George Raye Goode, Sr., 84, of 700 Pine Street, Clifton Forge, Virginia, died Sunday, June 1, 2014 at LewisGale Hospital-Alleghany in Low Moor.

He was born February 8, 1930 in Clifton Forge, a son of the late Rebecca Christian and the late Raymond Brown.

He lived his entire life in the Clifton Forge area, serving the community in various roles throughout the years.

He was a member of Main Street Baptist Church, where he served on the Board for 25 years, was on the Advisory Board of First Citizens Bank, the Masonic Theater Board, and was a member of the Alleghany Highlands Consolidation Committee.

He was also a key leader in the de-segregation of the Clifton Forge Public Schools, and was a retired employee of CSX Transportation with 36 years of service.

Mr. Goode's most notable achievement was being elected the first African-American mayor of the city of Clifton Forge and he served in that role from 1976 until 1986.

His ambitions and dreams in life were to serve God through the church, his family, and his community.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 36 years, Doris Tilithia Hatcher Goode, and a grandson, Shane Michael Richter.

He leaves to survive in God's hands eight children, Cassandra White and husband, Edward, George R. Goode, Jr. and wife, Irma, Ava Goode, Stanley Goode and wife, Letha, Kim Richter, Darren Goode, Nikki Cash and husband, Kevin, and Dana Goode; twelve grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren, and a host of relatives and close friends.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday at Main Street Baptist Church in Clifton Forge with the Reverend Preston Tyler officiating, assisted by other area ministers.

Interment will follow in Red Hill Cemetery in Clifton Forge. The family will receive friends from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Friday at Nicely Funeral Home in Clifton Forge.

The family suggests that memorial tributes take the form of contributions in his memory to Main Street Baptist Church, 920 Main Street, Clifton Forge, Va. 24422.