Harold Godwin, 99, of Fayetteville passed away on May 10, 2024.
Harold was born on January 7, 1925, in Fayetteville, NC and was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. H. Lacy Godwin. He attended local schools and UNC Chapel Hill where he earned a B.S. Degree and a Phi Beta Kappa Key. At the age of 22, he graduated from Harvard Medical School. A fellowship in cardiology from the National Institute of Health and a residency at the medical college of Virginia followed. In 1950, he married Nina Prescott after they met when she was 15 and he was 20.
During the Korean War he was a hospital commander in the strategic air group.
In 1953, he started a private practice in Fayetteville and a cardiology clinic for the Indigent at the county health department. In 1965, he established the coronary care unit at Cape Fear Valley and was its first doctor which is currently known as the CFVH Heart Center. During this interval he was a weekly instructor at UNC School of Medicine and in 1973 the senior class elected him to Alpha Omega Alpha academic medical fraternity.
In 1976, he was appointed Director of the Duke Area Health Education Center. This was to enhance the interface between local and medical center physicians and other health professionals and graduated primary care M.D., many whom remain in the area.
Another AHEC function in the 1980’s promoted local nurses to a B.S. level from UNC without leaving Fayetteville city limits. During this time, he held professional academic appointments at both Duke and UNC. His administrative title at Duke was assistant dean and at Cape Fear he was chief of staff.
In 1985, he was selected by the NC Medical Society and appointed by The Governor to the medical licensing board. In 1988, he became president and served 12 years. In that capacity he was a pioneer in the formation of a program to identify and treat health care workers with substance abuse and other performance problems.
In retirement he received a licensing agent for NC MDS and was the founding president of the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation.
He is survived by his children, Lisa Godwin, Prescott (Susie) Godwin, Chris (Linda) Godwin, and Melanie (Dell) Godwin; his grandchildren, Lacy (John) Kells, Harry Godwin, Thomas Godwin, Laura (Zach) Hershey, and Luke Godwin; and 3 great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00pm at First Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.