Elsie Mae Godwin

Elsie Mae Godwin, 86, of Hampton, Virginia, passed away peacefully on January 27, 2024, in Yorktown, Virginia with her family by her side. She was born on March 3, 1937, in Pender County, North Carolina, to the late Richard Vance Deal and Madeline Rooks Deal. She was raised in Pender County, NC before moving to Hampton, VA where she spent most of her adult life. Elsie retired from Newport News Shipbuilding after 20 years of dedicated service and was a devoted member of Providence Freewill Baptist Church, where she found solace and strength in her faith. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.

In 1954, she married the love of her life, Cecil T. Godwin, and together they raised three children, Ronnie, Kevin and Bethany. Elsie and Cecil spent 40 years building memories before the Lord called him home. She was blessed to experience love more than once throughout her life. In 1996, she met Donald Gardner who remained her companion for close to 26 years. Elsie found the Gardner and Knuckles family to be an extension of her own.

Only those who were blessed enough to know and be loved by her can truly comprehend the depths of her love and care. Elsie was generous, always ensuring that those she loved were taken care of without question. She filled her home with kindness, love, and joy, and was the first to offer a roof for those in need. She sacrificed and gave consistently, always putting her family’s needs before her own. There is nothing she wouldn’t do for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. While her greatest joy was her family, in her free time she enjoyed spending time with friends, photography, gardening and traveling. Elsie was strong, independent and faithful in her walk with the Lord. She was not afraid to leave this earth, because she knew the joy that was waiting for her.

Left to cherish the memories and legacy she left behind are her daughter, Bethany H. Strachan (Thomas Strachan, Jr.); sons, Ronnie Godwin and Kevin Godwin (Mandy Godwin); granddaughters, Amanda Ross (Jeremy Ross) and Stephanie Wolkowich (Georgia Wolkowich); grandsons, Christopher Wolkowich (Sierra Palush) and Jason Godwin (Melinda Godwin); great-granddaughters (to which she referred to as “Sunshine in her life”), Chloe Wolkowich, Lily Wolkowich, Falon Ross and Finley Ross; and great-grandson, Vinny Godwin; multiple nieces, nephews and friends.

Elsie is preceded in death by her husband, Cecil T. Godwin; father, Richard Vance Deal; mother, Madeline R. Deal; sister, Emily Beavers; brother, Daniel Deal; daughter-in-law, Debbie Godwin; and beloved companion of 26 years, Don Gardner.

The caring professionals at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home are assisting the family with the arrangements during this difficult time. A memorial service will be held at 12:00 PM on February 10, 2024, at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home in Hampton, Virginia, with a reception to follow at Providence Freewill Baptist Church. Should you prefer, the family asks that contributions to Providence Freewill Baptist Church be made in the memory of Elsie Mae Godwin in lieu of flowers.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Lee Giles, Nikema Mcintosh, Fiona Patoux and other care providers with hospice who went above and beyond to ensure Elsie was loved, cared for and comfortable over the past ten months. Their compassion and kindness will never be forgotten. Though there are no proper words to adequately express the feelings, Elsie’s grandchildren and great grandchildren would also like to extend heartfelt appreciation for the care Bethany and Thomas provided in her final months. Elsie was not shy about expressing the love and appreciation for all that you both did for her.