Georgia Perry Codin

WOMEN OF WESTPORT POINT

Georgia Perry Codin

Benefactor to local artists

1980 Main Road, Westport Point

Eldest of six children from the John Perry Westport farming family, Georgia Ann Perry Codin was born September 30, 1916 in Oakland, California. Early in life while attending Westport schools Georgia showed an aptitude for her artistic talents. While studying the arts in Boston Georgia became a painter and met an aspiring young doctor named Ken Codin at Brandeis, who became her husband for over 50 years. After med school and a stint in the army medical corp, Ken practiced medicine in Stoughton where the Codins resided throughout their marriage. 

Over the years Georgia’s artistic pursuits evolved from painting to interior design and collecting art and antiques. She carefully curated the restoration of a home at Manchester by the Sea and later their summer home in Westport. 

It was in the 1950s when the Codins purchased the property at 1980 Main Road at the Point and built the infamous white wall often vandalized by local boys. Of course, Georgia plied her charm by strongly encouraging the graffiti artists to repaint the wall themselves. Problem solved! Never to happen again. 

Coming home to Westport, Georgia enjoyed her artistic pursuits while renovating and designing her home and  befriended local artists like her next door neighbor Herb Hadfield and Svetlanna Rockwell. She also  became a benefactor for local artists. Ken enjoyed building relationships with local neighbors. The Codins spent the next 40 years together in Westport Point. 

Georgia’s philanthropic contributions in providing scholarships and other financial assistance to aspiring Westport artists will be long be remembered.  One to not take credit for her generosity , Georgia has never been properly recognized . And that’s how she intended it to be. 

Her enormous priceless doll collection was shared with local girls at the Doll Museum she founded at Russells Mills during the 1960’s. It was truly a great gift. Following her death, the entire doll collection was endowed to Ken’s beloved Shriners. Georgia Codin will be fondly remembered for her blazing red hair (and red nails) and driving her white Cadillac down Main Road headed home to the Point. 

Let us not forget the care Georgia took with paying attention to her elderly neighbors like Mrs. Crippen and Amber Columbia. She often arrived at their homes with special treats and spent time visiting with Pointers often forgotten. 

Georgia Ann Perry Codin died on April 21, 1991 at the age of 74 from emphysema. Dr Codin followed to be reposed next to her at Beech Grove cemetery just up the road from the Point in 2011. He was 93. 

The Codins had no children, but the Georgia’s Perry clan is still alive and well in Westport.