Mary Gooch has been honored by Roane County, Tennessee, with the proclamation of April 17, 2026, as “Mary Gooch Day.”

The proclamation recognizes her decades of dedicated service, which began in 1997 when she joined the court system as a court reporter for Judge E. Eugene Eblen, following earlier work in various departments at the Bank of Roane County. In the courtroom, she became a trusted and respected figure known for her professionalism, efficiency, and ability to maintain order while contributing to many significant and high-profile cases, including one featured on Dateline.

Beyond her professional life, Mary has been deeply involved in her church and community. A longtime member of First Baptist Concord (after first attending South Harriman Baptist Church), she taught Sunday School, supported international ministries, and welcomed University of Tennessee students into her home. She also devoted countless hours to Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, responding to hurricanes, tornadoes, and fires, where her willingness to tackle the hardest jobs earned her the playful nickname “Drag Queen” during “Chainsaw Saturday” workdays. Together with her late husband Mike Gooch, whom she married in August 1977 and who passed away from ALS in 2022, she served through the Big Emory Baptist Association by repairing homes, building wheelchair ramps, replacing roofs, and helping improve living conditions for many families.

Mary and Mike shared a love for the outdoors and enjoyed hosting family and friends, especially treasuring time with their granddaughter Brier Grace. As a devoted mother to Jessica, mother-in-law to Marcus Williams, and proud “Mimi” to Brier Grace, she has continued creating cherished family traditions. Since her husband’s passing, she has channeled her compassion into active support and advocacy for the ALS Foundation.

Roane County Executive Wade Creswell signed the proclamation on April 17, 2026, at Kingston, officially recognizing Mary Gooch’s lifelong contributions to the court system, her church, her community, and her family.