Feb. 18, 1924 – Jan. 2, 2020

 

NATCHEZ— Services for William Edward Godfrey II, M.D., 95, of Natchez, who died Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, at Merit Health Natchez, will be at 12:00 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, at First Presbyterian Church, 400 State Street, with the Rev. Joan Gandy and the Rev. Sam Godfrey officiating.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time Saturday in Stratton Chapel.

Dr. William E. Godfrey II was born Feb. 18, 1924, in Kenton, Ohio, the eldest son of Malcolm and Frances Fisher Godfrey.

After graduating from Columbia High School in Columbia, Louisiana, as valedictorian in 1940, he enrolled at Louisiana State University. As an engineering student and ROTC Cadet, he was called to active duty in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in September 1944 after completing Officer Candidate School; he was ordered to Paris, France. He arrived the day after the Germans surrendered to the Allies. He was then ordered to serve in an ordinance command in the Philippines, but the war in the Pacific ended before his troopship arrived. He was Honorably Discharged as a First Lieutenant in September 1946. He returned to LSU; he graduated with a degree in chemical engineering in 1947.

While at LSU, he met Irene “Gebo” Bisland Shields of Concordia Parish, and they married in 1947. After working as an engineer in Texas, Dr. Godfrey returned to LSU in 1952 to study medicine. He graduated first in his class in May 1956. After completing his residency in Shreveport, Doc and Gebo moved to Natchez in 1960 along with their three young children, Shields, Ed, and Sam. Until he retired in 2013, he practiced obstetrics and gynecology for more than five decades, partnering with Dr. Tom Purvis for 45 of those years.

During his long career in the Natchez area, he delivered nearly 9,000 children and saw thousands of patients. A former employee once wrote, “Dr. Godfrey makes our office brighter by humming an ‘oldie but goodie’ tune while walking the halls, impressing us with his endless knowledge of literature and is an ardent nature enthusiast. His unwavering ethics, skills and principles are goals that few have realized, many others strive to achieve, and all hold in lofty regard.”

After losing Gebo far too young, he found his second loving wife in Rose Ring. They married in 1984. He had many dear friends and devoted patients throughout his long career. One friend gave him a framed note that said, “if the world were populated with nothing but Bill Godfreys, it would be a perfect world.”

Dr. Godfrey was a highly respected physician who served as the Chief of Staff of Natchez Regional Medical Center from 1975-1976, and also served on the Board of Trustees. He was a devoted member and past elder of the First Presbyterian Church, a long time member of the Natchez Rotary Club, supporter of Rotary International, and was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of the Santa Claus Committee, serving as Santa in 1991. He also served as King of the Krewe of Phoenix in 1997. He supported many other charitable causes during his life. His other interests and hobbies included tennis, golf, playing poker on Tuesdays, and watching LSU sports.

One of the great honors of his life came in 2014 when he was recognized by the Board of Trustees of The National World War II Museum for his “outstanding contributions to his community, state and nation.” Part of the resolution reads, “Whereas, William E. “Bill” Godfrey has throughout his life as a soldier, husband, father, and medical doctor exemplified the qualities and virtues of the men and women that we have come to know as the Greatest Generation.”

Dr. Godfrey was preceded in death by his late wife Irene “Gebo” Shields Godfrey; son William Edward Godfrey III; grandson Coyle Sessions Brown; granddaughter Caroline Shields Brown; father Malcolm Godfrey; mother Frances Godfrey; and brother Jack Godfrey.

He is survived by his wife Rose Ring Godfrey; daughter Shields Godfrey Brown and her husband Butch; son the Rev. Sam Godfrey and his wife Patty; daughter-in-law Laura Godfrey; grandsons Will Godfrey and Russell Godfrey; great grandsons Hite Brown and Hutch Brown; and brother Danny Godfrey. He is also survived by a large loving family of step children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren: Pat McDonough and his wife Lisa; Kevin McDonough; Camilla Ostrowe and her husband David; Patrick McDonough; Joseph McDonough; Isabella Ostrowe; Larry Brown and his wife Mattie; Ansley Brown; and Lewie, Barrett, and Caston Brown.

The family extends its gratitude to Carolyn, George, Hazel, Jamieka, Katie and the staff at Merit Health for their wonderful care of Dr. Godfrey. If lieu of flowers, please send a contribution to a charity of your choice.