Joylette Goble is the daughter of Katherine Johnson, the NASA mathematician whose calculations helped guide John Glenn’s orbital flight and the Apollo 11 mission. Katherine Johnson worked at NASA and its predecessor agency from 1953 to 1986 and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. Joylette grew up inside that household and later built her own career in mathematics and engineering. This guide covers what’s actually documented about her life, education, and work.

Who Is Joylette Goble? (Overview)

Joylette Goble, also known as Joylette Goble Hylick, is a mathematician, engineer, and co-author with a background in aerospace and education advocacy.

Quick Bio / Fast Facts

Her name traces back to her grandmother, Joylette Roberta Coleman, who worked as a teacher.

Early Life and Family Background

Birth Year Discrepancies and Verified Facts

Published sources list Joylette’s birth year between 1939 and 1946, with the early 1940s cited most often. No government or NASA record publicly confirms an exact date, so this guide treats the birth year as unconfirmed rather than settling on one figure.

Growing Up in Newport News, Virginia

The Goble family moved to Newport News, Virginia, in 1953, when Katherine Johnson began working at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, the agency that became NASA. Virginia was still segregated at the time. Joylette and her sisters, Constance and Katherine (“Kathy”), grew up in a household where books, music, and math were part of a daily routine.

Family Background — Katherine Johnson and James Francis Goble

Katherine Johnson — NASA Mathematician

Katherine Johnson graduated from West Virginia State College in 1937 at age 18. According to NASA’s own records, she calculated trajectories for Alan Shepard’s 1961 Freedom 7 flight, John Glenn’s 1962 orbital mission, and the Apollo 11 moon landing.

James Francis Goble — Chemistry Professor and His Death (1956)

James Francis Goble taught chemistry and married Katherine in November 1939. The Katherine Johnson Foundation’s official biography states he died in December 1956 after a two-year illness, later identified as a brain tumor. Joylette was a teenager at the time.

Katherine Johnson’s Second Marriage to James A. “Jim” Johnson (1959)

Katherine remarried in 1959 to James A. “Jim” Johnson, a U.S. Army officer and Korean War veteran. Wikipedia’s sourced biography notes the marriage lasted 60 years, until he died in 2019 at age 93.

Joylette Goble’s Siblings — Constance Goble and Katherine “Kathy” Goble Moore

Joylette is often described as the eldest of the three Goble sisters, though no independent public record confirms exact birth order.

Constance Goble’s Life and Career

Constance Goble worked as an educator and later ran a trucking business, Connie’s Trucking. She died in 2010 in Newport News.

Katherine “Kathy” Goble Moore’s Life and Career

Katherine “Kathy” Goble Moore studied at Bennett College, Hampton University, and Montclair State University, earning a master’s degree in information systems. She spent 33 years as an educator and guidance counselor in New Jersey before she died in 2019.

Education and Academic Journey

Joylette earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Hampton University, a historically Black institution, and a master’s degree in information systems from Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Career Path — NASA, Lockheed Martin, and Teaching

Career as a Schoolteacher (Alternate Account)

Some biographical write-ups describe Joylette as a career schoolteacher. This account is separate from — and not confirmed alongside — her documented math and engineering background, so both should be read as distinct claims rather than one continuous story.

NASA Langley Research Center Career

Her publisher biography for “One Step Further” states she worked at NASA as a mathematician, following the same field as her mother.

Lockheed Martin — Senior Requirements Engineer Role

That same publisher biography states she later moved to Lockheed Martin, working as a Senior Requirements Engineer — a role focused on defining technical specifications for aerospace and defense systems before they go into production.

Marriage, Married Name “Hylick,” and Personal Family

Is Joylette Goble the Same Person as Joylette Hylick?

Yes. Joylette Goble and Joylette Hylick refer to the same person. “Hylick” is her married surname, used in her author credit for “One Step Further” and in Library of Virginia archival materials. Details about her husband and children are not part of the public record.

Co-Authoring “One Step Further” and “My Remarkable Journey”

One Step Further (2021, National Geographic Kids)

Joylette co-wrote “One Step Further” with Katherine Moore, Katherine G. Johnson, and illustrator Charnelle Pinkney Barlow. National Geographic Kids published the 48-page book on January 5, 2021.

My Remarkable Journey: A Memoir (2021, HarperCollins)

“My Remarkable Journey,” published by HarperCollins in 2021, is a first-person memoir credited to Katherine Johnson and written with her three daughters, including Joylette.

Role in Hidden Figures Recognition and Cultural Impact

The 2016 film “Hidden Figures” brought national attention to Katherine Johnson’s NASA career. The recognition extended to her daughters, who began appearing at related events and interviews discussing their mother’s work.

Preserving Katherine Johnson’s Legacy — Public Role and Advocacy

NASA Tribute Events and Public Appearances

Joylette attended NASA’s 2016 dedication of the Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility.

West Virginia University Libraries Archive Event (2023)

On September 29, 2023, Joylette took part in a West Virginia University Libraries event that opened the Katherine Goble Johnson Papers — including notebooks, photographs, and correspondence — to public researchers.

STEM Advocacy for Women and Underrepresented Students

Joylette speaks at schools and community programs encouraging students, particularly young women of color, toward STEM education.

Personal Life, Faith, and Values

Public information about Joylette’s personal life is limited. What’s documented consistently across family accounts is her interest in music, particularly piano, and her continued involvement in education-focused public events.

Where Is Joylette Goble Now? Current Life and Residence

As of 2026, Joylette lives in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. She continues to make occasional public appearances at educational and memorial events tied to her mother’s legacy.

Joylette Goble’s Net Worth

No verified net worth figure exists for Joylette Goble in public financial or corporate records. Estimates found online are not tied to a disclosed source and shouldn’t be treated as confirmed.

Legacy and Influence

Joylette’s contributions include two published books, participation in a major university archive project, and continued STEM outreach work tied to her mother’s NASA career.

Conclusion

Joylette Goble’s documented record includes a mathematics degree from Hampton University, a graduate degree from Drexel University, work history at NASA and Lockheed Martin, and co-authorship of two books about her mother’s life. She continues to appear at public events supporting STEM education and Katherine Johnson’s legacy.

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FAQs

Who is Joylette Goble?

She is a daughter of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson and a mathematician, engineer, and co-author in her own right.

What is Joylette Goble known for?

Her work at NASA and Lockheed Martin, her STEM advocacy, and her contribution to two books about Katherine Johnson’s life.

How old is Joylette Goble?

Her exact birth date isn’t publicly confirmed; published estimates place her birth in the early 1940s.

Who are Joylette Goble’s parents?

Katherine Johnson and James Francis Goble. Her stepfather was James A. “Jim” Johnson, whom Katherine married in 1959.

Does Joylette Goble have any siblings?

Yes — Constance Goble, who died in 2010, and Katherine “Kathy” Goble Moore, who died in 2019.

Is Joylette Goble still alive?

As of 2026, yes. She lives in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.

Did Joylette Goble work at NASA?

According to her publisher biography, she worked as a mathematician at NASA before moving to Lockheed Martin.

What book did Joylette Goble help write?

“My Remarkable Journey” and “One Step Further,” both co-written with her mother and sisters.