Willie Raye Goss was born August 21, 1943 in Waxahachie, Texas to the parentage of Vernell Waters and Cathryn Hunt. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Thomas and Ima Cavers and parents, Vernell Waters and Cathryn Hunt. She was a 1961 graduate of Turner High School in Waxahachie, Texas. She attended Prarie View A & M University where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree. She later received her masters degree from East Texas State University. She was married for 32 years to Condell Goss, Jr. She was employed at Republic Life Insurance Company for six years before working at Mountain View College as a counselor/instructor for 35 years.