Jake Morris Godbold, former mayor of Jacksonville, died Jan. 23. He was 86.
A Jacksonville native and lifelong Democrat, Godbold was elected to City Council in 1967 and held that office until 1979, serving as Council president from 1971-78. He was mayor from 1978-87.
Before entering public service, Godbold was in the insurance business.
J.F. Bryan IV, former president of Independent Insurance Group, remembered Godbold as a community bridge builder.
“He had such passion for this community, just phenomenal. He did everything he did for all the right reasons,” Bryan said.
“He brought this community together like nobody has before or since,” Bryan said.
Bryan’s grandfather founded Independent Life Insurance, where Godbold worked for 15 years.
As Godbold’s boss, Bryan’s father supported him when he ran for Council and encouraged him to run for mayor.
Godbold had served as mayor for a brief period because as Council president, he stepped into the role when Mayor Hans Tanzler resigned to run for governor.
“He didn’t know whether he wanted to run. He had doubts about it. Dad told him it was a great opportunity, you’ve prepared yourself well,” Bryan said.
Godbold went on to win two terms.
Godbold appreciated working for the Bryans. “He always said my dad was like a second father to him,” Bryan said. “It was a pleasure to know him.”
While mayor, Godbold spearheaded many municipal improvements and projects, including the Southbank Riverwalk and The Jacksonville Landing projects, revival of the Florida Theatre and developing public housing.
He led the effort to bring the NFL to Jacksonville and established the Jacksonville Jazz Festival.
Godbold assigned his aide, Mike Tolbert, to produce the first jazz festival, Mayport and All That Jazz, in 1979.
Godbold also ran for mayor in 1995 and lost to John Delaney.
Delaney said it was “a brutal campaign,” but the former political rivals were able to “bury the hatchet,” Delaney said.
Delaney called Godbold regularly for advice and invited him to the first Jacksonville Jaguars home game, where Godbold sat in the mayor’s box.
“We had a policeman go pick him up, and I said ‘No, Jake you’re coming and you’re sitting in the mayor’s box,” Delaney said. “The first person who ever dreamed of having an NFL team in Jacksonville was Jake. He planted that seed. Jacksonville has long had an inferiority complex and Jake knew an NFL team would fix that. Jake was the city’s perpetual relentless cheerleader.”
Godbold was known for philanthropy, most notably for his support of Hubbard House, a nonprofit that serves victims of domestic violence and their children. Godbold established, in honor of his sister-in-law, the Barbara Ann Campbell Memorial Breakfast. For the past 25 years, it has been Hubbard House’s signature annual event to raise money for programs and raise awareness of domestic violence.
“I am terribly broken-hearted to hear of Jake’s passing,” City Council member Matt Carlucci said.
Carlucci’s dad served with Godbold in political leadership.
“Jake Godbold was like the last political link to my father. He and I were very close and I loved him very much. He was Jacksonville’s greatest patriarch and statesman and will be missed forever,” Carlucci said.
“The last few years I have loved him like a father and he treated me like a son. I express my sincerest sympathy and love to his family that he so loved.”
Godbold’s wife of 57 years, Jean, died in March 2013 at the age of 81.
They have one son, Ben Godbold.
Funeral services are pending.
Editor Karen Brune Mathis, Associate Editor Max Marbut and Staff Writer Mike Mendenhall contributed to this story.
