Reuben Earl Mercer
Albert Ray Mercer
A.R. Mercer was born July 30, 1935, and died Feb. 21, 2013. He married Joyce Cottle on May 22, 1954. He married Lottie Hines Sutton on July 30, 1989.
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A.R.'s children with Joyce Cottle |
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Craig Ray Mercer Sr. Sept. 13, 1955 Lenoir, NC-April 22, 2016 Raleigh, NC |
Reuben and Shirley Mercer.
Family archives
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Albert Ray "A.R." Mercer, son of Willie Flave and Beulah Lindolph Stancil Mercer, was born at home on July 30, 1935, in Duplin County, Limestone Township.
Beulah wanted him named after her father, Alvin Rosco Stancil, who had died only 16 weeks earlier, on April 1, 1935. But she knew her father never wanted a child to be named Alvin Roscoe, after him. Beulah resolved to honor her father's wishes and still honor his memory by using his initials, “A.R.” in her son’s name. After much thought, the name Albert Ray was chosen.
A.R grew up singing in the Cabin Free Will Baptist Church, Beulaville, NC. Beulah recognized that Reuben, Ann, A.R., and Margaret had beautiful voices and a quartet was formed.
A.R. and younger sister Margaret joined the church during the fall revival in 1946. They were baptized on Sunday, November 3, in the Chinquapin River. Margaret recalled it was a very cold day. Those being baptized waded into the cold river water as the congregation stood on the river bank and sang, “Shall We Gather at the River”. Beulah waited with blankets when A.R. and Margaret emerged from the river.
A.R. grew up working on a family farm. They grew tobacco, corn, soybeans, a large garden, and raised hogs and chickens.
A.R. fondly recalled playing ‘Hide and Seek’ with his siblings and creating ‘dirt caves’ or ‘frog houses’ by packing damp dirt over their feet. A.R. and Reuben remembered Ann serving them freshly made ‘mud pies’ they pretended to eat! Ann was 17 months older than A.R.
A.R. was dependable and helpful. When Ann and husband Lee needed help moving into an upstairs Mount Olive apartment, they called on A.R. He used a farm trailer hooked behind a car.
A.R. grew up attending the Stancil Reunion back when it was held at George Ira Stancil’s home and continued as it moved to the Glendale Community Center, North Johnston Middle School, and Glendale-Kenly Elementary School. The last Stancil Reunion A.R. and Lottie attended was in 2007. His sister Margaret, brother Reuben, and wife Shirley were also there.
A.R. was a Boy Scout and in 1952 he became an Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable in Boy Scouting. He graduated from East Duplin High School in 1954. A.R. also enlisted in the Beulaville National Guard for 4 years.
This same year, DuPont opened a plant that manufactured Dacron polyester fiber in Kinston, NC. A.R. was hired by Dupont and moved to Kinston. Later that year, he married Joyce Cottle, who also grew up in Beulaville. They had one son, Craig Ray Mercer.
A.R. advanced in his career at Dupont. He moved to the chemistry lab. A.R. was recognized for his ability and excelled. He also formed many lasting friendships. Heart problems forced his early retirement in 1982. A.R. and Joyce divorced in the 1980s.
A.R. enjoyed trips to the beach and especially fishing. On one trip, he met Lottie Hines Sutton. They immediately felt a special connection and found they shared a love for the ocean, beach, boating, fishing, and entertaining. A.R. and Lottie married in 1989. They loved their home in Oriental, NC, a quaint town on the Neuse River, that leads to Pamlico Sound and the barrier islands on the Atlantic Ocean. Oriental, best known as ‘The Sailing Capital of North Carolina', was perfect for them and a favorite gathering place for family and friends.
In the early 1990s, they added a second home and moved into A.R.’s boyhood home in Beulaville. They split time between them.
A.R. and Lottie became active members of Cabin Free Will Baptist Church. Over the years A.R. served as a Deacon, Sunday School Superintendent, and a member of the Board of Directors. He was also on the property and many other committees.
A.R. and Lottie shared a farming heritage. They began growing a large vegetable garden. It seemed that A.R. was first in the neighborhood to get his garden planted. He always grew much more than he and Lottie needed and shared the bounty with family and friends. A.R. kept up this tradition until 2010.
When you visited A.R. and Lottie, you were greeted by 4 or 5 cats and in the late 1990s, by Rocky, a smart, beautiful, and lovable, black and white pit bull. Rocky was a loyal companion and wiggled his way into their hearts. He seemed to always be in their thoughts and when A.R. purchased a truck, it had 4 doors so Rocky could accompany them everywhere. It was a very sad day when Rocky died in 2011. He left a void in their hearts and a home that was much too quiet. Instead of getting another dog, they opened their home to their former outside cats. They kept them entertained with their antics.
A.R. died at 77 on February 21, 2013, at home in Duplin County.
He is buried at Devotional Gardens, Warsaw, NC.
A.R. was preceded in death by his parents Flave and Beulah; sisters Fannie Jean Mercer and Columbia Ann Mercer Kornegay; nephew Ronnie Lee Kornegay; Aunts Pluma Esther Stancil Sullivan and Virginia Penny Stancil Fulghum; Uncle Glenn Warren Stancil; cousin Cecil Warren Stancil.
A.R. always greeted you with a smile and made you feel special. His positive outlook was contagious. A.R. will be remembered for always keeping his door open for family and friends and the desire to lend all a helping hand. A.R. was never one to boast or want recognition for all he did to help others. He quietly lived his faith.
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