Dr. Winston Y. Godwin Sr., 79, died August 28, 2008. Born in Summerton, SC, he was the son of the late Chalmers Luke Godwin Sr. and Anna Huggins Godwin, and widower of Mary Hodge Godwin. A family physician who spent his life serving the community of Cheraw, SC, he was actively involved in many other areas. Upon graduating from Clemson College with a degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1949, Dr. Godwin served in the U.S. Air Force for two years. Afterwards, he returned to his home town of Summerton, SC. Soon, he felt the call to become a physician. He entered the Medical College of Charleston, SC, in 1955 and graduated as first honor graduate and a member of AOA Medical Honor Society in 1959. Completing his internship in 1960, he, his wife and his then five children moved to Cheraw, SC, where he practiced full-time in a mostly solo practice until 2007. Dr. Godwin’s interests and involvements were many. He was a member of First Baptist Church (Berean Sunday School) Cheraw, SC, the Civitans and Kiwanis clubs and the American Legion. He was a free mason of the Cheraw #15 Lodge. He was a leader in many areas serving on the executive board of the S.C. State Board of Health. He was a past Chief of Staff of Chesterfield Memorial Hospital. He served for many years on the Chesterfield County Board of Education. He was a diplomat on the board of the American Academy of Family Practice. Dr. Godwin was also an FAA Pilot Medical Examiner and was an instrument-rated pilot himself. He later in life returned to the Air Force reserve serving as Base Medical Examiner with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. One of Dr. Godwin’s major contributions was the establishment of Cheraw Convalescent Center and Nursing Home. Additional nursing facilities were later developed, by him, to care for the sick and infirmed residents of Chesterfield and Clarendon Counties. With so many involvements, Dr. Godwin’s greatest interest was his family. He dearly loved his wife, Mary, and his six children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. And they all loved him and did so much appreciate his guidance and caring throughout his life. He will be remembered as an honest, devoted, caring and Christian gentleman who was loved by all who knew him. Dr. Godwin is survived by five sons, Dr. Winston Y. (Kimberly) Godwin Jr. of Charlotte, NC, Rev. Paul L. (Laura Anne) Godwin and Michael Luke (Mary Ann) Godwin all of Cheraw, SC, Dr. David Alan (Jane) Godwin and Roger Thomas (Janet) Godwin of Greer, SC; a daughter, Mary Lynn (Rev. Garland) Hart of Summerton, SC; twenty four grandchildren, Ashley, Anna, Courtney, Kimberly, Amy, Mary-Chase, Paul, Anne Elizabeth, Katherine, Kristin, Kirk, Jeannie, Ben, David, Mary Elizabeth, Anna Grace, Hannah, Alan, Jennifer, Luke, Thomas, Andrew, Kathryn and Emily; and two great-grandchildren, Camryn and Wheeler; sisters, Margie Chandler of Olanta, SC, and Sybil Quillin of Virginia Beach, VA The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday, August 31, 2008, at Kiser Funeral Home, Cheraw, SC. A service to celebrate the life of Dr. Godwin will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday September, 1, 2008, at First Baptist Church, Cheraw, SC. Burial with military honors will be in Chatham Hill Memorial Gardens. Memorials in lieu of flowers to: Winston Y. and Mary Godwin, Christian Scholarship Fund, c/o First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 337, Cheraw, SC 29520 or First Baptist Church, Building Fund, P.O. Box 337, Cheraw, SC 29520. Tags: 1959
Posted in:
Posted on:
Link to original obituary: