June Godbey

Mrs. June Maxine (Manley) Godbey, 91 of Owingsville, Kentucky, formerly of Gadsden, Alabama, passed away Thursday, April 22, 2021 at St. Claire Regional Medical Center in Morehead, Kentucky.

She was born in Bath County, Kentucky, on October 23, 1929 to the late George and Elizabeth (Wells) Manley.

Mrs. Godbey was graduated from Bethel High School in 1947 and from Kentucky Wesleyan College in 1951. She taught English at Bethel High School for one year. In September 1952 she was sent by the United Methodist Church to Hamilton, Alabama, to serve two years as a "rural church and community worker." While living in Alabama she met the Rev. James M. Godbey. They married on February 7, 1954, and she took on the role of "preacher’s wife" until his death in 1992. A lifelong United Methodist, she was a member of Christ Central Church in Rainbow City, Alabama. She invested much of her time in Bible study and teaching. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and extended family.

In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by her sister Maggie Kittinger and brothers-in-law Herb Kittinger and Billy Woodard.

Survivors include her daughter, Joy (Dave) Bodine; son, Jonathan (Caroline) Godbey; grandchildren, Sammy Bodine and Anna Godbey; sisters, Belva Woodard and Betty (Doug) Osborn, as well as many nieces and nephews and their families on both the Godbey and Manley sides of her family.

She was clear that “your obituary will not get you into heaven.” What matters is having your name written in the Book of Life, by God’s grace, through faith in Jesus Christ.

A celebration of her life and God’s grace will be conducted at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at the Christ Central Church, 409 West Grand Avenue, Rainbow City, Alabama with Rev. Sherri Reynolds officiating. Burial will follow in Rainbow Memorial Gardens.

The family kindly asks that those in attendance wear masks.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to Christ Central Church, 409 West Grand Avenue, Rainbow City, Alabama 35906.

The Michael R. Gray Funeral Home in Owingsville, Kentucky, and Collier Butler Funeral Home in Gadsden, Alabama, are caring for Mrs. Godbey’s arrangements.