WICOMICO CHURCH—It is with deep love and sadness that we announce the death of Lula Ellen Fleischer Godwin, 95, who departed this earthly world and entered into the presence of her Lord Jesus Christ on July 28, 2026.
Lou, as she was known, was born in Mattoax, Amelia County. She was the only child of Carl Gottleib Fleischer and Lula May Midkiff. While attending school in Allentown, Pennsylvania, she met her beloved husband of 75 years, the Reverend James B. Godwin Sr.
She was a devoted wife to James and partnered with him as he pastored churches throughout North Carolina and Virginia for over 50 years. She also served as a hematology technologist at the University of Virginia and Duke University, and as a research associate at the former Hazleton Laboratories in Vienna. Her tenure at Duke was concurrent with tremendous strides in the treatment of childhood leukemia and sickle cell disease. She worked in the pediatric oncology department where the physicians sought her out to take blood draws from the littlest and sickest children.
Lou often said her most important role was as a mom to her family, and her heart expanded to include anyone else she met who needed a mother’s kindness, generosity and loving care. She listened without judgment, provided wise counsel, protected us with a fierce heart, comforted us when our hearts were broken, and celebrated each of our milestones and adventures with us. She had a wonderful sense of humor and the giggle of a five-year-old. We loved to hear her laugh and, even in her final days, we made her laugh as often as we could. She also created gorgeous flower arrangements from the beautiful flower gardens she created in all her many homes.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Barbara Dianne Godwin Newman.
Today, she is survived by her two sons, J. Badger Godwin Jr. and Carl Spencer Godwin and her daughter-in-love, Teri Ellen Godwin. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Glenn Lee Newman Jr. (Amber), Jon B. Newman (Holly), Laura Kristen Godwin Cartwright (Tim), Ryan Christopher Godwin (Gray) and Matthew Spencer Godwin; six great-grandchildren, Morgan Lee Portugal Newman, Alayna Quinn Cartwright, Adelyn Jo Cartwright, Rose Velvet Newman, Insley Lou Godwin and Niko Young Godwin; and her former son-in-law, Glenn Lee Newman Sr.
The family will host a gathering of friends and loved ones from 5-7 p.m. Friday, August 7, at Currie Funeral Home, 116 East Church Street, Kilmarnock. On Saturday, August 8, we will celebrate her long and memorable life at 2 p.m., at the Wicomico Parish Church, 5191 Jessie duPont Memorial Highway, Wicomico Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Inc., 1800 Lakeside Avenue, Richmond VA 23228, https://lewisginter.org/support/give; or to the Duke University Department of Pediatrics, Duke Children’s Development, 300 W. Morgan Street, Suite 1000, Durham, NC 27701, https://giving.dukechildrens.org.
