Mrs. Eunive Edwards Massey

Mrs. Eunive Edwards Massey of Tampa, FL, passed away on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Progressive M.B. Church, 2504 Chipco Street, Tampa, FL 33605, with Rev. Bartholomew Banks, Pastor, Officiating. Interment will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery, 4615 E. Hanna Avenue, Tampa, FL 33610.

Mrs. Eunive Edwards Massey, also known as “Aunt Red,” “Mrs. Jackie,” and “Aunt Toot,” was born on February 16, 1923, in Camilla, GA, to George Washington Edwards and Josephine Stephen Edwards. They relocated to Tampa, FL, when she was three months old. They settled in Robles Pond, which is now known as Robles Park. She attended the Hillsborough County Public Schools.

Eunive was baptized in 1946 at Grace Mary Baptist Church by Rev. A. Burney, where she began singing in the choir. Later, she worked as a short-order cook and fountain girl at MacDill Air Force Base.

She also attended and graduated from Sunlight School of Beauty Culture in 1947. In 1956, she worked as a Beautician at Central Beauty Shop, located at 1218 Central Avenue (a historic landmark district), before moving to Lucille’s Beauty Shop on 34th Street.

In 1958, Eunive married Mr. Willie James Massey Sr., who was one of the first Black police officers in Tampa, FL. They were together for 42 years. In 1959, she moved her church membership to St. John Progressive M.B. Church with her husband. There, she worked with Mission #2 and sang in the Choir.

She loved watching her soap operas, singing, dancing, and traveling. She was known for her exceptional soul food cooking skills. A free-hearted individual, she was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need, but she would also let you know just how she truly felt about you, too!  She took pride in her appearance and relished dressing up to look her best. Her favorite sports teams were the Tampa Bay Rays and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Mrs. Massey was preceded in death by: her Mother, Josephine S. Edwards; Father, George W. Edwards; Husband, Willie J. Massey Sr.; Daughter, Erma J. Edwards Goodwin; Brothers, W. Perry Edwards, Wilmon Edwards and Earmon Edwards; Sisters, Jessie Pearl Edwards Jones, Millie Mae Edwards Carthon, Beatrice Edwards Randolph, Georgia Mae Edwards Johnson, and Zearline Edwards Davis.

She leaves to cherish her fond memories: Stepsons, Willie Massey Jr. (Mildred) and Dwight Massey; Grandchildren, Sharon Evans (Danny Sr.), Rawn Godwin (Angela), Darryl Goodwin, Kim Harris (Reuben), Brian Goodwin, and Chevon Nunn; Step Grands, Danny Goodwin (Marticia) and Cherese Goodwin; Great Grands, Carmen Knighton, Michael Knighton Jr., Rayna Godwin, Michael Hippard, Erica Hippard, Stephon Hippard, Chandler Jackson, Briana Goodwin, Telicia Goodwin, Cherese Marshall (Derrick), Eugene Nunn Ill, and Brittany Nunn; Step Great Grands, Alejandro Massey, Brittany Massey, and Shakala Massey; Great Great Grands, Michael, Malik, Malija, Carter, Levi, Kaidas, Emerie, Tavaris, Marquis, Kaniyah, Mikea, Samani, Samarion, Amiya, Amerie, Sonijah, Le'ani, and Chalil; Legend Great Great Great Grands, Leara and Ma'lani; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins and many sorrowing friends and relatives.

Visitation will be held on Friday, May 1, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606.

Arrangements entrusted to Ray Williams Funeral Home, Rhodes & Northern, Owners

www.raywilliamsfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mrs. Eunive Edwards Massey, please visit our floral store.