Myles Robert Godfrey, 83, distinguished Georgia newspaper executive, passed away peacefully at his home in the Struggleville community of Barrow County on July 1. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, July 5, at 18 Rockwell Church Road in Barrow County.
Godfrey
Myles began his newspaper career at The Gainesville Times selling advertising, and was active in the Gainesville Jaycees. He was lured to work at the burgeoning Gwinnett Daily News, a General Excellence Winner in the big circulation category many times, better than the largest newspapers in the state. The Daily News, and Myles, were consistent winners of the top advertising awards, often because of the artistic layouts that Myles conceived.
He was also a key person in designing advertisements for local companies in the Gwinnett Daily News Progress Edition, which year-after-year ran more than 120 pages. The Progress Edition concept was picked up by many newspapers across the state as a successful generator of advertising revenue. “And he was an easy person to work with, leading a staff which he trained to produce extraordinary results,” said Elliott Brack, former general manager of the Daily News.
In 1980, Myles was named publisher of the Winder News, taking an underperforming paper and turning it into a successful, award-winning publication, again capturing first place General Excellent Awards in the Georgia Press Association in its circulation category. In addition to design awards, he won many awards for his writing talent, including several first place column writing awards. (He came in second place one year and did not realize he had hired his rival until it was too late. She reminded him of it often during their marriage.)
Myles was deeply concerned with justice and fairness, using his platform to call out public officials when needed and praising those who deserved it. He concluded his career by starting the Barrow Eagle in 1992. Facing stiff competition from a New York Times-owned paper, he came out on top, financially and, subjectively with awards. He eventually sold the paper and in retirement published, Barrow County: Photographs from the Stell-Kilgore Collection, documenting early Barrow County history. He went to great lengths to research and document each photo and to include the overlooked segments of society.
He loved a good time, too. He staged the “Un-Run,” an innovative 10,000 millimeter contest that put Winder on statewide news. Struggleville made national news when his article about Jack Segars’ store went what is now called “viral.”
He and Editor Johnny Solesbee staged a series of advertisements playing off the Bartles and James advertising theme, including one on the roof of the Winder News building, saying the newspaper stayed on “top of the news.” Myles always said newspapers were the most fun you could have while working.
He was an excellent wood carver, specializing in exquisitely detailed duck decoys. He was a knowledgeable collector of Northeast Georgia pottery, folk art and wildlife landscape art.
He is survived by his wife Jean Cleveland, and their daughter, Isabel Kathleen. Myles was previously married to Bettie Milum Godfrey, with whom he shares a daughter, Kirsten Pace, and grandson Dakota (wife, Kaitlynn). He is much missed by his canine companion, Moon Pie.
Myles was born at Crawford Long Hospital, and was proud to be one of the few remaining native Atlantans. He grew up with his parents, Heyward and LunaBelle O’Shields Godfrey, in Gainesville and graduated from Lyman Hall High School. He attended North Georgia College and served in the Army Reserves. It is difficult to convey how his understated demeanor belied a “larger than life personality.” His dry wit and perfect comedic timing will live on in the stories we will tell.
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