Mrs. Claudia Mae Downer

Deaconess Claudia Mae Godbolt Downer answered her heavenly call in the early hours of Wednesday, May 21, 2025. A Homegoing Celebration will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2025, 11:00 a.m., at St. John Cathedral Church, 3401 Bishop Eddie Newkirk Way, Tampa, FL 33605, with Senior Pastor Dwight Newkirk, Eulogist. Interment will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery, 4615 E. Hanna Avenue, Tampa, FL 33610.

Deaconess Claudia Mae Godbolt Downer was the second child born on July 6, 1943, to the union of Samuel and Essie Mae Godbolt in Beallsville, Florida. She attended the public schools of Hillsborough County. At a young age she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She loved to sing and was the personification of “A Mother’s Love” to her children.

She was preceded in death by: her parents, Samuel Sr. and Essie Mae Godbolt; siblings, Grace Hunter, Jerome Godbolt Sr., Samuel Godbolt Jr., and Johnnie Mae Godbolt; husbands, John Downer, Sr., and Raymond Brinson; great-granddaughter, Chyi Hicks; and sons-in-law, Ronnie Davis, Sr. and Gregory Mobley.

Claudia leaves precious and loving memories with: her devoted children, Thomas Godbolt, Darryl Sr. (Alma) Mitchell, Precious (Johnny “JP”) Ponder, Colette Mitchell Mobley, Reginald Mitchell, Sharlene Downer, Lizette Mitchell, John (Misty) Downer, Jessica (Charles) Samuel, and Debbie (Charles Sr) Minor;

siblings, Barbara (Henry) Warren, David (Joanne) Godbolt, Joe (Christine) Godbolt, Ricky Godbolt, and Kenny (Paula) Godbolt; sister-in-law, Shirley Godbolt; grandchildren, Shermika (Ernest) Dunbar-Rennie, Thomas, (Marjorie) Godbolt, Ronnie II (Sherene) Davis, Samitria (Carlos Sr.) Hicks, Micah Lanier (Cherise), Ryan Sr, (Tonisha) Davis, Delisa Mitchell, Roneicia Davis, Mikia Lanier, Malikah Mitchell, Tylor Godbolt, Monique Lanier, Darryl Mitchell II, and Kendall Allen; great-grand-children, Trey, Tyrique, Tae’Sean, Patriq, Thomanice, Thomon, Thomar, Tailyn, Thomas III, Saniya, Kamryn, Ronnie III, Chaniah, Carlos II, Aiden, Abrielle, Ziya, Ryan Jr, Remington, Auri, Jasmine, and Jordyn; fur-great-grandsons, RJ and Smokey; nieces and nephews, Vance, Rosa, Samuel III, Natasha, Tanika (Damien), Jerome Jr. (Charis), Jermaine (Cecelia), Itarah, Stephanie, Astrid, Clarence “CJ”, Bianca, Sade (Joshua), Shannon, Wyndel, Stephanie, Demarius, Lemar, and Keith Godbolt; a host of grand-nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends to include, the Mitchell, Washington, Sims, Jazzy Seniors, and St John Cathedral families; bonus family(ies), Mary Mitchell, Linda Huff, Ernestine Bludsaw, Melvin (Tabitha) Wimbush, Secrett Walters, Lisa Rich, Toni (Hendrick) Hamerter, Monica Jones-Moffett, Jacqueline Maddox-Mitchell, Linda Maddox. Rev Jackie Mosley-Berrien, Beverly Green, Cathy Morris, Olivia Brown, Michelle Lanier-Johnson, Zakiya Goodson-Lanier and VaLisa Farrington-Lynch,Faye Smith, and Gainer, Davis, and Ponder Families, Hair-stylist Barbara Baker, and Sharon Drummond, and Veronica Moore; the Old Lady Gang, Shirley Lanier, and Louise Stephenson; younger dinner partners, Sharon Allen, Mary Escalante, Terry Parker-Roe, Jasmine Roe, Catherine, Patricia Moore, Pastor Dwight, and Lady Artest Newkirk; and special friend, Shirley G. Lanier.

A Visitation will be held on Friday, May 30, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at St. John Cathedral Church, 3401 Bishop Eddie Newkirk Way, Tampa, FL 33605.

Arrangements entrusted to Ray Williams Funeral Home, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.

www.raywilliamsfuneralhome.com

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