Godfrey Chambers

Godfrey Chambers was born on April 12, 1941 in Clarendon, Jamaica, West Indies. Sadly, he fell asleep in death on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. He is survived by his wife Hazel and children Michael, Dahlia, and Andrew, as well as his sister Monica. He has 17 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. Godfrey was predeceased by his parents - Jonathan and Myrtle Chambers, 3 children - Donna, Judith, and Marquis, and 4 siblings – Mary, Helene, Rupert, and Lee.

As a boy in Jamaica, he enjoyed helping his father and learning about the family business which involved farming, marketing, and refining sugar cane in the country. He was a fast learner and a perfectionist and everyone thought he would become a successful surgeon. He was a phenomenal student at Clarendon College, the oldest and largest secondary school in Clarendon. He was a gifted and talented student whose high marks led to him receiving a scholarship to attend the College of Arts, Science and Technology in Kingston where he planned to study medicine. While taking classes he also worked at CAST preparing the classrooms for practical testing and helped with the support of his widowed mother and educated his siblings.

In 1960 he came to the United States of America, settling on the east coast. In NYC, he met a beautiful young woman, Hazel. They had common acquaintances from Clarendon College, married and raised six beautiful children together. As the family grew, they moved from NYC, to Jersey City, NJ then to Bayonne, NJ finally settling into Toms River, NJ, until the early 2000s. During that period, Godfrey raised his children, built his career, invested in real estate, and bought many cars.

As a professional, he never gave up his love of science and built an impressive career in the art supply industry. He spearheaded research and development, manufacturing, and quality control for major art supply companies, before beginning his own companies, Scientific Art Labs, Inc. and Art Labs Group, Inc. Although he had ample artistic talent himself, his true skill was in making quality paints. This is evidenced by his patents as the lead inventor of water-reducible oil paints. (In other words, he developed a way to truly mix oil and water and keep it stable).

His memberships included but are not limited to: the American Society of Portrait Artists, the National Art Materials Trade Association, and the Business Advisory Council of the National Republican Congressional Committee. His supported charities were Doctors without Borders, Amnesty International, Alzheimer’s Research, Boys Town, Project Hope, the American Heart Association, etc.

He selflessly provided countless friends, family members and even minor acquaintances with financial support in their businesses, litigation expenses, educational advancement, immigration sponsorship, home ownership, summer camp, and transportation. Godfrey Chambers lived what might have been seen as a life of sacrifice, except he thoroughly enjoyed helping others, giving, and working. From childhood, he was a born leader, scholar, warrior, and giver.

As a father, Godfrey Chambers required more from his children academically then he was able to achieve himself. To his credit, all six of his children were college-educated in the United States, regularly using him as a mentor and sounding board. His emphasis on academics is reflected in their success: 1 military veteran, 2 Associate’s degrees, 6 Bachelor’s degrees, 1 Master’s Degree, and 2 Doctorates. His 3 surviving children all own businesses related to their fields of study.

Godfrey’s hobbies and interests included, but were not limited to painting, gardening, crabbing and fishing, cooking, reading, baseball, western movies, comedy, classic cars, and all kinds of music.

A visitation gathering for Godfrey will be held Sunday, June 26, 2022 from 1:00 PM to 1:45 PM at Life Event Center at Florida Memorial, 5950 South US Highway 1, Rockledge, Florida, followed by a memorial service at 2:00 PM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.FloridaMemorialFH-Gardens.com for the Chambers family.