Susan Marshall Godwin

Susan Marshall Godwin, 66, of Colonial Heights died August 16, 2017 at her home of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer. Sue was a beloved woman to all who knew her. Her strength of heart and mind was shown through the care and love she gave us all as a wife, daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt and all in between. She graduated from Roanoke College in 1972, with a degree in Mathematics, to become the Senior Vice President of Transaction Services at Nationsbank in a career that spanned 31 years with the company. She received many awards for leadership, teamwork and project achievements. Upon “retiring”, she worked for H&R Block becoming a Senior Military Tax Advisor until 2016. Although she excelled in her career, her greatest work was accomplished in the garden and the kitchen. Her cooking rivalled any five star chef and five course meals were the norm. The flowers she surrounded herself with were some of the most beautiful and would bring joy to the face of anyone that visited her. Sue was the daughter of Phyllis Hurt Marshall and the late Dr. David H. Marshall of Roanoke, VA. She leaves behind her husband of 17 years James H. Godwin, Jr. of Colonial Heights, VA.; daughter Dr. Kathryn MacKinnon of Apex, NC.; sister Mary Marshall of Afton, Va.; nieces Olivia Marshall of Afton, VA. and Anna Traverse of Memphis, TN.; grandson MacCade Ward of Apex, NC.; stepchildren James Godwin, III (and wife Carole and daughter Jaime) of Hanover, VA., and Nan Balderson (and husband Craig and daughter Layne) of King William County and other extended family members. She was predeceased by her sister Dr. Cynthia Marshall of Memphis, TN.
A small memorial service will be held this weekend for the immediate family at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens so she can visit the gardens and see the flowers one last time. An additional service will be arranged in the month to come for all of her friends and family to attend and will be held at St. Marks United Methodist Church in Petersburg, VA. Sue requested that if donations are being made, make them to the American Cancer Society, but her primary request was to have a room full of flowers in celebration of her life. Additional information and condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com . Sue/Mom/Grandma was a special gift to us all and she will forever and always be greatly missed.