Service Details
Her Homegoing Celebration will be held in Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Friday, May 30, 2025 at 11:00AM with Pastor Rev. Fred L. Richmond, Sr. officiating. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Friday from 10:00AM until the time of service. Interment will follow at West Lawn Memorial Park.
With love and gratitude, we celebrate the life and legacy of Dorothy Louise Bridges-Goines, a devoted educator, cherished family member, and unwavering pillar of strength. Born in Monroe, Louisiana, to Samuel and Ruth Elmore Bridges, Dorothy was the oldest of nine children in a family rich in love and resilience.
A lifelong scholar and advocate for education, Dorothy attended Booker T. Washington Elementary School and Carroll High School before earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching from Grambling State University. She later pursued further studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, achieving a Master’s Degree and 30-plus hours beyond in her quest for excellence. She was a devoted member of Martin Temple Church while growing up before transitioning her membership to New Omega Baptist Church in Racine, Wisconsin. Faith guided her through life’s challenges, and she remained steadfast in her love for her family, students, and community. Dorothy dedicated 47 years to the field of education, serving students in the Racine Unified School District, where she retired as a Title I Parent Coordinator. She believed in the transformative power of education and pushed those around her to strive for their fullest potential—excuses were never an option if success was the goal. Within that she married William E. Goines Sr. to which two children were born.
She leaves behind a legacy carried forward by her devoted son, William Goines II, her sisters, Samuel Etta Walker (James) and Barbara Hodges (Ed), her brother, Michael Bridges (Brenda), and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family, and dear friends who will forever cherish her memory. Dorothy was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Samuel & Ruth Elmore Bridges, her grandparents, Tillman & Eula Alexander and Frank Bridges & Margaret Senion, her daughter, Stefnee Goines, her brothers, Larry, Ronald, Robert, and Samuel Bridges, and her sister, Margie Bridges.
Dorothy fought hard through every challenge life presented, demonstrating strength and determination until the very end. She had a big heart, an unwavering commitment to her loved ones, and a passion for lifting others up. Her wisdom, generosity, and no-nonsense approach to life will continue to inspire all who were blessed to know her.
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