Joy Camille Scherffius Goodwin

Joy is predeceased by her brother, Michael Scherffius. Joy is survived by her children, Leslie Suzanne Garrison (David) of Franklin, NC, Brooks Womack Buddy (Seth) of Asheville, NC, and Michael Andrew Goodwin of Columbia, SC; her brother, Andrew (Andy) Scherffius of Tucson, AZ and his children, Elizabeth (Liz) and Andrew Scherffius; and a sister, Margaret McClatchey of Atlanta, Georgia.

Joy was born in her mother’s hometown of Baton Rouge, LA, on December 14, 1944, while her father was employed by DuPont at the Manhattan Project in Richland, WA. Her father’s work moved them all over the country, and when asked, Joy would say she was from the USA. She finished high school in Orange, TX. She attended the University of South Carolina where she made numerous lifelong friends as a Chi Omega sorority sister and pledge trainer. She also served on the alumnae board. She graduated from the University of South Carolina, obtaining her BA degree and later her JD degree. Her parents retired in Aiken, SC, and she considered South Carolina her true home.

When her three children were three years old, the four of them left Aiken and moved to Columbia so Joy could go to Law School. Her classmates remember standing in line with Joy and her three children to sign up for classes. Her mother, Aggie, whom everyone adored, was a tremendous help during these years, and Joy often said her mother’s name should be on her law degree.

Beginning her career in the Richland County Public Defender’s Office, Joy learned how to try cases from the excellent lawyers she worked with, especially Gaston Fairey. She often said these were the most rewarding years of her 32-year legal career. She subsequently formed a partnership with R. Geoffrey Levy, and they practiced law as Levy & Goodwin for 18 years until Joy became the first woman in South Carolina to be a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Trustee. The excellent staff she inherited from Geoff Levy enabled her to thoroughly enjoy this career.

Joy was honored to receive the Platinum Compleat Lawyer Award from the USC School of Law Alumni Council in 2017. She served on many bar committees and councils, but the Compleat Lawyer Award especially pleased her.

Joy had many interests, including learning to scuba dive when she was 50, but her greatest joy came from her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed a special relationship with all of her grandchildren: Miles, John, Margot Buddy and Aaron, Sophie Nelson have brought her many laughs and joys. The grandchildren would visit her for a week each summer and attend Zoo Camp and then have an afternoon “adventure.” Her friends indulged her by not reminding her how many times she told them the stories of each grandchild. During the pandemic, she sent each grandchild stationery with his or her name on it and stamps, and they began a wonderful correspondence. She treasured each letter, and she and Margot would recommend books to read.

After Joy’s father died, Aggie came to live with Joy, and she always treasured those years she had with her mother. Thanks to her wonderful friend, Lillian Thompson, Joy was able to keep her mother at home with her even though she had Alzheimer’s. Aggie and Joy and her dog, Maggie enjoyed many visits to Joy’s cabin in Saluda, NC. She loved to share it with her friends but grumbled over the difficulty of figuring out her TV and internet.

Friends were an essential part of Joy’s life, too. She valued each one and loved to have them to her house for cards or dinner or wine. Especially during the pandemic when she did not see her grandchildren for long stretches of time, her friends helped fill the void.

Volunteer work with The Family Shelter in Columbia, the NAACP Housing Navigator program, and the League of Women Voters was meaningful for Joy, and she served on committees and taught Sunday school at Shandon United Methodist Church. She joined Shandon because it had an associate female minister which was unusual in 1980. Susan Ulmer became a special person to Joy who said Susan helped raise her children.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Family Shelter, 2411 Two Notch Road, Columbia, SC 29204 or to the charity of one’s choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.elmwoodfhcolumbia.com for the Goodwin family.