Obituary of Edna Williams Godwin

Edna McClanahan Williams Godwin passed onto her Heavenly Home on December 7, 2020, while at the Haven Nursing Home in Columbia, LA after a lengthy illness. Born in Caldwell Parish on October 6, 1923 to the union of Ruben McClanahan and Annie Hall McClanahan, Edna was a resident of Hebert, LA most of her life, moving to Columbia, LA in her later years. Edna was a nurse for Dr. Wren Causey at his clinic for many years. In her early life she worked in the fields all day and had supper on the table at dark. She was never afraid of hard work. She loved helping people in any way she could, nursing, cooking, gardening or just visiting with them. No matter what she was doing, she had a smile on her face and coffee in the pot. Her door was always open for company. Edna was also quite the sportsman having gone on her last deer hunt at 96 years of age. She also dearly loved all of her family. Being the eldest of 13 children, she was a mother to many. Edna took great joy in loving her children and grandchildren. Left to cherish Edna’s memory are her son, Donnie Williams and wife JoeRenda, of Lafayette, LA, and her daughter, Sharon Foy and husband Buddy, of Grayson, LA; her step children, John Godwin and wife Paula, Linda McClanahan, Norma Jean Harris and husband Haskell, and Janie Harris and husband Ricky; her grandchildren, Darren Williams, Danielle McClanahan, Misty Brien, Shayne Barnett, Raines Barnett, Chris Foy, Penny Williams, Lori Jean Harris, Wendy Tucker Harris, Amber Boykin, Rena Ryan, and Johanna Mata Godwin; her brother R.B. McClanahan; her sisters Gwen Brown, Vera Wood, Maxine Duchesne and Margie Roberts. Edna was Nana to many great and great-great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. Edna was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Albert Godwin, her first husband, Rudolph Williams, her loving daughter, Mary Ann Kelly, her brothers, Charles McClanahan, Dan McClanahan, Isaac McClanahan and George McClanahan; her sisters, Ouida McClanahan, Laura Bell Pardue and Annie Volois Goins; and grandchildren, Thomas William Bamburg and Dallas Evans. The family wishes to express many thanks for the kind care given to Edna by the staff of the Haven Nursing Home and Ascend Hospice Care. Edna will be laid to rest in the Bethany Baptist Cemetery in Hebert, LA in a private graveside ceremony under the direction of Riser and Son Funeral Home. The family will hold a richly deserved Celebration of Life to honor Edna’s remarkable life at a later date in 2021.