Jean Godbold, former Jax first lady, dies

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A former first lady of Jacksonville, Jean Godbold, passed away Friday  morning from complications from a stroke. She was 82.

Her husband, Jake Godbold, was the city's mayor from 1979 through 1987.

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Jean Godbold grew up here in Jacksonville and attended Andrew Jackson High School, where she met her future husband. They were married for 57 years.

Besides her husband, Jean Godbold is survived by their son, Ben, and granddaughters, Morgan and Matilda.

The former mayor told Channel 4's Tom Wills "she was a wonderful wife... we had the perfect marriage."

Jean Godbold was a good friend of the Wills family for almost 35 years.

"I would like to extend my personal condolences, as well as the condolences from all of us here at Channel 4, to the Godbold family," said Friday on the early evening newscast.

The funeral service will be next Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Wesley Fellowship, a United Methodist Church at 44th and Pearl Streets on the Northside.  Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetary at 4535 Main Street.