By Richard Sullins | richard@rantnc.com
The Town of Broadway has selected John M. Godfrey as its next town manager, according to Mayor Donald Andrews.
Godfrey, who will assume his duties on January 1, will replace Eddie Thomas, who is leaving his position at the end of the year.
He is a lifelong resident of Lee County and a graduate of Lee County Senior High School and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a degree in criminal justice.
Godfrey is retiring after 28 years with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, most recently as warden of the Harnett Correctional Institution in Lillington since June of 2019.
He and his wife, Shannon Thomas Godfrey, are the parents of two girls and are members of Shallow Well Baptist Church, where Godfrey has served as pianist since 1986.
Thomas announced in August that he would be stepping down from his position to become the full-time pastor of Juniper Springs Baptist Church. He was hired in April of 2020 and played a key role in the town’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thomas had retired from the NC Division of Prisons prior to beginning work in Broadway.
“Mr. Thomas, during his time with the town, has become an added asset to the town and the community,” Andrews said.