OBITUARY: Michael Anthony Godwin

Published 10:39 am Thursday, March 6, 2025

Michael Anthony Godwin, age 72, died December 21, 2024, in Saint Louis, Missouri, following a long illness with A.L.S. (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and other complications including Covid-19 and pneumonia.

Michael’s home was in Pike County, Alabama, in the town of Brundidge. He graduated from Charles Henderson High School, Troy, Alabama in 1969, then attended Auburn University, where he studied business. While there he became a lifetime member of Sigma Nu, a fraternity promoting leadership development for college students through its’ foundation.

He returned to Brundidge to work in the offices of his father’s feed manufacturing company, Bob’s Feeds and Brundidge Milling Company. His parents, Robert L. Godwin and Mattie Lee Godwin (both deceased) were very civic minded and devoted themselves whole-heartedly to community service. Michael, like his older siblings Robert (Larry) Godwin, jr., Ann Carole (Godwin) Gaspar, and Ronald Wilburn Godwin (deceased) were very active in the visual arts and in music.

Michael’s gifts of design were extensive: from designing home interiors to commercial spaces, decorative arts, and especially landscaping. His abilities led him to form his own landscaping business in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His many landscape projects there won him a commendation of excellence from Louisiana State University.
In the 1990’s he moved to Saint Louis, Missouri to help design and manage an art gallery established by his family, the “Godwin-Gaspar Gallery”, in the city’s Central West End. He divided his time between his work in Missouri and with his family in Alabama. He assisted with the care of his mother who remained lively and active for the better part of her 100-plus years, and with the business aspects of his brothers’ art projects.

Surviving immediate family members include a brother, Larry Godwin, age 90, resident of Camden, Alabama, a sister, Ann Carole (Godwin) Gaspar, and a nephew, Damon Gaspar, of Saint Louis, Missouri.

A graveside interment of his ashes will be held at Lakeview Cemetery, Brundidge, Alabama, on March 12, 2025 at 2:00 pm in the afternoon, followed by a reception for visitors at the Brundidge Senior Center at 128 N. Main Street.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to The Johnson Center for the Arts, The Pioneer Museum of Alabama, or the Brundidge Library.