Ila Therese Bishop “Honey” Godwin

Ila Therese Bishop “Honey” Godwin was born on 16 December 1919 to James Frederick Bishop and Eva Nunnally Bishop. She went home to be with her heavenly Father on 23 April 2014. She was preceded by her parents and husband Braxton Tolbert Godwin. Mrs. Godwin was a 1938 graduate of Rocky Mount High School and attended Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She married her high school sweetheart, Braxton, in December of 1939. Mrs. Godwin was a lifelong resident of Rocky Mount. She loved her home town and never wanted to be too far away. While away at college she returned as often as possible to visit family and friends. During the 1960s she could be seen driving her little blue VW bug around town working as the Welcome Wagon lady. In her 80s she was seen wearing a baseball cap and driving a blue Datsun 280 Z around Rocky Mount. Into her 90s she would still run into people who would recognize her and remind her of how they felt when they moved to Rocky Mount and received such a warm welcome. She worked for the kindergarten programs at The Church of the Good Shepard and Shields Kindergarten. Her back yard was always full of neighborhood boys playing tetherball, foosball, tag and tackle football, building a club house out of found lumber, and digging an underground fort. Many notable Rocky Mount men will recall many of these activities from their grade school years. Mrs. Godwin was a grade parent for over 30 years supporting her childrens education in the city schools. She was a Cub Scout den mother and active with the Girl Scouts. She was an active member of the local chapter of the UDC, and the Rocky Mount Garden Club. In a very quiet and giving way she gave to local families that were in need of food and clothing. She loved helping others and never wanted to be thanked for any kind deeds. Mrs. Godwin and her family were charter members of Lakeside Baptist Church. For the past forty two years St. Andrews Episcopal Church has been her spiritual home. She loved St. Andrews and the many wonderful friends she made there. She is survived by her daughter Ann Parke Godwin Hughes (Lennie) of Elizabeth City, N.C., sons Charles Braxton Godwin (Bev) of Elizabeth City, N.C., Frederick Bishop Godwin of Elizabeth City, N.C., and James Tolbert Godwin (Lisa), of Rocky Mount, N.C., sister Frances Bishop Johnson, of Winter Park, Fl., brother, James F. Bishop (Ann) of Rocky Mount, N.C. Grandchildren: Lennie Hughes (Shelby) of Elizabeth City, N.C., Laurel Senick (Don), of Wilmington, N.C., Benjamin Hughes, of Elizabeth City, N.C., Miriam Godwin and husband Greg Robison, of Greenville, N.C., Beverly Godwin Pickett, of Greenville, N.C., Bishop Godwin and Ann Parke Godwin of Rocky Mount, N.C. Great grandchildren: Morgan Ray, Hayden Ray, and Caroline Hughes of Elizabeth City, N.C., Max Pickett, of Greenville, N.C. A funeral service to remember the life of Mrs. Godwin will be held Saturday, 26 April 2014 at 1:00 pm at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Rocky Mount with Father George Greer officiating. The family will receive friends and relatives at the church beginning at 12:15 pm until service time. Burial will be at Pineview Cemetery. The family would like to thank Frances Moore, Ernestine Taylor, Stacey Johnson Staff and Hospice of Nash General for the loving care they have shown Ms. Honey. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Benjamin House, P.O. Box 757, Elizabeth City, N.C. 27907. Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com. Visitation St. Andrew's Episcopal Church 301 S. Circle Drive Rocky Mount, NC 27804 ID ) ); ?>"> --> 252-443-2070 --> | Saturday 4/26, 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm Service St. Andrew's Episcopal Church 301 S. Circle Drive Rocky Mount, NC 27804 ID ) ); ?>"> --> 252-443-2070 --> | Saturday 4/26, 1:00 pm Cemetery Pineview Cemetery 761 N. Raleigh Road Rocky Mount, NC 27801