Obituary for Linnie Carpenter (Godfrey)
Our hearts were broken when our mother, our teacher, our friend, Linnie Godfrey Carpenter, left this world on Sunday morning, January 17, after an almost-91-year life of love and ministry to us all. But our spirits were lifted because we knew that she was home, home where she belonged, home with the Father, Son, Holy Spirit whom she adored.
Ms. Linnie, as her church friends call her, was born on May 12, 1930, in Henry County, Alabama, to Hosea Enoch Godfrey and Linnie Blanche Knowles Godfrey. She lived in Henry and Houston Counties her entire life, with the last 70 at her house in Dothan. She was married to her “one and only” Marion Carpenter on August 6, 1949. Her aim in life, she would say, was to help her husband and to raise a family with Christian values. And we would say, “Mission Accomplished.” But that was not all she did. In 1952 she and Marion joined the fellowship at Southside Baptist Church, and for the next almost-seventy years, Linnie served her Lord faithfully in missions through WMU, which she said was close to her heart, and in the choir, prayer, and many other ways. Her greatest joy, she said, was teaching Adult Ladies Bible Study Classes on Sunday mornings for almost 50 years. And she spoke of rewarding ministry while driving, in her 60’s and 70’s, to pick-up patients for the Southern Eye Clinic, bringing them to Dothan for surgery, and taking them home, sometimes working 12-15-hour days. Her ending prayer: “I trust God has been pleased with my efforts and He has been pleased to take them and use them for His Glory.” We are confident He has done both.
Our Mother and Granny leaves her legacy with us, her family: Rick (Kay), Sheila Gentle (Derek), Marty (Laura); four grandchildren, Landon (Angela), Logan (Christy), Hannah Attaway (Edwin), Micah Gentle (Kristen); 10 great-grandchildren, DeLaynie, Ella, and Li Attaway; Tynleigh Gentle; Eliana, Levi, Annabelle, Avery Grace, Aiden, and Josephine Carpenter; and nephews Chuck and Chad Shirley.
There will be no family visitation due to Covid-19 protocols, but a service of celebration for ALL will take place at Southside Baptist Church on Saturday, January 23, at 11 am. Everyone is asked to please honor Ms. Linnie and one another by wearing a face-covering during the time in the sanctuary and by proper social distancing. A viewing will be open to all beginning at 10 am in the Sanctuary. A family- only interment service will follow at Memory Hill Cemetery. For those who are unable to attend, the service will be live-streamed on the Southside Baptist Church Facebook page and will be available for replay on the Southside Baptist Church YouTube channel.
Glover Funeral Home of Dothan has been entrusted with the arrangements. (334) 699-3888. Please sign the guestbook online at www.gloverfuneral.com
Ms. Linnie, as her church friends call her, was born on May 12, 1930, in Henry County, Alabama, to Hosea Enoch Godfrey and Linnie Blanche Knowles Godfrey. She lived in Henry and Houston Counties her entire life, with the last 70 at her house in Dothan. She was married to her “one and only” Marion Carpenter on August 6, 1949. Her aim in life, she would say, was to help her husband and to raise a family with Christian values. And we would say, “Mission Accomplished.” But that was not all she did. In 1952 she and Marion joined the fellowship at Southside Baptist Church, and for the next almost-seventy years, Linnie served her Lord faithfully in missions through WMU, which she said was close to her heart, and in the choir, prayer, and many other ways. Her greatest joy, she said, was teaching Adult Ladies Bible Study Classes on Sunday mornings for almost 50 years. And she spoke of rewarding ministry while driving, in her 60’s and 70’s, to pick-up patients for the Southern Eye Clinic, bringing them to Dothan for surgery, and taking them home, sometimes working 12-15-hour days. Her ending prayer: “I trust God has been pleased with my efforts and He has been pleased to take them and use them for His Glory.” We are confident He has done both.
Our Mother and Granny leaves her legacy with us, her family: Rick (Kay), Sheila Gentle (Derek), Marty (Laura); four grandchildren, Landon (Angela), Logan (Christy), Hannah Attaway (Edwin), Micah Gentle (Kristen); 10 great-grandchildren, DeLaynie, Ella, and Li Attaway; Tynleigh Gentle; Eliana, Levi, Annabelle, Avery Grace, Aiden, and Josephine Carpenter; and nephews Chuck and Chad Shirley.
There will be no family visitation due to Covid-19 protocols, but a service of celebration for ALL will take place at Southside Baptist Church on Saturday, January 23, at 11 am. Everyone is asked to please honor Ms. Linnie and one another by wearing a face-covering during the time in the sanctuary and by proper social distancing. A viewing will be open to all beginning at 10 am in the Sanctuary. A family- only interment service will follow at Memory Hill Cemetery. For those who are unable to attend, the service will be live-streamed on the Southside Baptist Church Facebook page and will be available for replay on the Southside Baptist Church YouTube channel.
Glover Funeral Home of Dothan has been entrusted with the arrangements. (334) 699-3888. Please sign the guestbook online at www.gloverfuneral.com