Helen Howell Godbee Dies At 94

Helen Howell Godbee

Helen Howell Godbee of Southampton died at the Westhampton Care Center on Tuesday, March 29. She was 94.

Born November 10, 1916, in New Rochelle to Henry Reeves Howell and Ethel Bennett Howell, Mrs. Godbee was a direct descendent of Edward Howell, who was among the founders of Southampton in 1640.

She attended Southern Seminary Junior College in Virginia, followed by continuing studies in piano at the Juilliard School of Music in Manhattan.

She worked as a secretary in the main office at Southampton High School and at the office of the Southampton United Methodist Church. She retired from technical services at the Rogers Memorial Library at the age of 80.

Involved in music throughout her life, Mrs. Godbee was the organist for a short period of time at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Southampton. She often filled in at the organ and piano for worship services at the United Methodist Church, where she was an active member in the United Methodist Women’s Organization. She occasionally played piano at the Community Bible Church in Noyac as well. Mrs. Godbee frequently teamed up with other local musicians to hold duo piano recitals to entertain small groups of friends and family. Village residents will recall hearing her weekday, noontime live performances from the organ console of the United Methodist Church broadcasted by loudspeakers from the church tower.

Mrs. Godbee loved the ocean. If she wasn’t swimming, she made sure to see it every day. The family camp at West Neck was the center of activity. She spent summers there boating on Peconic Bay and nearby harbors, operating power boats well into her 70s. Camping was another love of hers. She pitched her tent with family at Yellowstone National Park, Myrtle Beach, in New England and Canada. She was married to H. Lawrence Godbee.

She is survived by her four children, Jane Burns, Lynne Burgess, Douglas Godbee and Priscilla Godbee; her sister, Janet Howell Leiper; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held in July at the Southampton United Methodist Church. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton. Memorial donations to the Southampton United Methodist Church memorial fund would be appreciated by the family.