Aug. 22, 1918 – May 11, 2013

NATCHEZ — Services for Jefferson Briscoe “Brick” Goldman, 94, who died Saturday, May 11, 2013, from congestive heart failure, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. John Kramer officiating.

Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the funeral home.

Mr. Goldman was born in Washington, the son of Jefferson Briscoe Goldman Sr. and Susan Drake Adams Goldman, and lived there while his father finished his career with the U.S. Navy. He lived most of his childhood years in Bay St. Louis, where he enjoyed sailing on the bay and engaging in antics with his two brothers. He also spent a number of happy summers with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins in Tensas Parish. He had a number of great stories from his childhood that his family never tired of hearing.

Before World War II he attended a variety of colleges and universities, including but not limited to, the University of Alabama, the University of Mississippi, Louisiana Technical College and the University of Southern Mississippi. He showed a marked preference for social life over academics during those years, but that changed after World War II, when he served in combat in the European Theater with the 8th Armored Division, the 399th Armored Field Artillery Battalion.

After his military service, he attended Texas Christian University, where he developed a laser-like focus on his future career and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in geology. His career in the oil business began with sitting wells in West Texas and culminated in executive management with Continental Resources in Houston, with the corporate jet at his disposal. In the interim years, he worked as an exploration geologist with a variety of companies, including Tidewater, DeGolyer and MacNaughton, all in Dallas, and Austral Oil Company in Houston. While he was vice president of Florida Gas Exploration Company, Jackson division, he had numerous discovery wells. Though he was eventually promoted to president of Florida Gas Exploration Company, his fondest memory was the excitement of discovery during his time at Florida Gas in Jackson. He was known for his extensive knowledge of the industry and for his impeccable ethics. For those reasons, he was appointed to the Oil and Gas Board of the State of Mississippi, a position in which he served for six years. Notably, he was appointed/reappointed by republicans and democrats alike.

He will always be remembered as a true gentleman with a solid moral compass. Those close to him are aware that he possessed an incredible intellect and a great sense of humor. His daughters have always appreciated his dry wit combined with his occasional willingness to resort to great silliness. He possessed an uncanny ability to appreciate the absurdities in everyday life. It was an ability that served as a lesson in resiliency, adaptation and lightness. He was humble about his achievements with one exception, his girls. He recently said that the best thing that ever happened to him was that he had four daughters.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 34 years, Hope Hunn Goldman and two brothers, William Scott Goldman and Lane Adams.

Survivors include his daughters, Michele Slattery and husband, Ron, Betsy Goldman and husband, Martin Cook, Nancy Goldman and husband, Bill Sampson, and Mary Ann Richardson and husband, Bill; four granddaughters, Lisa Messelt, McClain Sampson and husband, Bill Epps, Staci Slattery and Shannon Deckings; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Laura C. Goldman and Annette Adams; his wonderful friend of 20 years, Betty Roberts. His relationship with Betty and her family gave him great joy. They also cut a fine figure on the dance floor.

The family thanks the staff of Siena One at St. Catherine’s Village; Mike Davis and the staff at Covenant Caregivers; and his favorite caregivers, Patricia Montgomery and Catheresa Miggins.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Land Trust of Mississippi, P.O. Box 245, Biloxi, MS 39533 or the Nature Conservancy of Mississippi, 405 Briarwood Drive, Suite 101, Jackson, MS 39206.

Online condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.