Goodrums leave lasting legacy
No one at Baylor Health Care System
would remember Opal and Ellis Goodrum.
However, their Baylor story defined their
lives. In 1992, their only son, Craig, died
from brain cancer at age 46. Paul Rowlett,
grand-nephew and executor of their estate,
said the Goodrums never fully recovered
after Craig’s death, but were very grateful for
Baylor’s care. Last year, Opal and Ellis, both
in their 90s and married 75 years, died
within four days of each other.
During their lives, the Goodrums
expressed gratitude to Baylor in ways appropriate for them. Over nine years they made
23 gifts totaling $660. Their largest gift was
$50, the smallest $15.
But their desire to support Baylor’s fight
against cancer was obviously on their minds
when they had their wills prepared. Last fall,
Paul notified Baylor Health Care System
Foundation that his great aunt and uncle
had left a bequest to Baylor for cancer
research. In December, we received the
bequest of $134,000, which represented a
significant portion of the Goodrums’ estate.
For many donors, their largest gifts will
come from their estates, whether through
a last will and testament, proceeds from an
IRA, retirement plan or insurance policy.
For this reason, estate gifts are often several
times the amount of an individual’s lifetime gifts to causes that are deeply meaningful to them.
Karen Fink, M.D. Ph.