Charles "Gary" Godwin, 72, passed from this fragile earth, our island home Saturday, December 5, surrounded by family and friends as he entered into the loving arms of his heavenly Father. He was a loving husband, devoted father, wonderful brother and uncle, and the definition of a "true friend."
Gary was born in New Orleans, LA, on October 27, 1943. His mother, Thora Spitzfaden Godwin was from Algiers, LA, and his father, Alvah Wayne Godwin, Jr. was from Jackson, MS. He attended Louisiana State University and graduated from the University of South Alabama.
He is survived by his wife, Susan Fontaine Godwin, son, Matthew Wayne Godwin, of Mobile, AL, brother Richard Wayne Godwin (Vera), sister Susan Tramontana (Sal), nieces Jennifer Godwin Peppler (Bryan), Melissa Lojek, nephew Andrew Taylor Tramontana, sister-in-law Betsy Smith (Peter), brother-in-law Chris Lydle (Thelma), nieces Sara Paradis, Kate Dines and Erica Corser, nephews Sean Lydle, Christopher Lydle, and Matt Garin, and great nieces Kinsey, Kiley, Elizabeth, Parker, Addison and Brynn, and great nephews Sean, Ty and Carson.
Since 2003, Gary served as Client Relations Director at CCS, which he and Susan own. His early career was in radio and TV broadcasting for stations in Baton Rouge, LA. He moved to Mobile in 1965 to work at WKRG TV, where he had a morning show, starred as Sailor Sam, and did the weather. He was a veteran, retired from the Alabama Army National Guard Unit #226 Area Support Group.
Gary partnered with Reggie Copeland, Sr. to provide marketing services in Mobile with the Copeland Godwin Agency. He also served as media relations director for the Mobile Wizards arena football team in 2002-03.
One of Gary’s joys was working with Jaguar Athletics, over the last 15-plus years he handled public address duties at numerous USA men's basketball and baseball contests. He was known for his deep voice, clear annunciation and totally unbiased play-by-play announcing for the Jaguars. "Gary was a true South Alabama Jaguar and even more importantly, a wonderful man," Jaguar Director of Athletics Dr. Joel Erdmann said. "His loyalty in service to the department and University along with his friendship will never be forgotten."
Gary was active with St. Luke's Episcopal Church and Church of the Apostles Anglican Church, serving as Sr. Warden on both churches' vestries and was a facilitator for Crown Financial Ministries and Cursillo Retreats. He was committed to many civic and community organizations, serving on the boards of Wilmer Hall Foster Home, where he met his wife, Susan, St. Luke's School and Knollwood Hospital. He was also a member of the Thomas Hospital Auxiliary.
Gary loved community theater and appeared in numerous musicals, including "The Sound of Music" as Captain Von Trapp and "The Mikado" as the Grand Poo-Bah. He also enjoyed and was a member of a mystic society for more than 20 years.
As an avid and accomplished golfer, he won several Country Club tournaments partnering with his brother, Wayne.
Certainly his greatest joy was his family and friends, and he always made time in his day to visit with people and listen to what was on their hearts, encouraging, praying for them, and looking for ways to make them laugh or smile.
He was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) in 2009 and was blessed to receive a lung transplant at the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) in September, 2010. He wrote and published "Transplanting Faith" in 2012 out of a desire to encourage, inform and inspire those suffering from pulmonary disease or needing an organ transplant. He and his wife, Susan, are committed to supporting pulmonary fibrosis research at UAB and began the Gary Godwin Scholarship Fund.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday, December 12, at 3 pm at Church of the Apostles in Montrose, AL with a reception to follow. Gary will also be honored when the USA Jaguar men's basketball team faces Southern Mississippi at the Mitchell Center on Dec. 14 at 7 pm.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to the Gary Godwin IPF Fund through Church of the Apostles, P O Box 662, Montrose, AL 36559, and registering as an organ donor. You may also consider supporting the Alabama Organ Center, 502 20th Street, South, Birmingham, AL 35233.
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