Ella Sue Young Godwin

Ella Sue Young Godwin was born on July 7, 1939, in Olive Hill, Tennessee, to John Kay  Young and Lillian Maude Gant Young.  On June 1, 2024, she passed from this world into eternal life with her Savior, Jesus Christ.  

Sue grew up in Olive Hill and graduated from Savannah Central High School in 1957.  She was united in marriage to Elvin “Pete” Godwin on July 24, 1962 in Corinth, Mississippi, a union that lasted almost 62 years.  Sue enjoyed a 45 year career at Tennessee Valley Electric Cooperative, where she was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.  She treasured the friendships she shared with many of her TVEC co-workers who she remained close to even after retirement.
 
Sue was a remarkable and multi-talented woman who could accomplish any task she was given.  Reared on a farm, she learned a strong work ethic from a young age and never shied away from labor-intensive chores.  She could drive a tractor and combine from an early age and complete any job that needed doing, whether it was hauling hay or mending fences.  She loved being outdoors and spent many enjoyable weekends and vacations camping and fishing on Indian Creek with family and friends.  

Although she was at home in the outdoors, Sue also had a keen sense of style and created beautiful art and home décor.  She used her artistic talents to create exquisite oil and acrylic paintings and decorate stunning wedding cakes and delicious birthday and holiday cakes for those she loved.  She loved to garden and grow all types of flowers, particularly irises and lilies that she would turn into lovely arrangements to share with friends and family.  She also was a talented seamstress creating all types of costumes and formal dresses for her daughter and granddaughter.  She was a gracious hostess who could set a table in keeping with the strictest standards of etiquette and decorate festively for any occasion.  She was also highly intelligent and an avid reader of all types of literature, from biographies to the Bible, which she completed in its entirety in one year.  You did not want to challenge her to a spelling contest; you were bound to lose.

Although she had many talents and interests, her most cherished role was that of a loving and devoted mother and “Mimi” to her only daughter and granddaughter.  She was fiercely proud of both and she would surely tell you so.  She was kind and generous and had a strong and steadfast spirit.  She has set an example for her family to follow, and a high standard for them to live up to.
   
Most importantly, Sue loved Jesus and sought to share His love with others through her servant's heart. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Savannah for forty years, where she was active in women’s ministry and the banner ministry, and occasionally chaperoned youth trips.  Her family has no doubt that she was welcomed into eternity by her Savior with “Well done, good and faithful servant”

Sue is survived by her husband, Elvin “Pete” Godwin; her daughter, Susan Kaye Godwin Patterson and her husband, Bryan; and her beloved granddaughter, Lilly Grace Patterson.  She is also survived by her nieces and nephews and close friends whom she loved dearly.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 8, at First Baptist Church in Savannah at 12:00 noon.  The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. until service time. 

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to: First Baptist Church Youth Fund Savannah, Tn