A portrait of Jake Godbold along with a table that included items representing some of his favorite pastimes.
Former insurance executive Jacob F. Bryan IV, left, and former Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney.
The celebration Feb. 20 for Mayor Jake Godbold began and ended with the Let it Ride Brass Band playing “When the Saints Go Marching In.”
The Jacksonville Children's Chorus performed “America the Beautiful.”
Former Mayor John Peyton was a mayor's office intern when Jake Godbold was mayor.
Former state Representative and Senator Betty Holzendorf worked for Jake Godbold when he was mayor.
Longineu Parsons performed “What a Wonderful World” and “Thanks for the Memories.”
The Celebration Choir performed “Goin' Up Yonder” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
Former Mayor John Delaney described the time Jake Godbold took an airplane flight over the Atlantic Ocean before a news conference about beach pollution.
Bank of America Vice President Martha Barrett, who was Jake Godbold’s director of communications while he was mayor from 1979-87, speaks at the celebration.
Jacksonville said goodbye to Jake Godbold on Feb. 20 at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center.
The celebration of the life and legacy of the former mayor, who died Jan. 23, was 90 minutes of accolades, tributes, music – and most of all, love.
Master of ceremonies Tom Wills, news anchor at WJXT TV-4, recalled his 45-year friendship with Godbold.
“It actually was a love affair. He loved to talk and I liked to listen. I usually brought a news cameraman with me, so we shared our conversations with the public,” Wills said.
“I knew the man. I knew the mayor. I liked the man, but I loved the mayor,” said Betty Holzendorf, an aide to Godbold while he was mayor. She was later elected to the state House of Representatives and Senate.
“He said to love yourself and love others just the way you love yourself,” Holzendorf said.
She was one of seven colleagues and contemporaries who shared their memories of Godbold.
Holzendorf was joined by former Mayors John Delaney and John Peyton; former Independent Insurance Group President J.F. Bryan IV; Preston Haskell, founder of Haskell Co.; Willard Payne and Martha Barrett.
“Jake loved this city and all the people in the community,” Payne said. “I remember my friend as a fighter for change who wanted people to do the right thing.”
Payne was the first African-American to serve on the Jacksonville Port Authority board when Godbold appointed him in 1979.
The most emotional tribute came from Bank of America Vice President Martha Barrett, who was Godbold’s director of communications while he was mayor from 1979-87.
“Jake Godbold was a man for all seasons, a servant leader and a fighter for the people,” Barrett said.
She said Godbold often said his job as mayor was to “beat the damn drum for Jacksonville.”
Barrett said Godbold will be missed, but she knows he’s in heaven with his wife, Jean, who died in 2013.
“And we know what he’s doing in heaven. He’s beating the damn drum,” Barrett said.
The celebration featured a video of Godbold’s achievements as mayor and in the years since, with his own commentary.
“When I leave, I want Jacksonville to say, ‘hey – you made it a better place,’” Godbold said.
