Services held Sunday for 4-year old son, brother and ‘best snuggler his mom could ask for’
Myles was described by his family as “a sweet boy with a heart full of love.”
By Lorrie Ross
Staff Writer
Clay County churches and residents, as well as people from other local communities, have rallied to offer prayers, financial help and more to Kaci Jones and Mason Godfrey after a horrific car accident led to the death of their 4-year-old son, Myles Godfrey.
Jones and her sons, Ryder Colt Hank Jones, and twins Myles Godfrey and Kyler Bentley Godfrey, were on their way home when the accident occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18. The obituary for Myles reads, “Myles Christopher Godfrey, age 4, of Hayesville went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, April 22, 2023. Myles was a sweet boy with a heart full of love. Even at such a young age, he loved to help others. He took care of his brothers in many ways. Myles had a wonderful sense of humor. He enjoyed helping his mom and dad cook breakfast and making coffee for his dad. He was an athlete and loved to foot race other kids. Myles was looking forward to playing t-ball, soccer, and flag football in the near future. He loved helping his dad work on his jeep and truck. He was the sunshine at the end of a long hard day for his dad and the best snuggler his mom could ask for.”
The boy was preceded in death by a brother, Kaeson Bentley Godfrey, who died Sept. 30, 2017.
According to the article in the April 20 Clay County Progress, Jones and the twins were air-flighted to hospitals in Atlanta and Chattanooga and another man to Gainesville, Ga., after the wreck on Highway 64 East of Hayesville.
In the two-vehicle accident, a 2022 Kia Cordova van, driven by Jones, was struck by a 2020 Ford pickup driven by Samuel Lee Edward Stamey, 48, of Hayesville. The report by N.C. Trooper Charlie Cheeks, said Jones was traveling east when she stopped to turn left onto Forysthia Lane when Stamey’s pickup collided with the rear section of the van.
Jones’ passengers included her twin 4-year-old boys and her other young child. Both twins were transported via helicopter; one to Scottish Rites Hospital in Atlanta and the other to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga.
Jones was initially transported by ambulance to Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital in Murphy and then on to Chattanooga for observation, according to Cheeks. The third child in the van was not transported to the hospital.
Stamey was transported via helicopter to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville.
Immediately, prayer requests were posted for those involved. Carolina Christian Academy had posted, “We need prayer now. Stop, drop and pray.”
Kaci Jones and Kyler Godfrey have both been released from the hospital. Jones asked for people to still remember all of them in prayer. Her son is missing his twin, but is also in a lot of physical pain. She is experiencing flashbacks and deep sadness.
Funeral services were held at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 30 at First Free Will Baptist Church with the Rev. Chris Rumfelt officiating. The church is also collecting funds for the family and ask any donations for the family be labeled as such.
In addition, the family requests memorials be made in memory of Myles Christopher Godfrey to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga, 200 Central Ave., Chattanooga, Tenn. 37403 or Children’s Hospital at Erlanger, Attn: Child Life, 910 Blackford Street, Chattanooga, TN 37403.
Myles attended Pre-K. Hayesville Elementary students are collecting items for a wish list of most-needed items at the Ronald McDonald House in Chattanooga. These include: women’s deodorant, adult toothbrushes, individual fruit cups and applesauce, individual bags of goldfish or pretzels and Lysol disinfectant spray.