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| Bill's children with Laura Ellen Woodard Edwards |
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| Fernie Eugene Edwards Feb. 18, 1953-Aug. 20, 1955; Buried in Kenly Cemetery, Kenly, NC |
| Ronnie Joe Edwards Nov. 4, 1955-March 29, 1983 Johnston, NC; Buried in Kenly Cemetery, Kenly, NC |
| Billie Jean Edwards Carter |
Courtesy Stancil Reunion Archive |
Willard "Bill" Fernie Edwards was born on August 25, 1929, the only living child of Leafy Irene Stancil and Levi John Edwards.
Growing up on the family farm, Bill learned the value of hard work from an early age. He enjoyed spending time with his cousins, particularly engaging in fox hunting with Garland, Harvey's son.
After graduating from Nahunta High School, Bill initially farmed with his father, Levi. However, he soon realized farming was not his passion, a revelation that saddened his father, who relied on his labor.
Bill then moved to Newport News, Virginia, where he lived with his Aunt Mozelle and worked in the shipyards for several years, finding many ready jobs available there.
Before enlisting in the Air Force, Bill returned home to marry his true love, Laura Ellen Woodard. Laura, born on December 3, 1933, in Johnston County, North Carolina, was the daughter of Linwood B. Woodard and Nancy Carter Woodard.
She had an older brother and older sister. Her parents, Ballard and Nancy, married on April 21, 1929. Ballard was one of seven children born to Charlie and Nannie Woodard, who farmed in the Boone Hill Community of Johnston County.
Laura grew up working hard on her parents' farm, where her petite mother was known for her ability to keep up with the best of them in farm work. Laura attended Nahunta High School, but as labor became scarce on the farm after her brother and sister left, she dropped out to help fill the void. Bill and Laura began dating in March 1950.
Bill introduced her to his family at the Stancil Family Reunion on August 29, 1950, where he famously asked her to get a piece of cake for his Uncle Harvey, the family patriarch. When Laura returned with a multi-layered chocolate cake, Harvey smiled and told Bill, "Well you grab her!" They were married shortly after, on September 9, 1950, in Bill's home.
Leafy arranged for Elders from the Mormon Church to officiate their wedding. Laura wore a baby blue suit with a round, snug-fitting black hat adorned with sequins and a veil, complemented by black shoes.
At 21, Bill joined the Air Force. After basic training, he and Laura moved to Newport News, Virginia, where Bill was stationed at Langley Air Force Base.
They found accommodation on the third floor of Aunt Martha Jane 'Matt' Sasser Holt's boarding house on Buckroe Beach, near the amusement park. Aunt Matt, then 76, was the sister of Bill's grandmother, Minnie Sasser Stancil. She was described as being about 5-5 with a medium build, and she kept her hair dyed as it grayed.
Her husband, Calvin Ashley Holt, had passed away in April 1943 in Virginia and was buried in the Princeton North Cemetery. Their son, Theo McKinley Holt, born in 1904, lived most of his life with his parents and, despite struggling with alcoholism, was a talented house painter who painted the home of Mozelle and Glenn Campbell. He died in May 1966 in Virginia.
Matt was known for being a difficult and extremely frugal woman, often purchasing meat past its prime, which caused unpleasant odors in her kitchen. She kept a talking Mynah bird in her living room that Laura recalled uttered "nasty" and "obscene phrases."
Matt also cultivated a small backyard garden with cucumbers, tomatoes, Georgia collards, and a variety of wildflowers from seeds. She owned a car but Laura never recalled her attending church or having visitors other than family.
On one occasion, when Matt learned her sister Lyda, Lyda's husband Rayford Oliver (the sheriff of Johnston County), and friends from Smithfield, NC, were visiting, she asked Laura to prepare a good meal and promised to buy all the groceries. Laura prepared fried chicken, mashed potatoes, biscuits, vegetables, and a delicious dessert.
However, upon arrival, the guests declined to eat at the house, opting instead to take Matt out. Laura and Bill then enjoyed the feast themselves, as did 'Matt' and her son McKinley upon their return.
On October 15, 1954, Hurricane Hazel, after hitting Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, moved north and inland, affecting Johnston County and damaging Bill's parents' home by taking off their roof. Bill took a 30-day leave to help with repairs. Upon returning to their apartment, they had to clear a significant amount of sand from their third-floor balcony.
Bill and Laura had a house built, but only a month after moving in, Bill was transferred. They listed the house for rent with a realtor, intending to settle there upon Bill's retirement. Bill attained the rank of Technical Sergeant before retiring after over 20 years of military service, a career that necessitated many moves.
Bill and Laura had three children. Tragically, they experienced the loss of two sons early in their lives: Fernie Eugene Edwards, born February 18, 1953, died in 1955, and Ronnie Joe Edwards, born November 4, 1955, died on March 29, 1983.
Their daughter, Billie Jean, was born in 1960.
Ronnie was allergic to cow's milk and drank goat's milk. Bill and Laura's deep faith sustained them throughout their lives, and they were active members of the Mormon Church, just like Leafy, Minnie, and Eliza Jane.
Upon Bill's retirement, they returned to their house in Newport News, Virginia, only to find the neighborhood had changed, and they no longer wished to settle there. They sold the house and retired to the farm of Bill's youth in Pinkney, North Carolina.
In the early 1970s, Bill and Laura established the Pinkney Bird Farm. Bill, an expert on birds, began raising and selling exotic and often endangered species, significantly contributing to the continuation of several species.
He welcomed visitors to his bird farm, often giving tours to school groups without charge, as his primary goal was the education and preservation of birds. Laura's interests included raising cockatiels, parakeets, and zebra finches, as well as breeding Chihuahuas with markings resembling beagles.
In 1980, their home suffered an electrical fire in the early morning while Bill and Laura were outside feeding their birds. Billie Jean was on a trip to Busch Gardens in Virginia at the time. Although the brick exterior remained, and the stone fireplace was pressure cleaned, it took five or six months to rebuild the interior of the house. They lost many family treasures but were grateful that no one was hurt.
Tragedy struck again on March 29, 1983, when their outgoing and popular son, Ronnie Joe, died in an accidental drowning at home.
Their daughter, Billie Jean, married John Carter on June 8, 1986. They have two sons: Wesley Matthew, born in 1993, who ran track at school, and Ronnie McGray, born in 1995, who plays guitar. Both boys enjoyed going with Laura to the Blue Barn and dancing with the ladies.
On September 5, 1996, Hurricane Fran brought down many of the large pine trees surrounding Bill and Laura's home, leaving only large oak trees.
Bill and Laura were a devoted couple who worked together and were deeply committed to each other and their family. They frequently opened their home for annual family musical gatherings.
Bill was also the caretaker of the Stancil Tapestry, protecting and preserving it for future generations. He was a popular family member, known for his love of family and learning, his willingness to share his knowledge of family history, and his joyful presence.
Bill died of a heart attack on September 21, 1998. His service was conducted by Bishop Kenneth Cogdell and Rev. Earl Hammond, and he was buried with military honors at Kenly Cemetery in Kenly, Johnston County, North Carolina.
Courtesy Stancil Reunion Archive |
A year later, on September 15, 1999, Hurricane Floyd caused widespread flooding, and its high winds blew down the remaining oak trees around Laura's home. Laura recalled that the trees were standing at 6:00 AM and by 6:15 AM, they had been uprooted.
Laura passed away at her home on September 15, 2023, at the age of 89. In addition to her parents, Linwood B. Woodard and Nancy Carter Woodard, Laura was preceded in death by her husband, Willard F. Edwards, her sons Eugene Edwards and Ronnie Edwards, and her brothers L.B. Woodard and Roy Woodard.
Laura loved spending time outdoors, often working in her garden, picking weeds, and pruning her beautiful flowers. When not in the garden, she enjoyed fishing.
Nothing pleased Laura more than spending time with her family; her love for them knew no bounds, and each moment shared was a cherished memory.
She is buried in Kenly Cemetery. The family received friends following the service and at other times at the home of her daughter, Billie Jean Carter. Laura is survived by her daughter, Billie Jean Carter and husband, John, her grandsons Wesley Carter and Ronnie Carter, and her brother, Pat Woodard.
— Renn Stancil Hinton, daughter of George Ralph Stancil