Arthur Kano Goff, lovingly nicknamed “Precious”, 72, of Tifton passed away Friday, November 24, 2017, at Tift Regional Medical Center. His funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Monday, November 27, 2017, at the First Baptist Church of Chula with the Rev. Brian Allen, the Rev. Chad Hall and the Rev. Eddie Middleton officiating. Mr. Goff will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday, November 26, 2017, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Mr. Goff will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service.
Mr. Goff’s grandsons, Austin Martin, Griffin Martin, Beau Kennedy, Jack Lambert, Luke Lambert and Hank Lambert will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Gerald Branch, Mike Brownlee, Bo Edenfield, Ron Evans, Ken Hall Sr., Buck Hartley, D. L. Lastinger, Andy Oliver, Dick Puckett, Tommy Smallwood, Harold Tarrer, Hubert Wood and Jerry Youngblood.
Born August 1, 1945 in Tifton, Mr. Goff was the son of the late Arthur KC Goff and Jimmie Ruth Mitchell Goff. Before retiring, he was the Sales Manager for Grand Manor in Thomasville. He was the first student body president at Tift County High School upon it’s opening on 8th Street; he loved his classmates of the graduating class of 1963 and remains close friends with many of them. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Chula and served in the National Guard Army Reserve. He was an excellent story-teller with a wonderful sense of humor. He desired in life to lead others to Jesus and his favorite saying was “The only thing that matters in life is what you do WITH Jesus.” He was a friend to many and was “Papa” to more than just his own grandchildren.
Mr. Goff is survived by his wife, Wanda Jones Goff of Tifton; three daughters and sons-in-law, Donna Goff Martin and husband, Roger, Melanie Goff Kennedy and husband, Bryce and Julie Goff Lambert and husband Will, all of Tifton; one brother and sister-in-law, Rodney and Carol Goff of Macon; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Pattie Goff Godwin of Lenox and Margaret Goff Mercer and husband, Tom of Albany; seven grandchildren, Austin Kano Martin and wife Selena, Griffin Martin, Beau Kennedy, Sally Katherine Kennedy, Jack Lambert, Luke Lambert and Hank Lambert; two great-grandchildren, Aubrey Martin and Sawyer Kano Martin. He is also survived by two brothers-in-law and their wives, Donnie and Susan Jones of Marietta and Kenny and Sandi Jones of Tifton; one sister-in-law, Karen Jones Hasty of Tifton; and many nieces and nephews.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to Pink Heals, Tifton-Tift County, Inc., 340 Tifton-Eldorado Road, Tifton, GA 31794. This charity was formed by first responders to help local citizens in need.