Lewis Godwin

Lewis, as he was known to his family and many friends, died peacefully on Sunday, January 30, 2011. After a long battle with lung disease and cancer, his spirit was lifted up to heaven by our eternal God. With him at his side was his loving and devoted wife of 67 years, Nancy Parrish Godwin. Lewis was devoted to Nancy and he said many times that he was a very lucky man to have married her. Lewis lived a great life and up to the very end of his earthly life, he kept his famous sense of humor. This famous sense of humor was on full display during his career as a Carolina Trailwaysâ€™ bus driver. As a bus driver for over 40 years, he drove a reported 1 million miles without having a chargeable accident. He also reported to have never been given a speeding ticket by a policeman. For 12 of those years, he was also a Carolina Trailwaysâ€™ sales representative for the eastern region. Safety and customer service were his obsessions. An active member of Greystone Baptist Church, he and his wife Nancy were among the first members of the Church formed over 25 years ago. Lewis, before he could no longer attend Church, would be seen at the back row of the Church, where he greeted his friends on Sunday morning, while Nancy was serving in the Choir. A native son of Johnston County, NC, he was born to parents that were descendants of pioneer families of North Carolina, John Oscar Godwin and Arkie Davis Godwin, both in heaven. Lewis was the third son of John and Arkie. He had two brothers and one sister, all who preceded him in death; his brother Worth Godwin and his wife Dorothy of Newport News, VA, his brother Hoover Godwin and his wife Clara Belle of Durham, NC, and his sister Helen Godwin, of Smithfield, NC. Lewis was blessed with a loving family. His daughter and first born is Patricia Godwin Long, the wife of Duane Long of Raleigh. Lewis and Tricia, as he called Patricia, had a very special father and daughter relationship. Their love for each other was always front and center at any and all family gatherings. Pat, as she is known to her friends, has many of her fatherâ€™s traits, including his trademark sense of humor. The Longâ€™s son, the Rev. W. Brooks Long, resides in Baltimore, MD, and is the oldest grandchild. Lewis also loved his second child, son Ronald Lewis Godwin who is married to Jamie. Their daughter Piper is the only granddaughter. They reside in Florida. Ronald Blake Godwin, the son of Ronald Lewis Godwin, was the second grandson. He resides in Fayetteville, NC. Lewis leaves behind on this earth many cousins, nephews, nieces and other family and friends. No doubt he will be missed by his many friends at Magnolia Glen, where he was well known for his wit, his funny stories and his ready smile for everyone. A Christian funeral will be held at Greystone Baptist Church, 7509 Lead Mine Road, Raleigh, NC on Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. The family will receive friends at the Church after the service. Dr. Randall Lolley and the Rev. W. Brooks Long will be the presiding ministers. A private family service will follow with internment at Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh, NC. A celebration of Lewis Godwinâ€™s life will be held at a later date at Magnolia Glen, Raleigh, NC. At the familyâ€™s request, please do not send floral arrangements. If you wish to make a donation in Lewisâ€™ memory, please make the memorial donation payable to Hospice Memorial Fund and send it to Heartland Home Health Care & Hospice, 3200 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 27604. The family wishes to say thank you to the great team at Heartland Hospice, especially Anthony, Jeanie, Julie, Eric, Mary, Irena, and the doctors. 2 Timothy 4: 7, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Amen

Lewis Godwin

June 27, 1921 - January 30, 2011