The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Hundreds celebrate life of man killed on Facebook
Attendees hear family’s message of peace, love and forgiveness
Hundreds of people gathered April 22 at Euclid’s River of Life Ministries to pay tribute to 74-yearold Robert Godwin, Sr., who died Easter Sunday on Cleveland’s east side as the suspect posted video of the random killing on Facebook, according to police.
Robert Godwin, Sr. — remembered during the service for his love of God, family, friends, neighbors and life, among other things — fell victim to an apparently random act of violence April 16. That’s when police say he was accosted by Steve Stephens, who then told Godwin a woman’s name and said, “She’s the reason that this is about to happen to you.” Godwin did not seem to recognize the woman’s name.
The suspect then pointed a gun at Godwin, who shielded his face with the plastic bag before being fatally shot, according to police.
But, instead of mourning their loss and scorning the man police say was responsible, Godwin’s family took the opportunity to remember their father, husband and uncle, and remind those in attendance the true power of forgiveness.
Over and over again, the message was loud and clear: That anger isn’t going to do anyone any good and that forgiveness is the only way to find any peace through such a tragic event.
“It’s not just by mistake that we made it here today. God called this meeting,” said Godwin’s daughter, Debbie D. Godwin, as she delivered her father’s eulogy.
She said that, in the midst of so many tensions in our country and around the world, it’s not the time to abandon our faith and hold anger close to our hearts.
“It is time for us, as a nation, to forgive,” she said, invoking memories of her father teaching his children love, respect and faith. “We have to be like our father and love.”
She recalled the first time she heard about his death and what it did to her, emotionally. And she talked about what she thought about the man later identified by Cleveland police as Stephens, who ultimately committed suicide in Erie, Pa following a 48-hour manhunt.
“The day that I heard about my dad’s death — even with the horrendous way that he died — from that day, I never felt pain in my heart for (Stephens), not one time. I felt sadness for him,” she said. “It all starts in your heart. When you hold on to hate and unforgiveness, you are the one who is captive.”
She also talked about how fleeting life is and that we all need to realize how truly precious it is.
“My dad did not walk down the street believing he would die that day. But he did,” she said. “And this just shows us how short life is. God shows us at every moment that we could go that quick.”
Before Debbie Godwin made her remarks, several of his other nine children spoke about their dad.
“My dad was a great man,” Robert Godwin, Jr. said. “He taught me everything. If it weren’t for him, I probably wouldn’t be around today. He taught me to love my family, to take care of a wife and to take care of my sisters.”
He added that, in his father’s absence, he’ll be the one who lends an ear when they need someone to talk to.
“To my sisters: I’m the one you’re gonna call now,” he said to applause and smiles.
When Godwin’s self-proclaimed “baddest child” spoke about her dad, she made sure to share anecdotes about how she used to steal his cars at night and make him late for work in the morning, and how “I was so bad, my father used to sleep on the floor next to my bed and I would crawl out from under him.”
But even as much of a troublemaker as she was, she said she’ll always remember her father thusly: “My father was a gentleman. He taught us to forgive. He taught us to love.”
Outside, following the service, some attendees who couldn’t find a seat inside, were gathered by the doors to hear speaker after speaker — reverends and clergy from near and far, friends, relatives and loved ones — all talk about how full of love and commitment to his family and community Godwin was.
They said they were moved by such a positive service.
“Oh, it was beautiful,” said Shirley Williams of Warrensville, who said she sat on a folding chair just outside one of the church’s windows “so I could hear some of it.”
Her friend Kate Jackson, from Warrensville Heights, agreed with Williams.
“The service was very uplifting,” Jackson said. “They had nothing but good things to say about him — how he was good about going to church and about how we can all learn forgiveness.”
Euclid resident Theresa Taylor said it “was a blessing to be able to be here.”
“The service was amazing — the message that, to be forgiving and that, at the end, God is going to get the glory — that was powerful, powerful, powerful stuff. It was a beautiful message,” Taylor said.
Following the service, the funeral procession made its way to Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland where Godwin was laid to rest.