The Godwin and Godwin Law Firm was established in 1900 and has been in continuous operation since that date. The firm began with the graduation of A. P. Godwin, Sr. from the 1900 Wake Forest School of Law. He began his law practice at 110 Court Street, the current location, as a sole practitioner in the year 1900. He served in the Senate from 1907–1910 and was appointed commissioner as a major judicial advocate of the National Guard in the year 1909.

He shared office space in what was the old Bank of Gates and was joined in practice in 1952 by his eldest son, A. Pilston Godwin, Jr. who was a graduate of Mars Hill College and the Wake Forest School of Law. They practiced together until Mr. Godwin, Sr.’s death in 1956. A. Pilson Godwin, Jr. Served in the North Carolina Senate from 1963–1966 and was appointed Commissioner of Motor Vehicles in 1969 after which he was appointed Superior Court Judge and then elected Superior Court judge in Wake County, North Carolina from 1972 until his retirement.

Philip P. Godwin, Sr. practiced with his brother, A. Pilston Godwin, Jr. after graduating from Wake Forest and Wake Forest School of Law in 1956. Philip P. Godwin, Sr. Served in the North Carolina House of Representatives and was selected by his peers as Speaker of the House and served from 1970–1972. He later served in the North Carolina Senate and was later appointed a member of the North Carolina Board of Transportation.

Philip P. Godwin, Sr. was joined in the practice of law in 1980 by his son, Philip P. Godwin, Jr. graduated from Wake Forest University and the North Carolina Central School of Law where he graduated cum Laude. The two practiced together from 1980 until Philip P. Godwin’s death in 2001 at which time Philip P. Godwin, Jr. maintained a sole practice in the same location in Gatesville.

Thomas Benbury Paxton Wood became an associate in the firm in 2014 and is now a partner in the newly named firm, Godwin and Wood, PLLC.

Philip P. Godwin, Jr. has been practicing in the same office as his grandfather began in 1900, for 38 years. Thomas Wood has been practicing 15 years. Together, the two attorneys have been practicing for a combined total of 53 years. This is the only attorneys’ office in Gates County and we have been here 118 years.