Sidney Stephen Godbee, III

Sidney Stephen Godbee, III, age 80, died unexpectedly but peacefully on Saturday, Dec. 24, surrounded by family.

Mr. Godbee was born in Homewood on Oct. 7, 1936. He was baptized at First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham and rededicated his life through baptism at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church as a young man.

Sid attended Shades Cahaba Elementary School and Shades Valley High School. At Shades Valley, he excelled as both the quarterback of the Shades Valley varsity football team and as catcher on the varsity baseball team before he graduated in 1954. His athletic ability earned him a scholarship to play football at the University of Alabama where he received a business degree in 1958. Mr. Godbee honorably served his country upon graduation from college.

A great conversationalist, Mr. Godbee found professional success at both Kraft and V Mueller, before becoming one of three founding shareholders of Specialty Surgical Instrumentation, Inc. In 1983, he founded Godbee Medical Distributors, Inc. through which he not only expanded his distributorship of surgical instruments and operating room equipment, but also entered the home medical equipment business. Godbee Medical remained a respected home medical equipment provider in central Alabama until he and his wife Sherrill Godbee retired and sold the business in 2015.

Sid enjoyed helping others in many ways including through his work in the Optimist Club and Lions Club. Desiring a simpler life on the farm, Mr. Godbee moved his family from the Birmingham area to the Mineral Springs community in Chilton County in 1977. On that farm, Mr. Godbee found great pleasure in driving his tractors and raising beautiful Quarter Horses, including his World Champion sire, Brandy Punch.

He was predeceased by his older sister, Emily Jane Godbee; his father, Sidney Stephen Godbee, Jr.; and his devoted mother, Mary Davis Godbee.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sherrill Miller Godbee; their four daughters, Tracy Langley (Bill), Tami Coppock (Joey), Perryn Carroll (Mike), and Vickie McGiboney (Robert); their 11 grandchildren, Melissa Dorothy Langley, Caroline Allen Langley, Niki Junkins Bartol (AJ), Colton Coppock, Caleb Michael Carroll, Jacob Davis Carroll, Zachary Aaron Carroll, Samuel Andrew Carroll, Kymber Alaynea McGiboney, Morgan Miller McGiboney, Christopher Lance McGiboney; and their two great grandchildren, Blake Bartol and Charlie Bartol.

Visitation will take place at Martin Funeral Home in Clanton on Friday, Dec. 30 at 1 p.m. with a memorial service to follow at 2 p.m. Mr. Godbee will be laid to rest at Midway Memorial Gardens following the memorial service.

The family also extends heartfelt thanks to Glenna Dawson for her caregiving and friendship.

Martin Funeral Home directing.

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