son, Lane M. (14). Goodson had recently divorced and had just married Dorothy on December 12, 1947. The service was held for Goodson at Baynard’s Chapel and the longest funeral procession ever seen at the time led up to the burial at Memorial Park Cemetery. The newspaper described the attendants at the service by saying, “They were from every walk of life; Julian was a friend of millionaires and bums alike”.