Gabriel Seth Godwin

Gabriel was born to Karen Dresser and Mack Godwin, of blessed memory, on July 30, 1980, in Winston-Salem, NC. He spent an early part of his childhood living in Stokes County at YMCA Camp Hanes, where his father was grounds keeper. Under the beauty of Sauratown Mountain, Gabe had acres of space to run, swim and ride horses.

He attended a Creative Arts Preschool and L’Ecole School in Winston-Salem, after which he was enrolled in B’nai Shalom Day School, where his mother was teaching. When his family moved to Greensboro, he attended Western Guilford High School and Weaver Center, where he loved his classes in theatre and music production. Following graduation, he enrolled at GTCC. He will receive his BA in Liberal Studies (finally!) from UNCG this May.

Gabriel was a band member in One Good Reason, and has also produced his own recordings under the name Rana Vasa (www.gabrielgodwin.bandcamp.com). He has recorded and mastered music for many area musicians and institutions, including Temple Emanuel and the former American Hebrew Academy. His attention to detail and knowledge of all things music provided him with many clients through the years.

He moved to Washington state around 2015 and worked as a horticulturalist until the beginning of Covid, when he returned to Greensboro to be with his mother and to return to university.

Gabriel was an amazing son to his mother, who saw him as the “strong man of G-d” that his name indicated, even though he didn’t look at himself in such lofty terms. When he returned to Greensboro, he lived with his mom, helping her with groceries, cooking, and many other chores. He displayed a soul of compassion, goodness, and generosity. He was an avid reader and life-long learner, interested in everything from quantum physics to the science of light. He resembled his father in so many ways, but like his mom, had a collection of hats as well.

He was good friend to those special people in his life. In the words of his friend Jay King, Gabriel “was a prolific, talented force of nature. Singer, Songwriter, Poet, Storyteller, Archivist, Multi-instrumentalist, Tinkerer, Mechanic, Builder, Fixer, and all-around Craftsman and Artist. He brimmed with passion for anything that seriously caught his attention. He sought out and soaked up knowledge. Quick to debate but equally quick to understand. He laughed as easily as he breathed. Equally Silly as he was Fiery.”

For the past 8 months, Gabriel was the youngest member of a small poetry group of which his mom was also part. One of the “elder” poets, Alan Basting, upon hearing of Gabriel’s passing, wrote: “He was so sensitive to others' lives which was reflected in his best poems, and these poems will live on. I don't know how Gabe felt about an afterlife, but I know he loved science and thoughts about quantum theories that touched on what happens to all the everlasting energy that our lives draw upon for existence in this world. I believe his energy has rejoined the energy that surrounds us and makes us a part of the whole fabric of being which is creation. I will certainly miss his earthly presence and his sense of irony and humor. He was really a wonderful kid at heart. God grant him peace.”

Gabriel is survived by his mother, Karen Dresser; his grandmother, Josefae Dresser; his wonderful aunts and uncles, Nath (Marnie) Dresser, Rebecca (John Hege) Dresser, Kathryn Darnell, John (Alica) Darnell, Nancy Darnell; his nephews: Teddy DeJong, Jon David Ramsey (Christine), Benjamin and Jeremy Darnell; and his “adopted family” the Reichels (Roz, Jeff, Grant, Eleanor and Miles).

He is preceded in death by his father, William “Mack” Godwin; his grandparents, Carl Dresser, Elizabeth Dresser, Morris Godwin, Amecia Godwin; his uncle, Morris Godwin, Jr.; and his niece, Tiffany DeJong.

The family is extremely thankful for the spiritual and physical presence of Rabbi Amy Hertz and the phone calls from Poland of Rabbi Andy Koren during Gabriel’s journey from this realm. Karen is grateful for circle of love at Gabriel’s passing of her sister, Rebecca, her nephew Caleb, her dear friends, Donna, Julie, and Anna. Thank you to the doctors and caregivers of Cone Hospital and the EMT crew and to Steven Blackwell of Advantage.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that charitable donations be made to the Discretionary funds of Rabbi Andy Koren, Rabbi Amy Hertz, or the Temple Emanuel Music Fund.