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| Elmer's child with Dolly Vella Godwin |
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| Michael Allen Godwin |
Courtesy Stancil Reunion Archive |
The lives of Elmer Leon Godwin and Dolly Vella Godwin represent a poignant and enduring love story forged amidst the chaos of World War II, growing into a cherished partnership that spanned over five decades. Their journey took them from war-torn France to a settled life in Wilson, North Carolina, marked by hard work, family dedication, and a deep, unconventional bond.
Elmer Leon Godwin was born on March 11, 1924, in Johnston County, North Carolina. He grew up on a farm, accustomed to hard work, including milking the family cow until they began purchasing milk in 1936. Elmer was said to resemble his father. He left school to continue working on the farm until he joined the U.S. Army on May 25, 1944, during World War II, reporting to Fort Bragg for basic training before being sent to France.
Dolly Jacqueline Vella was born on March 27, 1926, at home in Louviers, France. She was the daughter of Carmel Vella, who hailed from England and had met Dolly's mother, Simone Lestarf, a native of France, while he was serving in the Navy after World War I. Carmel and Simone married in France. Dolly grew up attending weekly neighborhood dances with her parents, who were described as great dancers. She had a younger sister, Nicole (born 1933), and a brother, Jack (born 1928). Dolly experienced the harsh realities of her country's occupation during World War II.
Near the end of the war, Elmer and Dolly's paths serendipitously crossed in France. At a community dance, Elmer was introduced to Dolly by a friend who was dating a French girl. Dolly, surprisingly, understood a good deal of English. During their conversation, a French policeman asked Dolly to dance, and she obliged, much to Elmer's initial confusion and unhappiness. He didn't realize that in French culture, a request from a policeman was akin to a command. Elmer, himself, admitted he didn't enjoy dancing—a fact Dolly later discovered.
Their first date involved a dance, followed by Elmer's jeep breaking down. Dolly offered him tea while her father, Carmel—a man who worked in a foundry but was truly a 'jack of all trades'—repaired the jeep. They dated for three or four months, and Dolly's parents quickly took a liking to Elmer.
With the war still raging, Elmer expected to be sent to Japan. However, after the Japanese surrendered on September 2, 1945, he remained in France, allowing their relationship to deepen. Elmer proposed, and Dolly accepted.
Their first marriage took place on May 25, 1946, in a courthouse ceremony performed by a magistrate, as a Catholic service was not possible due to their differing faiths. Dolly wore one of her two colorful cotton dresses, which had been made for her by a Spanish refugee during the war.
Just two weeks later, on April 25, 1946, they were married a second time by an Army Chaplain. This was a spur-of-the-moment ceremony. The circumstances were extraordinary: Elmer was transporting an SS soldier suffering from TB to the base hospital in his jeep, with Dolly riding along. Despite the danger and lack of precautions against TB, Elmer happened to see the Chaplain and asked him to marry them then and there. This second ceremony, documented by the Chaplain, proved crucially important decades later when Dolly applied for Social Security benefits and needed to formally prove her marriage.
Elmer returned to the United States with his regiment, receiving his honorable discharge on June 25, 1946. Meanwhile, arrangements were made for Dolly to join him. Her grandfather, Lestarf, a friend of Félix Gouin (Chairman of the Provisional Government of the French Republic), was instrumental in arranging Dolly's passage on a U.S. Army boat. After a two-week, often seasick voyage that included detours to avoid mines and stops for ship repairs, Dolly arrived in New York. She missed Elmer deeply but found herself missing her family in France during the journey.
A wire Dolly sent to Elmer (who was living with his parents) announcing her arrival was never delivered. The Red Cross ultimately placed her on a train bound for Wilson, North Carolina.
Dolly's initial adjustment to life in the U.S. was challenging. For a few months, she and Elmer lived with his parents, Bessie and Marvin, on their farm in Wilson County. Bessie had not anticipated Elmer marrying a foreigner, and Dolly, speaking very little English at the time, found the cultural and linguistic barriers difficult. Despite working hard to gain acceptance, she always felt it was a challenge she never fully met. Among Elmer's family, Nona, Cleon's wife, was the easiest for Dolly to communicate with.
On August 25, 1947, their son, Michael Allen Godwin, was born at Woodard Herring Hospital in Wilson.
Dolly and Elmer rented a room from another couple in Wilson while saving money. They eventually moved into their first home on Selma Street, near Five Points in Wilson. Dolly immersed herself in learning English by listening to the radio, teaching herself to read and write the language.
Though Elmer was raised in Center Ridge Presbyterian Church in Johnston County's Glendale community, and Dolly was Catholic, they reached a compromise. They found a spiritual home together at the First Free Will Baptist Church, which became their cherished home church.
Elmer began working in a plumbing shop, where he was trained and remained for 25 years. He later worked for a heating company, providing heat for tobacco farmers' barns, a role that required him to be on call 24/7 during tobacco season.
Elmer's first car, a used one purchased from his brother Cleon, was sold so he could send money to France for Dolly's father, Carmel, to come to the United States. Once in Wilson, Carmel secured a job at the Dr. Pepper Plant, saving diligently. Within about a year (around 1950), Carmel was able to bring his entire family—his wife Simone, and children Jack and Nicole—to the U.S. During his initial year staying with Elmer and Dolly, Carmel saved all his money, with Elmer and Dolly even covering his cigarette expenses. Simone, Jack, and Nicole adapted quickly to their new life. Nicole married a Marine in Wilson and settled in Maryland, while Jack married in Canada.
In 1965, after purchasing 35 acres in Wilson County, Elmer and Dolly were finally able to build their own home on Princess Ann in Wilson. Elmer personally handled all the heating, air conditioning, and plumbing installations. Their home featured a large, shady yard with many azaleas and a substantial garden. After Elmer's death, Dolly reduced her gardening efforts, contending with deer for her green beans but noting they left her Roma tomatoes alone.
Dolly's first job in the USA was in a shirt factory. She later began working for Bissette Drug Store, where she managed the lunch counter. When Bissette's was sold to Eckerd's and then Rite Aid, Dolly remained a valued employee, working for Bissette's for over 40 years and Eckerd's for 10 years, before retiring at 82 years of age after a knee replacement in the summer of 2008. In her retirement, Dolly maintained an active lifestyle, walking three miles per day with friends and riding a stationary bike, and continued with gardening and yard work, hiring help only for mowing.
Elmer and Dolly inherited Dolly's father's cat, "Woosa," a beautiful gray and white long-haired cat. Woosa lived a long, healthy life. Elmer spoiled the cat, insisting Dolly often serve her fresh cooked chicken. Dolly continued cooking for Woosa even after Elmer passed away. Woosa, who slept in the garage and was never allowed in the house, lived to be 19 years old.
The couple enjoyed mini-vacations, particularly favoring the mountains around Boone, NC, and the ocean at Carolina Beach.
Elmer underwent heart bypass surgery in 1980 and made a full recovery. However, shortly before his fatal aneurysm, his medication was changed, a factor Dolly always felt contributed to his death. Elmer Leon Godwin passed away at the age of 83 on February 9, 1998, in Wilson, North Carolina. He was buried in Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Wilson.
Dolly Vella Godwin, who had truly come to embrace her adopted country, passed away at the age of 94 on March 6, 2021, in Wilmington, North Carolina. She was laid to rest beside Elmer in Evergreen Memorial Park in Wilson.
Elmer and Dolly's lives together exemplify a journey of love, resilience in the face of wartime challenges, and the building of a vibrant family legacy from two very different worlds.
WILSON - Elmer Leon Godwin , 83, died Monday, February 9, 1998. Funeral 11 a.m. Thursday at Joyner's Funeral Home, 4100 US 264 W. Rev. Wayne King, officiating. Buri- al, Evergreen Memorial Gardens. Survivors: wife, Dolly Godwin; son and daughter-in-law, Michael Allen and Nila Godwin of Snow Camp, NC; sisters, Emma Lee Cayton of Wilson, Esther Narron of Indian Trail; brothers, Billy Godwin of Wendell. Visitation 7-9 p.m. Wednesday at Joyner's Funeral Home; and other times the family will be at 4100 Princess Anne Circle.
— Renn Stancil Hinton, daughter of George Ralph Stancil