She took her first breath in Marion, South Carolina on September 18, 1939 to the late Quincy Godbold & Itlene Graves Godbold. She was predeceased in death by four sisters; Louis Godbold, Mary Sanders, Jannie Godbold and Evelyn Godbold; one brother, James Godbold; a stepmother, Ila Mae Godbold; and five step siblings, Merion Richardson, Jasper Reed, Edward Reed, Charles Stevenson Sr., and Donald Reed.
Shortly after graduating high school, Queen moved to Brooklyn, N.Y. as a sleep-in worker. She would then go on to work in a factory, which heightened her love for sewing, an Insurance Company, which showcased her love for people and then a Bank, which showed her she could do anything she put her mind to. She would meet and marry John Lee Alexander and to this union her one and only daughter was born. Her love for children always in the forefront, Queen also raised her younger sister Jannie's second son, David Bernard Godbold as her own.
Queenie, the name she would be affectionately known as, loved the Lord. After studying the Seventh Day Adventist beliefs under the late Pastor Theodore Perry, she became a long-standing member of Brooklyn Temple SDA church in Brooklyn, NY. Her love for children, community and church would be evident in her duties at the church. She served various positions such as Community Services Leader, Sabbath School Superintendent, Parent Teacher Association Leader, Sabbath School Secretary, usher, choir member and Hospitality Coordinator just to name a few.
Queenie enjoyed working with young people. She would often chaperone school trips with her daughter and loved helping with the Adventist Youth Society at church. Queenie enjoyed cooking. Her family would love her sweet potato pies and her church family would fall in love with her collard greens and cornbread. An avid sewer, she had a factory sewing machine that made a lot of the dresses and skirts she would often wear.
After working for almost 20 years at the bank, Queenie was laid off and decided to go back to school to earn her college degree. She first obtained her Associates in Applied Sciences at New York City Technical College and then went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Human Services in 2000. While attending college, Queenie worked at the NYC Department of Probation, voting polls at her local site for elections and volunteered at homeless shelters. After graduation she landed a Special Ed teacher assistant job at P.S. 22. After retiring from teaching, she would be an active member of the Farragut Senior Center and would enjoy outings and parties with her sisters.
Queenie worked hard and it paid off. She was able to take two major trips in her lifetime, one to Hawaii with her best friend Betty Gray and a trip to Ghana, Africa with some friends. There was never a Sabbath School Picnic, yearly school trip or choir road trip that she would often miss. Ever year she and Schryl would go somewhere and to this day, Schryl keeps up that tradition with her family.
Queen's beautiful memories will live on in her loving and devoted daughter, Schryl (Jason); four grandchildren, Trajan, Tahj, Aniah, Tye; son, David Godbold; one brother Duncan (Sylvia) Godbold; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. A sincere thanks to the staff of Sentara Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for the care you gave to my mom over the years. Your abundant love showed for the both of us. A special thanks to Legacy Hospice for the love and care you showed me and my mom over the past year.
I will await the day to see you again in heaven, Ma.
