Joyce Godwin, first female chair of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, dies at 82

Joyce Godwin is remembered as a woman of faith who spent countless hours mentoring people at Presbyterian Healthcare Services and volunteering with organizations like the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, where she was selected to be its first female chair.

“She was not a feminist, but she trailblazed and broke the glass ceiling for women in a lot of areas,” said her husband, Earl Godwin.

Joyce Godwin was also the first woman to join the Public Service Company of New Mexico’s board of directors, according to an online obituary.

Godwin died Oct. 6 from progressive supranuclear palsy. She was 82.

Born in Washington, D.C., Godwin moved with her family to Miami in 1952, where she received a waiver due to her age to do clerical work at a local veterans’ hospital. As a teenager, she worked several summer jobs, including at the hospital, saving up money to attend Florida State University. She was the first person in her family to graduate high school and college, according to the obituary.

While pursuing a master’s degree in political science and public administration at George Washington University, she met Earl Godwin. In 1973, they began working at Presbyterian Healthcare Services in Albuquerque, where she started as the director of education, according to her obituary.

Julie Fulcher, who worked under Godwin at Presbyterian, said Godwin was “so organized.”

“She kept track of everything and she was constantly updating and staying on top of things,” Fulcher said. “And she seemed to be interested in everyone. She made it a point to know their names and know what was going on with them.”

Godwin would invite people to lunch, asking them about their goals and aspirations, Fulcher said.

“She was a good sounding board when problems came up,” she said. “She didn’t make people feel bad about asking for help, but helped them think through alternatives.”

Godwin also mentored people such as Lisa Trujillo, current director of governance excellence at Presbyterian.

“Joyce joyfully accepted a request from our CEO to mentor me in my governance role,” Trujillo said in a statement. “Her mentorship was transformative. As an expert in her field, she not only imparted knowledge, but also showed me the ‘heart’ of why this work is so important for those who depend on Presbyterian for healing and health.”

While working at Presbyterian, Fulcher said Godwin — the first woman to serve on the Presbyterian Healthcare Services board of directors, Presbyterian spokesperson Kourtney Muñoz said — hosted Bible study sessions with women.

“They would just sit around and talk about what was going on in our lives and how the Bible applied to that and that really helped me grow (as a Christian),” she said.

Sarah Kotchian said her friend “was a quiet leader in the sense that it was never about her.”

“She did not have a big ego,” Kotchian said. “She saw it as her purpose to encourage others.”

Outside of work, Godwin was involved with Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church and organizations including the United Way and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, where she became its first female chairperson in 1989.

“In the chamber, in the late ‘80s, we were just beginning to be involved at the state level, working with the Legislature and working with the administration,” former Chamber Chairman Sherman McCorkle said. “That’s a lot of people to meet, a lot of credibility to be created and she did a great job of following through ... (and) helping establish the chamber in Santa Fe.”

Along with assisting the chamber in reaching new heights, Godwin became the first woman to serve on the Public Service Company of New Mexico board of directors, the Journal reported on April 22, 1989.

“Ms. Godwin applied her skills and knowledge of corporate governance, compensation/human resources, community and public policy matters and issues to advise company’s management in its strategic, employee and community relationship planning ...,” an Oct. 7, 2003, PNM resolution recognizing Godwin reads.

The resolution adds, “(She) was instrumental in leading the company out of extremely difficult and troubled situations and in establishing a culture of social conscious ethical behavior and good governance practices...”

While on the board, Godwin was on a committee that investigated a lawsuit filed by company shareholders who accused other PNM board members, in part, of mismanaging the company’s affairs “by diversifying its assets and resources into various non-utility ventures which defendants had no experience or expertise in managing,” the Journal reported on Oct. 12, 1989. The probe concluded that PNM wasted $210 million on diversification and shareholders should proceed with claims against certain officers, the newspaper reported two years later.

“She said, ‘That was pretty nerve-wracking because there were a lot of movers and shakers in town (who were) on that board at the time,’” Fulcher said.

Between her job at Presbyterian and volunteer work, Godwin put in 60- to 80-hour weeks, the Journal reported in a June 25, 1989, story about her taking over as Chamber chair.

“I think I am always mindful of what has to be done next month and next week and tomorrow,” she said in the article. “I’m just used to packing things in.”

In her free time, Godwin enjoyed helping care for animals, including snakes and turtles. “She just loved animals of every sort,” Fulcher said.

After retiring from Presbyterian in 1993, Joyce Godwin and Earl Godwin continued looking after their animals as well as traveling to over 80 countries, “often combining their mission service and vacation,” according to the obituary.

One mission organization Joyce Godwin belonged to was World Vision International, where she was on the board.

“She served with World because of their integrity, their faith-based stance, their professionalism, low overhead ... and their comprehensive strategies for bringing a better life to children and communities,” Earl Godwin said.

A memorial service will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 8600 Academy NE.