Rev. William Leon Godwin

Rev. William Leon Godwin was born October 23, 1935 to parents Leon Eli Godwin and Laura Magdalene Pope. He was joined by his brother, Johnnie and sisters, Glorier, Linda and Jeannie. Leon worked for his parents as a young boy, delivering groceries on a bicycle to area residents. He graduated from Valdosta High School in 1954. On June 13, 1954, he married Mable Elizabeth McGhin. Leon and Mable had one child, Belinda Susan on January 20, 1956. Leon felt God’s call on his life to be a minister of the Gospel. In 1957 he was ordained at Westwood Baptist Church in Live Oak, Florida. Mable confirmed Leon’s calling, telling him she knew she would marry a pastor. Leon and Mable worked full time while he pastored small churches in South Georgia and North Florida. Leon craved more knowledge to better serve the Lord’s call. So began many years of learning. Two years junior college at Valdosta State, four years at the University of Florida earning his Bachelor of Arts and Education, three years in Louisville, Kentucky at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary completing his Master of Divinity in 1968. Pastor N.B. Langford, at North Central Baptist Church in Gainesville, Florida called Leon and Mable to pastor a new mission church, Lake Forest Baptist Church. He later was a pastor at Church of the Shepherd and Morningside Baptist. Leon began Godwin Roofing to supplement income. Pastoring, roofing; and in his spare time, making wood crafts. Mable began quilting and Southern Sleigh Crafts, was born. They spent many years doing local craft shows and had a weekend booth at Markets of Marion for many years. They added a potpourri franchise to their craft business. Ready to slow down, Leon retired from pastoring. When his grandson, Christopher Tenney graduated from the University of Florida, Leon turned over the roofing company to Chris. Leon’s greatest joy was watching Chris grow his legacy, mentoring and advising him. Chris learned from the best, his grandpa. Leon had a gift for teaching men about God, about family and about life skills. If you met Leon, you were blessed, you were loved and always prayed for. Some of Leon’s favorite things were spreading the Gospel of Christ, and teaching men how to be men of God. He enjoyed fishing, golf, and wood crafts. Leon never met a stranger, he loved people, he loved to talk. He loved his wife dearly and missed her so. He loved his grandson, his granddaughter and his great grandson and was looking forward to meeting his great granddaughter in November 2022. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Mable, his parents, his brother and his granddaughter, Michelle Elizabeth Tenney He leaves behind his daughter, Belinda Susan Morris (Steve); grandson, Christopher Anthony Tenney (Taylor); great grandchildren, Fisher Luke Tenney and the baby girl on the way; he also leaves behind his sisters, and many other family members and friends. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 4, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at Williams-Thomas Westarea Chapel, 823 NW 143rd Street, Newberry, with Brother Charles Simpson officiating. A viewing will be held one hour prior to service beginning at 1:00 p.m. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Charles Simpson Ministries, P.O. Box 850067, Mobile, AL 36685-0067, https://csmpublishing.org/give/.

Rev. William Leon Godwin

October 23, 1935 - September 17, 2022