John H. Godard

 John H. Godard, affectionately known by his grandchildren as “Paw Paw”, departed this life on Thursday, November 18, 2021. John was born to the union of Reverend Willie Joseph and Pearl (Brown) Godard on March 24, 1925, in Sycamore, Georgia. John was the sixth born child of thirteen children.

At an early age, John accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at Saint John’s Baptist Church in Tipton, Georgia. In 1953 John relocated to Flint, Michigan, where he resided until his passing. He was a faithful member and servant at Ebenezer Ministries. He served as a deacon under the leadership of Pastor Urundi Knox. John served in the United States Army where he was Honorably Discharged.  After leaving the Army, he went to work for General Motors, retiring after 32 years of employment. Once he retired, John kept busy by working in his garden. He would spend hours at Meijer Store. He loved reading his Bible daily. John was a God-fearing man.

John was united in holy matrimony to the love of his life, Janie L. Fultz on April 11, 1987. This union was truly blessed because John acknowledged her eight grown children as his own. He never called us stepchildren.

John’s memory will be cherished by his wife, Janie of 34 years; three sons: Walter Alexander of Miami, Florida, Robert and Archie Fultz of South Bend, Indiana: four daughters, Louise Jones of Tipton, Georgia, Angela (Carl) Gadson, Pamela and Vanessa Fultz, both of South Bend, Indiana. He leaves the following siblings: Naomi (Wallace) Davis, G.W. Godard, Annie Pearl (George) Smith, Rudine Waters and Dorothy (Moses) Ragland; a special niece, Betsy Sanders; a special nephew, Franklin “Tony” Godard; 13 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren, along with a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Both parents preceded John in death. He was also preceded in death by daughters: Michelle and Yvonne Fultz; granddaughter, LaTasha Fultz; siblings: George Alexander, Willa Mae and Essie Carrither, Walter Godard, Mary Sears, Rosie Wilson, and Ruby Daniels.

BONUS DAD

 “Paw Paw” was a man who was soft-spoken with the kind of character that respect easily flowed to. He was kind, a hard worker, and always willing to lend a listening ear or share a word of encouragement and do whatever he could do to help in any way. The scripture tells us “the memory of a righteous person is blessed” and that’s exactly what my memory of him is; perfectly blessed. I am so blessed that he was in my LIFE!  “Paw Paw” was the kind of man anyone would be proud to call DAD. 

~ Pam

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