Carlos Rene Godinez

Carlos Rene Godinez, 93, passed away Friday, August 3rd, 2018 at the Brookdale Long Term Care Skilled Nursing Facility in Homewood following a week-long fight with pneumonia. His lovely wife, Josefina of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, precedes him in death, as does his parents, Alberto and Aida Godinez of Havana, Cuba, and one older brother, Alberto, of New Jersey. He leaves his only child, daughter Elena Godinez Sain of Jacksons Gap, Alabama, and his son-in-law Stephen Price Sain, also of Jacksons Gap. Carlos also leaves two granddaughters, Leah Elena Sain of Carnesville, Georgia, and Monica Rene Sain of Atlanta, Georgia. Carlos automatically befriended everyone he met. So he also leaves numerous friends virtually everywhere. Born and raised in Havana, Cuba, Carlos attended Belen Jesuit University, an all-male preparatory school, from elementary level to his graduation with a Masters degree in accounting. He later went on to earn his CPA certification. He worked vigorously assisting businesses with accounting and tax challenges during the day, and personal accounts during evenings. When the Cuban government was overthrown by Fidel Castro's regime, most everything changed for Carlos, Josefina and Elena. Carlos was fundamentally opposed to communism and was convinced he didn't want Elena to grow-up in that environment. So with tremendous courage and resolve, Carlos and Josefina applied to leave the country legally and immigrate to the United States. Fortunately for Elena, the John Kennedy administration developed and administered the "Peter Pan" program which fostered youth immigrates from Cuba. Elena qualified for it. The dramatic catch was that it did not allow parents to immigrate with their children. So, in order to shun communism, Carlos and Josefina had to make the excrutiating decision to put Elena on a plane bound for Miami while they stayed behind until their application was approved to immigrate eight long months later in October of 1962, just two weeks prior to the famous "Cuban Missile Crisis". Elena was only 7 years old. Elena was blessed to have a family to keep her safe and well until Carlos and Josefina were reunited with her. In order to leave Cuba, Carlos had to leave everything behind. So when their lives began in America, they started over from scratch. Eventually, Carlos found accounting employment in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, were he and his family lived happily for over 40 years. After Josefina's passing in 2002, Carlos followed Elena and her daughters to Birmingham, Alabama, where he completed his life being a devout grandparent. Carlos was an enthusiastic member of the Knights of Columbus, earning his Fourth Degree rank and serving his local council as Sergeant at Arms. He cherished his membership in St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in the Brookhighland area where he served as an usher and greeter for several years. Once it was apparent that Carlos couldn't live alone safely, he spent two years in Danberry at Inverness' assisted living facility, and about four months in Brookdale at University Park's skilled nursing facility, with multiple tenures in Grandview Medical Center. Carlos was generally known for his gregarious, sometimes awkward, wit. He could usually make everyone smile and laugh. He often referred to himself as a "Cuban Hillbilly from Tennessee". He will certainly be missed by many. Carlos' life will be celebrated with Visitation, Memorial Service and Reception Lunch at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church beginning at 11:00 am, Wednesday, August 8th, 2018. Following this celebration, he will be cremated and then buried next to his wife, Josefina, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.