Lewis L. Godsey Jr.

On August 21, 1971, God gave the gift of a son, Lewis Leon Godsey, Jr., to Minnie L. and Lewis L. Godsey, Sr. On Sunday, September 4, 2011, God in His infinite wisdom called him home after a lengthy illness. When Leon was nine years old, he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and joined the membership of Temple Baptist Church and was baptized by Reverend Bernard Boyd. His faith remained strong over the years and he recommitted his life to the Lord and joined Pilgrim’s Way Bible Baptist Church on October 31, 2005. Leon was faithful to pray before meals and often led the family in prayer, it was obvious that he had a good relationship with the Lord. Leon attended Baltimore City Public Schools and graduated from Francis M. Woods High School in 1989 and received a special award from the Mayor and Baltimore City Council for obtaining the highest score on the National Citizenship Test. During his high school years he participated in the work study program and following graduation was enrolled in the apprenticeship program for sheetmetal workers. During the course of the training, he worked with the crew to lay tracks for the now existing Johns Hopkins Subway Station. He also worked at the Baltimore Housing Authority for several years. In November, 2002 he was the proud recipient of a diploma in barbering granted by the State of Maryland from Avara’s Academy of Hair Design. Leon was a skilled Practitioner of Barbering and took great pride in his work. Always a happy, creative and genuinely good-hearted child, Leon loved his big sister, Lenore, and affectionately called her “his Noche”. He enjoyed listening and singing rap music, he loved to dance and play percussion instruments, including the kitchen table. Although he enjoyed all sports, he loved playing basketball. He also enjoyed playing video games and watching all types of movies. One of his favorite movies was “The Matrix.” Leon enjoyed reading comic books with his favorites being Wolverine and the X-Men. At times he thought he was an artist when he tried to draw some of the characters for display in his bedroom. Leon became more serious about life when his daughter Noel was born on January 10, 1999 and made major changes to his life. His love for Noel was boundless and he took great pride in the spelling of her name which was the reverse of his name. Before his illness he would put her on his shoulders and take her several blocks to neighborhood playgrounds. He was very happy with his little girl, but in his zeal to be an exceptional parent, he would sometimes sign her up for rough and tough hobbies better suited for a boy. To cherish and celebrate his memory Leon leaves: his loving daughter, Noel Godsey, mother, Minnie Godsey, father, Lewis Godsey, Sr., sister, Lenore Paseda; brother-in-law Solomon Paseda; one niece Morayo Paseda; one stepsister, LaShawn Alford; seven aunts: Carole Dent, Mable Dixon; Ursula Dixon, Sun Dixon; Margaree Lee; LaVaughn Spence; Cynthia Washington and one great aunt, Mary McCoy; five uncles: Willie Dixon of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Tyrone Dixon of Austin, Texas; Charles Dixon; David Dixon and William Godsey. Godmother Virginia Peguese and Spiritual Mentors: Minister Cedric Manson, Pastor Raymond L. Thornton, Sr., Deacon John Smith and Jeanne Madden. He also leaves a host of other relatives, long time friends and the Pilgrim’s Way church family.

Tributes

Lewis L. Godsey Jr.

August 21, 1971 - September 4, 2011