Jay, Santa Rosa mourn loss of Wayne Godwin

Residents of the Jay area and Santa Rosa County mourn over the loss of Jay native Terrell Wayne Godwin, who died Tuesday afternoon at the age of 87, following a brief illness.

Godwin served as District 3 County Commissioner when he was elected in 1968 and served three terms, until 1980. He was a cotton, soybean and peanut farmer throughout his life, and as a teenager operated the first cotton picker in Santa Rosa County in 1951.

Jay resident Frank Rowell, who served as county commissioner with Godwin from 1977 to 1980 remained close friends and neighbors afterwards. Rowell said Godwin would plant a big garden every year and invite people to come pick what they wanted. He said Godwin was a community-minded man who would help anyone who asked or needed help without a second thought.

"Wayne has been an excellent close friend since the early 70's," said Rowell. "I went to work with the county board of commissioners in 1977 and we had a close working relationship. He worked for the citizens of this county real close and served. We would have coffee together after we retired and talked about world affairs. He was always willing to help anybody with anything. He loved farming and his garden work every year."

Godwin began his service on the Jay Council when he was appointed in March 2017 to fill the vacant seat of Charles 'Chubby' Haveard. He ran again in 2020 and won and continued to serve until April 2021, when he moved outside the city limits of Jay. He sat on the council from April 2017 until April 2021, a total of four years.

"He was one of the guys that you looked up to in the community and for me someone on the council who gave tons of great guidance," said Jay Mayor Shon Owens, who served on the council with Godwin. "He was always level-headed and calm when he spoke and I always looked up to him. He was someone that you learned a lot from. He had input on so many things that took place in the town of Jay. We are going to miss him."

Jay High School teacher and Santa Rosa County Commission District 3 candidate Rhett Rowell grew up with some of Godwin's grandchildren and knew him. Rowell's in-laws, the Killams, were farmers and knew Godwin through farming. Rowell said he saw Godwin as an 'oak' in the communtity of Jay.

"He was a staple of the community," said Rowell. "Jay is such a tight-knit group and he was so kind, very helpful to me, any time I ever needed anything, I've looked to him for advice. Great family, they have all contributed differently not just in the Jay area but all across Santa Rosa county. The roots of the Godwin family go really deep."

Rowell said he has often asked Godwin for advice, especially since Rowell threw in his hat for Godwin's former seat on the county commission. Rowell said he feels honored to run.

"When you talked to him, he was the kind of man who asked more questions about you and your life than him tell you about his life, even though you're trying to get advice. Thats just the kind of guy he was. You knew he cared about you. He was never abrasive."

Ashton Cook Ashworth, Godwin's granddaughter, who lived with Godwin as a small child for several years, has fond memories of growing up as a child.

"We moved in with them when I was 3 or 4 until I was about 7 years old," Said Ashworth. "I have the greatest memories. He just loved us so much. He was always there for any event. He never had to raise his voice to us. He had a way of saying our name and we knew we had done wrong. He took me and my sister and others to rodeos in Montgomery, Ala. it was the best time. I wish I would have listened harder to their stories. We had every meal at Cracker Barrel."

Ashworth said her grandfather would let her steer his truck, during the summer, riding the fields in the tractor. She said they'd go to the store in the back of the truck and return to the fields with bags of candy. Godwin's mother, Hazel, would cook peas, cornbread, fried pork chops for dinner all day because she knew the men would be coming in from the fields.

"The women made sure they had a good meal when they got in from the fields," said Ashworth. "Fried chicken, fried cornbread, all the fixins. They would eat and then take a nap."

Godwin stopped farming and started selling crop insurance when he got older. He was a big presence in his grandchildren's lives. Now that Ashton is grown and has her own children, her grandfather would show up and bring sweets to her children. She recently asked to borrow his lawn mower, trailer and truck to cut her yard and before she knew it, he was outside on the mower at age 87, cutting her yard.

"Pawpaw took every opportunity to see us," said Ashworth. "He'd bring us breakfast on Sunday morning. He always gave me the best advice. He wouldn't tell me what I wanted to hear but what he thought. He loved me no matter what. He never treated me differently because of the decisions I had made. He loved me regardless. My treasure is my family, I was raised that way and I'm proud of my family. I want people to know how much he meant to us and how terribly we are going to miss him."

Councilwoman Jane Hayes, who served on the Jay Town Council with Godwin and is currently president of the Jay Historical Society had many years to get to know Godwin and what he meant to the people in the town and the county.

"We lost a good friend, dedicated board member, grass cutter, popcorn popper, cane syrup maker and volunteer [Tuesday] evening," wrote Hayes. "Wayne Godwin had a servant's heart. He was a mentor and friend to us. A hole will be left in our hearts. Go rest high on the mountain. Our prayers of peace, comfort and understanding are with the Godwin clan tonight."

Visitation for Terrell Wayne Godwin will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, June 16, at Jay Funeral Chapel. The funeral will be held at 5 p.m., Saturday, June 17, at Jay Church of Christ with Minister Josh Holloway officiating. Burial will follow at Jay City Cemetery with Jay Funeral Chapel directing.