Sister Mary Julia Godwin

1928 - 2020

BELMONT — Sister Mary Julia Godwin, entered eternal life December 10, 2020 in Marian Center, Sacred Heart Convent, Belmont.

She was 92 years of age and had been a Sister of Mercy for 72 years. She was the daughter of Enoch Godwin Sr. and Florence Inez Smith. Sister Julia was the fifth child of 15 children — nine girls and six boys. She was born in Benson. She was a descendant of the Godwin and Monk families who embraced Catholicism in Newton Grove in 1871. She attended Holy Redeemer School in Newton Grove and Meadow High School in Benson. She had a bachelor's degree in Social Studies from Belmont Abbey College.

Sister Julia entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1949 and chose as her motto "Jesus Through Mary."

She studied nursing at Mercy Hospital for two years and then moved on to education. She taught in Sacred Heart Grade School, Salisbury; St.Gabriel School, Charlotte; St. Michael's School, Gastonia; St. Patrick's, Charlotte; St, Eugene, Asheville; St. Agnes, Greenport, Long Island, N.Y.; and Holy Angels, Belmont. She spent several years at Nazareth Orphanage in Raleigh. Her service at Holy Angels and in the Orphanage meant the most to her. She maintained her friendships with the residents of the Orphanage to this day.

She was a people's person, and never met a stranger. She loved community service, visiting the sick and working with the poor. She loved to travel. Her favorite place to relax was in the mountains at Lake Lure. In retirement she wrote the history of Nazareth Orphanage and the genealogy of her family. She was known as a quiet person who prayed quietly and worked with others quietly. Mostly she was known for her friendships and service to others.

Sister Julia is survived by the Sisters of Mercy; her brothers, Anthony and George Godwin of Benson; and her sisters, Anna Dupree of Raleigh, Agnes Keating of Holden Beach, and Frances Fisher, Southport, N.C.

Funeral arrangements are with McLean Funeral Directors of Belmont. Interment will be at Belmont Abbey Cemetery. All services are private due to the pandemic.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Sisters of Mercy, Sacred Heart Convent, 500 Sacred Heart Circle, Belmont, North Carolina, 28012.

Condolence messages may be shared at www.McLeanFuneral.com.