Frances Michelle Godwin and John Thomas Ravan III

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Engagement Info

November 10, 2014
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Wedding Info

October 3, 2015
Summerall Chapel at The Citadel
Charleston, South Carolina

Lake City, South Carolina

Hometown

Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Residence

Area Specialist, First Citizens Bank

Occupation

Woodruff, South Carolina

Hometown

Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Residence

Software Engineer II, Scientific Research Corporation

Occupation

Frances Michelle's Parents

Sheila Williams Godwin and Michelle is also the daughter of the late Mr. Herman Thomas Godwin

John Thomas's Parents

Mr. and Mrs. John Thomas Ravan Jr.

Our Engagement Announcement

Sheila Williams Godwin of Lake City, SC is pleased to announce the engagement of her daughter, Frances Michelle Godwin of Mt. Pleasant, to John Thomas Ravan III, also of Mt. Pleasant, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Thomas Ravan Jr. of Woodruff, SC. Michelle is also the daughter of the late Mr. Herman Thomas Godwin.

Miss Godwin is the grand-daughter of James O. Williams and the late Franchon Williams of Port St. Joe, FL and the late Carrie and Herman Godwin of Lake City, SC. She graduated from the College of Charleston and is currently working on her MBA at The Citadel Graduate College. She is employed by First Citizens Bank as an Area Specialist in Charleston.

Mr. Ravan is the grandson of Helen W. Ravan and the late John T. Ravan Sr. and the late Dollie and J.W. Neal, all of Woodruff, SC. He graduated from The Citadel and The Citadel Graduate College, and he is currently working on his PhD in Computer Science and Engineering at The University of South Carolina. He is employed by Scientific Research Corporation in Charleston as a Software Engineer II.

The wedding is planned for October 3, 2015, at Summerall Chapel at The Citadel in Charleston.

How We Met

The summer after John graduated from The Citadel he was set up by his friends to meet a beautiful young lady. The young lady was nervous to meet John so she brought a friend along to help break the ice. The friend that was brought along to the meeting was Michelle. Immediately John and Michelle began talking and hit it off unexpectedly and unintentionally. It was as if they had known each other their whole lives. Sadly that night ended and they would not speak or see each other for multiple years.

About 2 years later they began talking again and it was as if they had never stopped. They decided to share brunch at the Charleston Café to catch up again. Both were very nervous as they traveled to the diner but after a wonderful brunch together they knew from that moment that they had just experienced their last first date.

How We Got Engaged

John and Michelle's first date, after their brunch, was at Graze, a beautiful restaurant in Mount Pleasant, SC. Afterwards, John took Michelle for a walk at Pitt Street Bridge in Old Village. They laughed and talked and eventually had their very first kiss on that bridge overlooking the Charleston Harbor.

A couple of months passed by and Michelle's birthday was approaching. John wanted to get Michelle something special so he got her a bracelet that represented a recording of his voice. John told Michelle it was a recording of his voice reciting a sweet message he sent Michelle early in their dating. Michelle would eventually discover that it was something completely unexpected.

Months passed by and the day approached when John would finally ask Michelle to be his wife. It all began with an elaborate story of two friends that were stranded due to low tide while kayaking at Pitt Street Bridge and needed John's assistance in getting out. John, while seeming frustrated, called Michelle and asked her to accompany him in helping them.

After a long walk down the park with heavy waders on his back, John finally dropped the waders and Michelle then knew something was up. He pulled out his phone and played a recording that he recorded almost a year ago. The recording was John proposing to Michelle and was in fact what Michelle's bracelet represented and what she had been wearing all along.

About the Ring

Michelle's grandparents, Jim and Fran Williams celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary seven years ago. For their anniversary, Jim gave Fran a new diamond ring to replace the one she had been wearing for fifty years. It was a very special time for the family to celebrate and Michelle had the pleasure of being present.

After Fran lost her battle with cancer two years ago the ring was kept in the family and was given to John when he asked for Michelle's hand in marriage. Now she can wear the ring and remember her grandmother and what a wonderful and strong marriage it represents.

Our Relationship in Three Words

Christian. Family. Love.