On September 15, 2019, we lost our precious CIWA member and friend; our Poet-In-Residence, Mary Place Godsey.

A celebration of Mary’s life was held Sunday, October 6. A lifelong Hoosier, Mary lived most of her adult life in Indianapolis. Her two degrees, from prestigious Indiana Universities, allowed Mary to share her talents as a high school teacher and work for the legislative and judicial branches of state government.

Mary’s family and friends were blessed with her gifts of compassion, kindness and love — and her smile. Mary’s love and passion for words resonated in the heartfelt poems she shared. She was a beloved member of CIWA and lead the Garfield Park Poetry Circle.

Her poems are published in issues of Poetry Garden, The Advocate, Branches, Tipton Poetry Journal, and in Midwest Poets. She served as a poetry editor and participated in Poetry in Motion programs.

On behalf of CIWA we offer our deepest condolences as we mourn her passing and celebrate her life. We will miss our kind and loving friend, but she will always be with us through her poems.