Minister John A. Godfrey

GODFREY, Minister John A.
Of Kalamazoo, Michigan Went to be with his Lord and Savior on August 5, 2008 in SanDiego, CA. John was born March 29, 1971 in Houston, TX and graduated from high school in Genoa, AR in 1990. He was an Eagle Scout 4 Palms and a member of the Cherry Creek Community Church in Portage. John graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Bible/Religious Education from Central Baptist College in 1997; Master of Arts Degree in Educational Ministries in 2005 at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary and did graduate work at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL. He served in ministry as Youth Minister at Village Creek Baptist Church formerly known as Wakefield Baptist Church in Little Rock, AR; Pastor of Fairfield Road Baptist Church in Lake Villa, IL and as Assistant Pastor and Minister of Education at the 12th Street Baptist Church in Kalamazoo; In November of 2007 John was selected to serve as an Army Chaplain. On August 3, 1991, he was united in marriage to Karen Jean Tripp, who survives. Also surviving are their children, daughter Cecilia Rose Godfrey and son Trent Aubrey Godfrey, both at home; his parents Hubert Michael and Judy Ann Tate Godfrey; grandparents Finis Aubrey and Julia Ruth Tate; his brother, Michael Alan and Victoria Godfrey, all of Texarkana, AR and brother John Michael Godfrey in the U.S. Air Force stationed at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, KS; parents-in-law Carl and Sally Tripp of Murphysboro, IL and a brother-in-law Michael and Lupita Tripp of Carson City, NV; aunts and uncles, Patricia Headley, Sonny Tate, John Tate, Sue Godfrey and Faye Hopkins; numerous nieces and nephews. Services will be held at 2:30 pm on Saturday, August 9 at the Cherry Creek Community Church, 10641 Shaver Rd. with Pastor Brad Belcher and Pastor Ken Williams officiating. Visitation will be at the church beginning at 1:30 pm Saturday. Committal services will be held on Monday, August 11 at 10 am in the Mausoleum at Mt. Ever-Rest Cemetery, 3941 S. Westnedge Ave. As an expression of sympathy memorial contributions in John's memory may be made directly to the family. Arrangements by Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Portage Chapel, 411 E. Centre Ave. 269 343-1508. Please visit online at www.langelands.com to sign the online register book or leave a condolence to the family.