Arnita (Wood) Grose, affectionately called "Mommanita" by much of her family, made her final journey home on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at Augusta Health in Fishersville, VA. She was 74 years old. She is preceded in death by her father, Walter R. Wood, Sr., and mother, Ella M. (Clarke) Wood; aunts, Mae, Friselle, and Mariah; uncles, Fountain and Whitfield; and cousins, Keith Clarke, Cheryl Shropshire, and Atiba Shropshire.

Arnita's light will be carried on by her son, Christopher Goggins and his wife, Janice Goggins (Greenbelt, MD); daughter, Monica Mae (Washington, D.C.); grandchildren, Jasmine Goggins, Brooke Goggins, Donovan Goggins (Greenbelt, MD), and Marcus McClary (Roanoke, VA); brothers, Walter R. "Butch" Wood, Jr. (Washington, D.C.), Henry G. "Spoon" Wood (Washington, D.C.), and Raymond F. Cooke (Washington, D.C.); niece, Alaina Wood (Washington, D.C.); nephew, Andre Wood (Atlanta, GA); first cousins, Brenda (Cassell) Glover (New Carrollton, MD), Sheila (Timbers) Dunn (Pikesville, MD), and Sharon Clarke (Washington, D.C.); her life-long friend and confidant, Audrey Scott (Staunton, VA); a cousin she raised as one of her own, Ashaki (Shropshire) Mitchell (Mt. Airy, MD); and a host of relatives, friends, neighbors, fellow worshippers, and former coworkers from all parts of her life.

Arnita was born on September 4, 1946 in Washington, D.C. and was the oldest of three children born to Walter R. Wood, Sr. and Ella Maria (Clarke) Wood. She graduated high school from McKinley Tech in 1964. In 1967 she welcomed her son, Christopher, to the world. Her biggest passions were always her son, daughter Monica born in 1990, and her extensive community of family and friends.

Sunday dinners on Monroe St. were a normal part of the week for many years. Bid-Whist, football, food, pictures, and stories were always in great supply. Thanksgiving was the time of year she enjoyed fattening up her family, and according to her, if you left her house hungry, it was your fault. Birthday parties, family vacations, and day trips to the beach gave her some of the best moments in her life. When family was around, you rarely saw her without a grin. She relished her front-row seat to the growing and developing lives of the next generation of Clarkes, and she was always ready to support them with a hot meal, a nudge in a positive direction, and a hug.

People quickly figured out how much Arnita loved animals, especially dogs and elephants. Over the years, she amassed an incredible amount of elephant-related items, from bejeweled statues to drawings, paintings, and glass sculptures.

Arnita was a Lay Leader and active member of Community United Methodist Church in Staunton, VA, where she freely shared her love of God and scripture with her fellow worshippers. She also enjoyed being the Records Clerk for the Staunton Police Department for a number of years.

A Celebration of Her Life and Light will be held on Friday, September 10, 2021. Arnita lived her life to the fullest, and encouraged all those around her to do the same. We honor her best by maintaining our distance, but joining our hearts and memories virtually. She will be interred at the Oaklawn Mausoleum and Memory Gardens, Staunton, VA. Please feel free to share your thoughts, memories, and love with the family at www.coffman funeral home.net. Thank you to all for your continued love and support.

Arnita's bright light, joy of living, and love for all things "family" will live forever in our hearts and minds.

In her memory, please consider donating to the Augusta Regional SPCA, P.O. Box 2014, Staunton, VA 24402 (https://arspca.org/). In this way, her love for pets and the joy they can bring to the lives of others will live on.

Links to a live stream of the services, as well as the program for downloading, will be placed at the following site: https://sites.google.com/view/arnitahomegoing/home?authuser=5