Record of Burial

Mary A. Goodman
Died, January 26, 1872
Aged 68
Of African descent, she gave the earnings of her life
to educate men of her own color in Yale College for the Gospel Ministry.
Mrs. Goodman, who
had spent her adult life “in such hard toil as washing and domestic service,” left her entire
savings amounting to nearly $5,000 “to the scholarship fund of the Theological School . .
. with the idea of aiding colored young men in their studies for the ministry.” Reportedly,
Mrs. Goodman, “a member and regular attendant of the College Street Church … felt
that the time was coming in the rapid progress of her race and people, when they would
require a more highly educated ministry … .”10 Her will read:
I give and bequest my whole estate both real and personal except as
hereinafter mentioned to the President and Fellows of Yale College in
New Haven, Connecticut, for the use of the Theological Department in
said College for the purpose of establishing a scholarship or scholarships
in said Theological Department and I desire that the income derived from
the property which shall come to said Corporation under and by virtue of
this will shall be used in aiding young men in preparing for the Gospel
ministry, preference being always given to young men of color.