Vivian Brown Godfrey, 87, of Pensacola, FL, passed away on Friday, March 31, 2017.

Vivian was a beautiful soul and a loving and caring mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She was small in stature, but big in love and blessed with the gift of hospitality that she shared with everyone she met. There was a river of strength running through her that allowed her to adapt to life's challenges with grace and determination. She was the best friend and biggest fan of people she met—there was always a place for them in her open and loving heart. For her family, she was the glue, the rock, and the soft place to land. Her family feels profoundly blessed to have been called her children.

Vivian was born in South Carolina to Summie and Eva Brown. She married Roland Godfrey in 1952, and together, with their three daughters, moved to Pensacola in 1965. She attended Pensacola Junior College in the late 1960's and earned a degree as a Registered Nurse. She worked at Sacred Heart Hospital in cardiac care and IV therapy until she retired in 1995. She found purpose and great satisfaction during those decades caring for and loving her many patients. For many years, she was an active member of Heights Baptist Church, teaching Sunday school and singing in the choir.

When she moved to Azalea Trace, Vivian enjoyed her time reading, attending Bible studies, baking, as well as watching old movies and playing dominoes with her many friends. Many of them dropped off their ripened bananas in hopes of inspiring her to more frequently bake her banana bread, which had become a favorite of her Azalea Trace family.

Her sweet and generous nature and the unconditional love she gave to her family and friends will be deeply missed.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Roland C. Godfrey; daughter, Patricia (Patti) Godfrey Rejda and her parents Summie and Eva Brown and brother, Roy Brown.

She is survived by her daughters, Jan Godfrey Peterson (Ralph) of Pensacola Beach, Florida and Babs Godfrey Cashion of Fleming Island, Florida; Grandchildren: Jill Cashion Mitchell (Mark) of Crawfordville, Florida; Parme Lynch Tietze (Derek) of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida; Zac Cashion of Jacksonville, Florida; Logan Rejda of Boston, Massachusetts; Seth Rejda of Tallahassee, Florida; Tiffany Peterson (Scott Ginnetti) of Pensacola, Florida; Great Grandchildren: Gunnar Mitchell; Caleb, Camden, and Cylee Tietze; and Anderson and Xander Ginnetti; niece, Hope Randall of Pensacola, Florida and nephews, Rick (Tish) Randall of Florence, Arizona and Mark (Kevin) Randall in Nicaragua.

Visitation will be held 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM on Tuesday, April 4, 2017, and a Funeral Service at 11:00 AM at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel, 2276 Airport Boulevard, Pensacola, Florida 32504, followed by burial and a graveside service at Bayview Memorial Park, 3351 Scenic Highway, 90E, Pensacola, Florida 32503. Reverend Brian Nott, Reverend James Dietz, and Reverend Fred Martin will be officiating the services.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Heights Baptist Church, 600 Pickens Avenue, Pensacola, Florida 32503; Azalea Trace Foundation, c/o Administrator, 10100 Hillview Drive, Pensacola, Florida 32514 ; or Covenant Hospice, Inc. c/o Covenant Care , 5041 North 12th Avenue, Pensacola, Florida 32504.

Special thanks to all her wonderful friends and the staff at Azalea Trace—she felt blessed every day to live there; and to her church family at Heights Baptist Church.