Ervin Percy Godwin

Ervin Percy Godwin, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away on Friday, September 12, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his wife of sixty-seven years, Betty Jean Godwin; his daughter, Teresa Clarkson; and his son, Jonathan Godwin. He also leaves behind two grandsons, Justin and Ryan Clarkson; a granddaughter, Rylee Godwin; and a great-grandson, Henry Clarkson. He is also survived by his siblings, Zola Brook Godwin (Lake City) and Duna Humphries (Florence).

Born on September 30, 1937, in Lake City, SC, Percy was the youngest of eight children born to Zola and Belle Godwin. He graduated from Lake City High School in 1957, where he met his high school sweetheart, Betty Jean Marsh. She would become his wife and lifelong companion.

From a young age, Percy was an industrious and entrepreneurial young man. He often told a story about selling peanuts at the ballpark with his brother, Herman—an apt foreshadowing for a man who would start and run multiple businesses and become a lifelong lover of baseball. You can be sure that even now, he's still hoping the Braves will one day win the World Series.

As the son of a farmer, Percy learned the meaning of hard work early on. He was well-acquainted with the toil of tobacco farming, and this understanding of hard work and a job well done would inform every job he had afterward. From Lake City Lumber, to the hardware store he ran, to the painting he did all around Lake City, to ultimately, the Godwin General Store that he ran from 1983 to 2004. He stood tall and spoke softly, and his character was genuine and unassuming. He held himself to the high standard of a job done well and was not satisfied until that standard was met. Percy was steady, reliable, and loyal. If he said it, he meant it, and he was always conscientious and empathetic. He never forgot a face and would always speak, remembering to ask about you and your family.

A devout and spiritual man, Percy was involved in churches and Bible studies over the years. He will be remembered as an example of faith in the way he lived his life. He truly was a man who understood that a tree is known by the fruit that it bears. Percy understood trees well, as he was an avid gardener. People will miss seeing the “Amaryllis for Sale” sign in his yard and the fat tomatoes he would often give you when you stopped by for a visit.

Diligent and resourceful, Percy loved the opportunity to work with his hands. While he was serious about a lot of things—like real painting that was done without painter's tape, teaching his great-niece Emma Webster the right way to make boiled peanuts, or how baseball changed when the composition of the ball changed—what many will miss most is his dry wit and his affinity for pranks. Percy loved to “get you” and share a laugh about it every time he reminded you of it.

The world has changed a lot, and Percy would be the first to tell you that. But even in an ever-changing world, Percy was sturdy and resolute, much like the load-bearing beams used to support a structure. His loss will be felt in so many small and big ways because he was a steadfast fixture in our lives and community for so many years. While we have so many wonderful memories to talk about, there is going to be a hollow space, because no one will ever be able to fill the space Percy held. 

The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM, Monday, September 15, 2025, at Carolina Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be 2:00 PM, Monday, September 15, 2025, at Carolina Funeral Home Chapel, with private burial to follow at Lake City Memorial Park.

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