James Emory Godwin, Sr. (Jimmy)

Funeral services for Jimmy Godwin, 86, of Pelham will be held Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 2:00PM at First Baptist Church, Pelham. Rev. Matt Peek, Rev. Leroy Williams will officiate, and Rev. Nathan Fowler will deliver the Eulogy and interment will be in Pinecrest Memory Gardens. Pallbearers will be Donald Bishop, Neil Hilliard, Jimmy Anderson, Donnie Palmer, Harold Smith and Rick Winters. Honorary pallbearers will be the Senior Adult Men’s Sunday School Class of First Baptist Church. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Pelham for 56 years, Ordained Deacon, Sunday School Teacher and served on numerous church committees. He was also an Eagle Scout, Pelham Rotary Club past president, Paul Harris Fellow, past President of the Pelham Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Mitchell County Food Bank, treasurer of American Legion Smith-Spence Post 144, and on the Task Force for Peanut Program Automation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was the general manager of GFA Peanut Association in Camilla. He also served his country in the United States Airforce during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Jimmy was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and servant to the lord. He served his church and his community while also focusing on being a voice for those that didn’t have one. He was proud that in the 1960’s he was the first person from the United States to travel to Europe and sell peanuts overseas to those markets, establishing an export business that shipped peanuts grown in the Southeastern United States to manufacturers across Europe. He loved spending time outdoors, never met a stranger, and had many stories to tell, perhaps embellishing them from time to time. A world traveler, he completed his goal of visiting all 50 states in 2025. Mr. Godwin passed away Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at his residence. Born September 16, 1939, in Cairo he was the son of the late Richard Solomon and Virginia Ware Godwin. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jan Adams Godwin of Pelham; son, James (Jamie) Emory Godwin, Jr. (Linnaea) and grandsons, Stetson James Godwin and Bryce Emory Godwin all of Scottsdale, AZ and daughter, Jana Godwin Singleton (Tracy) and granddaughter, Sydney Singleton Bentley (Trevor) all of Pelham and grandson, John Adam Singleton (Fiancé Meredith) of Nashville, TN; brother, Maston Ware Godwin, Sr. (Melody) of Camilla and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to Pelham First Baptist Church or the American Cancer Society. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 6:00-8:00PM. Willis-Jamerson-Braswell Funeral Home, Pelham