Funeral service will be held 11:00 am Wednesday, December 15, 2021 in the chapel of McLaurin Funeral Home with Pastor Brandon Patterson officiating. Entombment will follow at the Pinecrest Memorial Park Mausoleum. The family will receives friends from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at the funeral home.
Gerald, also known as Daddy and Papa, was born Dec. 23 1928 on a farm outside of Benson. His parents were John Ralph and Lena Pearl Strickland Godwin. Gerald was the oldest of 7 siblings that survive him.
He served 2 years in the Navy, 1946-1948, but decided the Navy life wasn’t for him and neither was farming. So he then joined the Army/Air Corps, later known as the U.S. Air Force, which he proudly served for 25 years, taking him all over the world. This is where he met the love of his life in England, the late Beryl Stroud Godwin whom is was married to for 49 years before her passing in March 2009.
Together they raised their two children, Lee-Lyn Godwin Carter, and Gregory Scott Godwin.
Gerald retired from the Air Force in 1971, he and his family moved to Smithfield, NC, where he worked for the Town of Smithfield for 20 years. After retiring from the town, he and Beryl decided they wanted to live out in the country, so in 1995 they moved to Four Oaks, where he lived until his death.
Gerald wasn’t an idle man, even in retirement you could find him tinkering on old cars, working in his yard, and even a garden at one point. He enjoyed cooking, watching old westerns and war movies, car shows and most recently he had started watching antique shows. He was a very humble man, and hard worker for his family. He never complained even in his last days. He never talked about anyone and surely didn’t approve of gossip, which he said that was the devil’s tongue.
He lived a long and content life, and even though he is going to be greatly missed by his family, they know he was ready to go on to “greener pastures”, as he would have said.
Gerald is survived by his Daughter, Lee-Lyn G. Carter and husband, Thomas of Clayton, NC, Gregory S. Godwin and wife Melody, of Middleburg Fl. Step-daughter, Virginia Stroud-Lewis and husband Glyn of Oxford, England. His beloved grandchildren, Christopher Carter and wife Rebecca of Clayton, NC. Megan Turner, of Middleburg Fl, Zachary Godwin and wife Elizabeth of Middleburg, Fl and Trevor Carter, and wife Brooke of Rolesville, NC. His great grandchildren, Ila Cate, Hadley, and Scarlett Carter of Clayton, Liam Turner, and Valerie Godwin of Middleburg Fl. His brothers and sisters, Ruth Strickland and husband Lloyd of Smithfield, Lois Wilkins of Bahama, John Ralph (Bud) Godwin of Clayton, Betty Norris of Four Oaks, Jimmie Godwin and wife Phyllis of Smithfield, and Joanne Pope of Smithfield. Along with many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and nephews.
The family of Gerald would like to thank the nurses and doctors on the 4th Floor and ICU at Johnston Health in Smithfield, the staff at Springbrook and the nurses and doctors in the Emergency Dept at Johnston Health in Clayton. We can’t thank you enough for the excellent care you gave our Daddy and Papa.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Amelia Christian Church in Clayton, or any Veteran’s Organization.
