Obituary of Mary K. Godbolt

MARY K. GODBOLT, 88, of Sayerville, NJ, peacefully passed away on Monday, February 11, 2019, at home in the company of her loving family. She was born to the late Sylvester and Zelda Mae Vinson Shells in Granville County, NC and was the fifth of their fifteen children. Mary attended the Granviile County School System until she was chosen to remain home to assist her parents by working their farm, watching her younger siblings and helping to prepare dinner. Mary was baptized at an early age at Antioch Baptist Church in Oxford, NC, where she served faithfully. As a young adult, Mary relocated to NJ and worked at the American Hotel as a member of their house keeping staff until she met and married the love of her life, the late Melvin Godbolt Sr., which lasted for 38 wonderful years. From this union three children were born. Mary was a faithful and active member at Bethel AME Church - Freehold, where she loved attending church service regularly; participating in any program/event that took place within the church and the community. Mary loved the music department at Bethel especially the Men of Bethel (MOB). She was also a member of the Golden Age Club. Mary will always be remembered for her loving, generous and beautiful spirit. She will always be known for her baking skills, as a child care provider, her amazing dancing abilities, her generous nature and her love for BINGO. In addition to her parents and husband, Mary was predeceased by her brothers James E. Shells Sr., Richard Shells Sr., Sylvester Shells Jr., Dorsey W. Shells Sr., and Otis Shells Sr.; sisters Willa Mae Wilkerson, Mabel Brown and Victoria Taborn. To cherish her memory are her loving children two daughters Deborah Jackson (Arthur), Sharon Godbolt, and one son Melvin Godbolt Jr. Her grandchildren Kandace Godbolt (Joseph), Jacqueline Jackson, Alon Jackson and Tharon Styles (Tamala). One goddaughter Jacqueline Tyler Simmons and one godson Shelldon Fitzpatrick Jr. and seven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She will be truly missed by her siblings. One brother William K. Shells (Camden, DE), three sisters Vivian McDonald (Bunker Hill, WV), Ruth Carter (East Orange, NJ) and Carolyn Hunter (Henderson, NC); two brothers-in-law Randolph Hunter (Henderson, NC) and Leroy Conover (Bunker Hill, WV); four sisters-in-law Florence Shells (Dayton, OH), Marie Hodges (Neptune, NJ), Joyce Shells (Bridgewater, NJ) and Daisy Vaughn (Lawrenceville, GA); a very special niece and caretaker, Lashon Marrow and a special adopted son Bryant Humphries and a host of adored nieces, nephews and loving friends. Mary had a special place in her heart for her medical team who provided her with superb and loving care. Her team included VITAS Healthcare (Jessica, Azaria, Nicole, Nazik and Rev. Nathan); her primary physician Dr. Sabine T. Paul-Yee and staff of Family Practice of CentraState Marlboro and Dr. Gurpreet Lamba and staff of Regional Cancer Care Associates. The viewing will be held at Bethel AME Church, 3 Waterworks Road, Freehold, NJ on Friday, February 22, 2019 from 9:00 - 11:00 am, with the funeral starting at 11:00 am. The interment will be held at Old Tennent Cemetery, Manalapan.