Barbara W. Godfrey
She was born on September 4, 1933, in National City, California to Lieutenant Commander Frank and Thelma Wade. Barbara relocated to Black Mountain at the age of 13 when her father retired from the US Navy. She was a proud graduate of Black Mountain High School, Class of 1951, and a graduate of Western Carolina University, Class of 1955. Barbara married George W. Godfrey, Sr. of Black Mountain on March 10, 1955, at the Black Mountain Presbyterian Church. She traveled the world with George spending time in Austria, Italy, many other parts of Europe, and throughout the United States with their favorite State being Alaska. Barbara and her family experienced the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake while living at Fort Richardson, Alaska. Barbara’s greatest joy in life was being the mother to her four children and “Grandma” and “Mamaw” to her six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Barbara was a career elementary school teacher for 38 years with the last 23 of those years at Old Fort Elementary School before retiring in 1998.
Upon retirement, Barbara took great pleasure in the many encounters she had with her former students, meeting their children, and in many cases their grandchildren, (which made her feel old), many of whom she also taught. She enjoyed many activities while her health allowed such as bowling, water aerobics, and walking, reading hundreds of books, volunteering at her church, singing in the church choir for many years, volunteering at the polls during election years, the Kiwanis Club Thrift Store, and Black Mountain Chamber of Commerce. She was always ready to help someone in need. A high light in Barbara’s life was being a weekly first place winner on the 1990 America’s Funniest Home Video TV show. Barbara considered herself to have wanderlust and always ready for an adventure, with visiting her children, Sunday car rides, trips to the beach with her favorite cousins, the Barter Theater in Abington, Virginia and Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee where she enjoyed numerous plays and concerts with her friends. If someone said, “let’s go,” her response was, “I’m ready!”
Barbara is preceded in death by her husband George W. Godfrey, Sr., and is survived by her brother Bill Wade (Rosemary) of Mooresville, North Carolina, children George W. “Bill” Godfrey, Jr., (Sherrill) of San Antonio, Texas, Mike Godfrey (Sharon) of Kailua, Hawaii, Elaine Godfrey of San Antonio, Texas and Scott Godfrey (Lisa) of Black Mountain, NC., six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren with another great-granddaughter arriving in October.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, October 25, 2025 from 1:00 to 2:00pm at Harwood Home for Funerals. A Celebration of Life service will immediately follow at 2:00pm at the funeral home. The burial will be in Mountain View Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to either St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Disabled American Veterans (DAV), 860 Dolwick Drive, Erlanger, KY 41018.