Gregory Hale Stancil |
Joseph Downing Stancil
Joseph Downing Stancil was born July 31, 1924, and died Jan. 27, 2000.
| Greg's child with Mary Katherine Stewart |
| Gregory Hale Stancil Dec. 13, 1949 Smithfield, NC-Jan. 5, 1969 Tam Ky, Quang Nam, Vietnam |
| With Eudoxie Griffin |
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Infant Stancil Sept. 1959-Sept. 1959 Tappahannock, Essex, VA |
|
Jay Archie Stancil |
| Gerry Dale Stancil Stephenson |
| Nettie Grace Stancil |
On a chilly December 13, 1949, in the quaint town of Smithfield, Jeanne gave birth to a baby boy named Gregory Hale Stancil. His arrival was recorded in the Johnston County Birth Records. Gregory's father, Joe Downing Stancil, was 29, and his mother, Mary Jeanne Godwin, was 22, hailing from Pine Level. Jeanne brought her newborn son to her parents' home, where her sister Dolores helped raise him. Greg affectionately called his grandmother "Gogi."
When Greg was just 2 1/2 years old, Joe visited the family store in Selma. They had recent photos of Greg and wanted to show them to Joe, but he refused to look at them.
During Greg's early years, Jeanne would occasionally take him for brief periods, but she was not a responsible mother. Jeanne's parents and sister tried to monitor his time with her. When Greg was 4, Dolores found him eating dog food. Despite these challenges, Greg thrived under the care of his grandparents. He joined the First Baptist Church of Pine Level, participated in the Boy Scouts, and played Little League baseball. Greg began his education at Pine Level and later attended North Johnston High School. Like many boys, he went through a chubby phase and had long blond hair. When the principal required him to cut it, he opted for a mohawk!
Dolores married when Greg was a teenager, and these were challenging years for Gogi, who needed help. Jeanne's only contribution was to take Greg with her to Virginia. Greg enrolled at Wedgefield High School, but he struggled to adjust to a new state, new school, and living with his mother. All he ever wanted was the unconditional love of a mother and father, which forever eluded him.
Greg recognized his alcoholism as a teenager and joined a support group to combat his addiction, becoming the youngest member. Tall and handsome with Joe's coloring, Greg wore a size 14 shoe. He met Mary Katherine Stewart at school, and she swept him off his feet. They married in the summer of 1967 when Greg was only 16, and neither returned to school. Greg wanted to join the Marines but had to wait until he was 17 and needed his mother's signature. Jeanne did not hesitate to sign.
Greg joined the Marines in May 1967 and completed training at Parris Island, graduating in the top 10 of his class. He was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, close to his grandmother and Aunt Dolores. Shortly before being sent to California, Greg and Mary Katherine welcomed a son, Robin Dale Stancil. Greg proudly brought his family to Selma for a visit and had a chance to see his childhood friend, Junior Capps. During their conversation, Greg confided, "Junior, I won't be coming back." Junior argued with him and prayed he would be wrong.
Greg was sent to Camp Pendleton, California, and then to Vietnam on February 29, 1968. He excelled in the Marines and was promoted to Lance Corporal. After over 10 months in Vietnam, Greg and his men were sent to sweep for land mines for two straight days. When they returned, they were ordered to go back out without rest. Greg refused, knowing his men needed sleep. He was stripped of his rank and sent back out. Tragically, on January 5, 1969, 19-year-old Greg was killed in action in Vietnam. He was injured by a sniper shot in the head in Quang Nam and died several hours later.
Greg's body was returned to North Carolina, and the glass-covered coffin was placed in the church for viewing. When Mary Katherine saw the body, she screamed and almost fainted. Dolores looked down at her nephew through the glass and wondered if it was really Greg. She spoke to the color guard privately and asked them to remove the glass and roll up his right sleeve. When they did, she saw the horseshoe-shaped scar from his childhood and knew it was her beloved Greg.
Greg's funeral was held at the Baptist Church in Pine Level on January 15, 1969, with an overflowing congregation of mourners. He was buried in the Oliver-Godwin Cemetery near Pine Level.
Jeanne returned to Virginia, and Mary Katherine raised Robin but never took him to visit the family in Selma. Robin grew up and called Jeanne once. Jeanne eventually returned to Goldsboro and married Willie Pate. She never lost her love for alcohol and cigarettes and died in the Goldsboro Hospital in 2004 while recovering from a heart attack.
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