John William "Bill" Goodhew III

John William (Bill) Goodhew, III passed away peacefully on Friday, February 20, 2026, at the age of 88. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Bill was the son of John William Goodhew, Jr. and Susan Patterson Goodhew.

Bill was raised in Birmingham, Alabama, alongside his two brothers. He attended Phillips High School and went on to continue his education at his beloved Georgia Tech, where he was a proud member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. Bill graduated in 1961 with a degree in Industrial Management. He proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps.

Bill began a successful career in the software industry at Management Science America (MSA). His proudest professional years were spent at Peachtree Software, where he served as President for 13 years. He concluded his career with Intelligent Systems Corporation, an investor in early-stage technology companies. Bill was named Software Executive of the Decade by the Southeastern Software Association, and was inducted into the Georgia Technology Hall of Fame.

A devoted alumnus of Georgia Tech, Bill generously gave his time and leadership to the institution he loved. He served as Chairman of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, Trustee of the Georgia Tech Foundation, and Chairman of the Board of Advisors for the Georgia Tech College of Computing. He was especially honored to receive the Joseph Mayo Pettit Distinguished Service Award.

Among his many passions, Bill was an avid photographer who traveled the world in search of exotic birds and wildlife. A voracious reader, he delighted in sharing books, magazine subscriptions, and newspapers with friends and family. He believed knowledge was a gift meant to be shared.

As a committed member of the community, Bill was a faithful member of St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church, where he served two terms as Senior Warden, Chair of the Endowment Fund, and a Trustee of St. Martins Episcopal School. Bill served as a Trustee at Agnes Scott College and was a board member of several private and public companies. He was a retired member of the Atlanta Rotary Club and a member of Cherokee Town and Country Club.

Bill’s greatest joy was his family. He treasured traveling and hiking with his beloved wife, Joan, and many happy summers were spent on Hilton Head Island with his seven grandchildren. Those times together were among his most cherished.

Many will remember Bill as a kind, generous, and joyful man. He was fun and funny, loved a good meal, jazz music, and a beautiful garden. He truly embraced life’s journey — always willing to pause and “smell the roses.”

Bill is survived by his best friend and wife of 64 years, Joan St. Clair Goodhew; his children, Carol Goodhew Inserra (John) and John William Goodhew IV; and his pride and joy, his seven grandchildren: Patrick Inserra, Samantha Goodhew, Andrew Inserra, Caroline Goodhew, Matthew Inserra, Elizabeth Goodhew, and William Goodhew. He is also survived by his brother, Dixon A. Goodhew.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Alex Patterson Goodhew.

A celebration of Bill’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on March 2, 2026, at St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church, 3110 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30319, with a reception immediately following in Gable Hall.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to:

St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 190109, Brookhaven, GA 31119

The Georgia Tech Foundation, 760 Spring Street NW, Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 30308