Edison Maxwell Godfrey Sr.

1935 - 2007

BORN

1935

DIED

2007

Edison Godfrey Obituary

Edison (Ed) Maxwell Godfrey, Sr., 71, passed away on Tuesday, February 6, 2007. He was born April 30, 1935 in Bedford County, a son of the late Thomas Godfrey and Beatrice Burrell Godfrey. He worked for more than 30 years at Natural Bridge Learning Center as a counselor. He was a dedicated, baptized Christian witness of Jehovah. As one of Jehovah's Witnesses, he loved sharing the Bible's message with everyone he met. Becoming a servant of Jehovah and working with young people at the Learning Center, brought great fulfillment to his life and added much joy and satisfaction. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Beulah Strawbridge Godfrey; four children, Karen Thompson and husband Al, Edison Godfrey, Jr. and wife Rene, Gail Gatling and husband Timothy, and William Godfrey and wife Leah; a sister, Gladys Godfrey Dowell; a nephew, Jeffrey Godfrey; seven grandchildren: Julian, Page, Alexis, Kaitlin, Taylor, Zachary and Ethan. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 10, 2007 at 11 a.m. at Bolling Grose & Lotts Funeral Chapel with Randolph Hare and Kenneth Kurpik officiating. Burial will follow in Green Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Arrangements by Bolling Grose & Lotts Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Buena Vista, Va.

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Published by Roanoke Times on Feb. 8, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Edison Godfrey

5 Entries

Barry Staton

February 24, 2007

My first memory of Mr.Godfrey was a child playing little league baseball and Mr.Godfrey was standing there up against the backstop probably watching Edison play baseball. I have so many great memories of Big E that I was truely blessed just to know a great guy like Big E.Big E had a beautiful family and he was very proud of his children and grandchildren. He was the most thoughtful person that I have ever known,and he had the patience of JOB. I worked with Big E for many years and there wasn't anything that we couldn't talk about or discuss. Big E faced lots of adversity throughout his life and quitting wasn't in his vocabulary. Fishing was his passion and I can't remember how many times I heard him say I just want to catch 1 more but the last one would sometimes take several hours but he had the patience to sit in the same place until it was dark. I was very priveledged to go through training to provide clinical counseling supervison for substance abuse with Big E and we had the same clinical supervisor. We spent many hours studying together at his house and mine. We spent many hours in training together, hotel rooms and siminars so Big E felt like a father to me. We would take my son Ben fishing every year on Ed's boat to reward him for making good grades in school. My wife and kids loved him as much as I did and he would always ask about the family. Big E was a tremendeous friend to thousands of people and caring for his fellow man and helping others was just as important to him as fishing. I know that we lost one of the greatest people that I will ever know in my lifetime. I grew up about 4 blocks from his family and I graduated from high school with Karen and I grew up knowing his family all of my life. Big Es wife Beulah is a tremendeous person who knows about adversity and challenges. Big E was very happy serving his Lord and witnessing to others. I know that I haven't felt this empty since my father passed away and we lost one of the greatest guys that this community has ever known.

Sincerely,
Barry G. Staton Lt.
Natural Bridge Juvenile Correctional Center

Joyce Montgomery

February 10, 2007

Karen, Al, Julian, Page

Our hearts are saddened in the loss of your father. Karen, we did not know your father other than seeing him, but had always hear what a great man he was. We know by the person you and your wonderful family are that your parents gave you a strong background in doing the right thing and in serving the Lord Jesus Christ. As parents I know God has rewarded them both over the years and being very pleased with them, and now your father is in the presents of Our Father in Heaven and is receiving his reward for being faithful and true to God and doing His work here on this earth.
Our love to all your family. The service was so filled with love and good memories and we all left knowing that this is what it's all about. We're just passing through and our hope here is in Jesus Christ. God bless you and your family. Please keep in touch,

Love,

Joyce & Dickie

Timothy Turner

February 10, 2007

Mr.Godfrey was a kind and very caring man. He showed love and support to those in need he was alway there to listen and give words of encouragement.He will be deeply missed but never forgotten.
I salute you Captain T.Turner "NBJCC"

Beth Mohler Stinnett

February 8, 2007

I am so sorry for your loss. I first met Mr. Godfrey as a child when my parents ran the little store on Birch Avenue. I later had the privelege of calling him a colleague when I was a juvenile probation officer and he was a counselor at NBJCC. With his calm demeanor and easy going personality, he was such a gift to the children at the camp.

During the month of January (National Mentoring Month), the Virginia Juvenile Justice Association asked folks to write in and share their stories about who had mentored and been an inspration to them in their careers. Not surprising, Mr. Godfrey was named.

Jeannie Anthony

February 8, 2007

To Our Godfrey Family,
Ed was our rock. Mama could call on him or Beulah for anything and if they had the time they were there. When we moved away from BV we didn't worry about Mama because we knew she had the Godfreys. And of course I can't forget that I was your babysitter as you children grew up. Remember that Gail?
Know that we will miss him as much as you will. It saddens my heart to know he is gone but I know he's in a better place where his earthly body is no longer filled with pain. He now is painfree. We love all of you and we're here if you need us. I'm so glad he got to see Mama when you guys drove up after her stroke.

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