William “Bill” Adolphus Godsey, 84, of Madison, AL, passed away peacefully on the day of his 57th wedding anniversary with Jerry, his wife, by his side. Mr. Godsey was born in Haleyville, AL, where he was a multi-sport standout. He played quarterback in the Alabama-Mississippi East-West All Star game and was a pitcher for the Alabama State All Star game. After high school, he was drafted as a pitcher for the Boston Braves and Texas Rangers before serving in the Korean War as a medic. After he was discharged from the army, he attended The University of North Alabama on an athletic scholarship for football and baseball. At UNA, he was a pitcher, halfback, kicker, and chosen co-captain of the football team his senior year. He was inducted into the Winston County Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.
In 1958, after marrying Jerry and graduating, he coached at Butler High School in Huntsville and was then chosen as the first head-coach at the new Lee High School. In 1963, he was hired by State Farm as an agent, later became a manager, and retired from State Farm in 1995 after 32 years of dedicated service.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Godsey is survived by his children, William Jr of Madison and Lee Renfroe and husband, Ben, of Muscle Shoals; and grandchildren, Izabella and Hubbell Godsey, and Olivia, Averi, and Laura Renfroe. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Godsey, and his brother, Jim Godsey.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday at Laughlin Service Funeral Home, 2320 Bob Wallace Avenue, Huntsville, Alabama, 35805. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday at Valley United Methodist Church, 1410 Drake Avenue, Huntsville, Alabama, 35802.
Pallbearers are Hubbell Godsey, Mike Jones, Ben Renfroe, Robby Rowan, Louis Vaughn, and Don Webb. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Thomas M. Griggs, Truman Mabee, Larry Osborne, and Bobby West.
Mr. Godsey was a loyal and active supporter of his college, The University of North Alabama. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Bill Godsey Memorial Scholarship, phone, 256-765-4757 or mail to UNA, Box 5113, Florence, AL 35632, or Valley United Methodist Church.
