Gurnie Stancil Crabtree Gurnie Stancil Crabtree was born Oct. 27, 1913, and died on Oct. 26, 2010. She married Jack Crabtree Sr. on Nov. 12, 1938.

Gurnie's children

Charles Myron Crabtree Jr.

Jane Crabtree O'Brien

Guy Wayne Crabtree

Gurnie Stancil Crabtree with children Jane, Guy and Charlie By Georgeanne Schore

Gurnie had dark hair and looked like her ma's folks, the Edwards. Gurnie also had a beautiful singing voice.

Gurnie was only 5 when her mother died on Feb. 8, 1920. Charlie Clark preached her funeral. He was the first preacher at Center Ridge Presbyterian Church.

At the gravesite on Feb. 9, Gurnie saw people crying. Gurnie remembered the kindness of Miss Lizzie Boyette. Gurnie, along with most everyone there was crying. Miss Lizzie, filled with compassion, took a biscuit from her pocketbook. She broke it in half and gave Gurnie and Ruth, each half.

Miss Lizzie was the mother of Cleon, Ethel and Elizabeth. Miss Lizzie was a member of Old Beulah Baptist Church, her children were members of Center Ridge Presbyterian Church.

Gurnie and Ruth moved in with their grandparents, Henry and Frances Stancil. Guy stayed with his pa.

Oscar married Miss Mamie Hocutt on Dec. 26, 1920.

Gurnie loved Mama Mamie and flourished under her love. Mama Mamie returned to teaching at Sandy Spring School. Gurnie was one of her first grade students. The next year Gurnie attended the old wooden Glendale School House, She, Guy and later Ruth rode the Corbet school bus driven by Thurman Boyette.

Mama Mamie taught Gurnie the Bible and what it meant to be a Christian. Mama Mamie encouraged memorization of scriptures. Among the many scriptures Gurnie memorized were the 1st Psalm, 23rd Psalm and 100th Psalm. These comforted Gurnie through the years. Gurnie credits Mama Mamie with providing her with a sound Christian foundation.

Gurnie grew up attending Center Ridge Presbyterian Church in the Glendale Community of Beulah Township, Johnston County, NC. This was the church of her grandpa Henry and grandma Frances. Many of her kin attended here. Gurnie joined when she was 7 years old.

President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first national Mother's Day on May 9, 1914. Gurnie recalled Mother's Day in 1920 at the Center Ridge Presbyterian Church, when she and Ruth were asked to sing "If I could Hear My Mother Pray Again." Aunt Sissie, an affectionate name for Elizabeth, played the organ. Gurnie glanced around at the congregation. She saw Aunt Agnes and Aunt Bessie crying and then it seemed every one was crying. Gurnie and Ruth could not continue. They quietly returned to their seats.

At this time, Oscar was an Elder and Henry was a Ruling Elder. They attended Presbyterian Conventions in 1923, 1924 and 1925.

While attending Glendale School, Gurnie and Ruth singing ability was recognized. They were frequently selected to sing for other classrooms, Gurnie was developing her lovely soprano voice.

Gurnie learned to work at an early age. Digging sweet potatoes from the potato hill was an early job. By the time she was 11, Gurnie was taught by Mama Mamie to milk. "Lil" was the cow Gurnie recalled milking.

Gurnie helped out in the kitchen and learned to sew, crochet by watching and then doing.

Gurnie remembers Aunt Minnie, Josiah's wife needing a snuff brush. Gurnie pulled a twig from a branch and made her a brush. She recalled that most of the time Aunt Minnie wore an apron with a pocket for her snuff box.

At another Mother's Day, younger brother Jim recalled Gurnie and Ruth singing, "M is for Mother."

Gurnie served a flower girl for several neighborhood funerals. She wore a Sunday dress and carried wreaths of flower into and out of the church along with other girls. Gurnie felt honored to be asked. The criteria for being selected, was to be able to take directions and large enough to carry the wreaths.

Oscar and Mamie separated in the summer of 1927. Gurnie and Ruth moved in with their grandparents, Henry and Frances. There was lots of work to do while they lived on the farm.

While Gurnie was still a teenager her ability to nurse was recognized. When there was illness in the neighborhood or a new baby, Gurnie's expert care was sought.

In 1927, Gurnie and Ruth moved to Durham with their grandparents, Henry and Frances and aunts Agnes and Ila. Agnes and Ila worked in a hosiery mill. Gurnie and Ruth attended Edgemont Public School in Durham. Walter, Dillie and their children Esse, Sadie and Tommy were also living there. Later in 1927 Dillie died.

When Gurnie needed a new winter coat, Oscar, who worked as a clerk in a Raleigh's men clothing store, picked her up in Durham and drove her to Raleigh and bought her one. Henry and Frances returned in Johnston County in 1929. Gurnie stayed in Durham and roomed with first cousin Sadie for a time.

Gurnie returned to Johnston County. This was after Agnes and Raymond had returned. Gurnie lived with Agnes and Raymond. Then she moved in with her cousin Leafy who was expecting. Leafy was the daughter of Josiah Stancil and the wife of Levi Edwards. Gurnie helped out when Leafy had her first child, Willard Fernie, on Aug. 29, 1929.

When the 1930 Census was taken on April 9, 1930, Gurnie was living in the household of Albert B. and Viola Barbone of Wilson Mills, Johnston County, He was a farmer. They had three sons Needham 15, Jesse 15 and David 11. They listed Gurnie was an adopted daughter. She was NOT adopted by them or anyone.

Gurnie and Ruth along with the many others attended the funeral of their grandpa Henry Stancil.

Gurnie graduated from Kenly High School in 1933. Immediately after graduating, she began supporting herself by working for families that needed nursing care.

Guy, Gurnie and Ruth were to inherit equally, from their mother's portion of her pa, Monroe Edward's estate. This was to happen when they graduated from high school or reached adulthood. Gurnie was smart and wanted more education; she moved to Raleigh and enrolled and graduated from Harbarger's Business College.

Gurnie returned to Durham in 1935. One day while walking down a street, a photographer snapped her photo and offers to sell it to Gurnie. It was a beautiful photo and Gurnie purchased it for a dollar.

Gurnie was accepted into the new Duke School of Nursing, Class of 1936. Gurnie's favorite professor was Miss Bessie Baker, first Dean of the Nursing School. Gurnie moved into one of the dorms. Later Gurnie and three friends found an apartment. Gurnie was scheduled to graduate in 1938.

Gurnie met the love of her life, "Jack" Charles Myron Crabtree. Jack was a recent graduated of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Jack was the son of Charles "Charlie" Thomas Crabtree, who was born in June of 1893 and Margaret Covington, who was born in 1899. Charlie and Margaret married in 1916. Jack was born on Oct. 6, 1916. Charlie was a carpenter and Margaret was a sales lady in a Dry Goods Store in 1930. They rented a house in Durham. Charlie's father, Eldridge, Charlie's father, was born in August 1864, was living with them.

By the 1920 Census, Charles Thomas Crabtree had married Margaret. He was a farmer living in Alamance County in the town of Melvill. They had one son Moiron (Charles 'Jack' Myron) age 3 years, 2 months. Charlie owned his farm.

Jack's grandparents were Eldridge and Elizabeth Crabtree. Eldridge L. Crabtree married Elizabeth in 1889. Elizabeth was born in November 1869. Elizabeth had four children but two died before 1900. Charlie had an older brother, John N. born in June of 1891. Eldridge and Elizabeth adopted a daughter, Eva Hendrick, who was born in April of 1896. During the 1900 Census, Eldridge was a cotton weaver in Alamance County. His family lived in a rental house.

Eldridge's Uncle Abram (Abraham) Crabtree was living with him. Eldridge was the son of Mary J. Crabtree, Abraham's sister, so Jack's great grandmother was Mary J. Crabtree. Eldridge had an older sister Elizabeth, born in 1862, They were living in The James H. Crabtree household in the 1870 Census. James was 65, his wife Frances was 67, Mary was 37, Abraham was 30, Elizabeth was 8 and Eldridge L. was 6. Eldridge and Elizabeth's father is unknown. James and Abraham were working on the farm. Jack's great grandparents were James and Francis Crabtree.

During the 1860 Census, James H. and Frances ‘Fannie' Crabtree were living in a household, headed by their son Gaston, a farmer. Gaston had a personal estate worth $200. James and Frances' other children, Mary, Abram, Richard, lived with them. Another child, William Jackson, age 9 also lived with them.

In the 1850 Census, James Crabtree (of A) was the head. He could not read or write. His wife Frances could read and write. They sent all their children, Mary, Gaston, Abram and Richard to school. James was a struggling farmer with land worth $62.

Gurnie and Jack were married on Nov. 12, 1938, in the Baptist Church Gurnie had been attending. Several of Jack's family attended along with her sister Ruth, and Sadie, the daughter of Walter, and some of Gurnie's friends from nursing school, Madeline Davis and Ann Osdon were two of them. Gurnie wore a pretty church dress. Jack rented them an apartment from Mrs. Kennedy.

When Duke School of Nursing found out Gurnie had married they refused to allow her to continue her nursing studies. At that time a student could not be in school and married at the same time!

Gurnie began working in doctors' offices and had a career of doing private duty nursing at Watts Hospital, Durham Regional Hospital and Duke Hospital.

In 1939, Jack and Gurnie bought a lot for $250 next to Jack's parents in Durham.

Gurnie nursed at Watts Hospital until her first child, Charles was born on Jan. 27, 1945. Gurnie then worked as a private duty nurse when it fit into her schedule of caring for her children and home.

Jack's father, Charlie Crabtree, built their house. They moved in on Jan. 1, 1940. Gurnie still lives there. Jack's grandpa did all the landscaping. Gurnie said that he should have been a horticulturalist! Flowers or shrubs bloom almost year round. Every year right after Easter, Gurnie enjoys a multitude of beautiful Easter lilies.

Guy returned to Glendale in 1945. There was a wonderful reunion of the Henry Stancil Family.

Gurnie and Jack had three children: Charles Myron Jr. born Jan. 27, 1945, Jane born March 7, 1946, and Guy Wayne born Sept. 4, 1948. They were all born at Watts hospital in Durham.

Gurnie was given her mother's treadle Singer sewing machine. Eventually she traded this treadle sewing machine in for an electric Singer. Gurnie sewed for her family. She made the popular pinafores for Jane. Pinafore were sleeveless garments worn as an overdress. Gurnie has a photo of Jane wearing one. When Gurnie's first grandson, Patrick Todd Crabtree, was born on Jan. 23, 1968, she made him beautiful patchwork overalls with cute appliqués.

Jack ran a trucking company and had a number of 18 wheelers. He had to work long hours when crops were ready to be harvested. Often Gurnie took the children alone to Stancil Reunions. She remembers the older women folks sitting on the front porch at Uncle George's house. The men were gathered beside the well making lemonade. When Gurnie arrived with the children she'd walk towards the porch. Often Aunt Agnes and Aunt Sissie walked down from the porch to greet them. Guy resisted their kisses because he knew they probably had a mouth full of snuff!

Jack's hauling business required him to travel from the south to the north hauling vegetables in refrigerated trucks. Jack spent many nights away from home. Jack took three weeks off each summer and this was a special family time. Sometimes they went to the beach. Gurnie worked diligently to have everything ready to go when Jack returned for this special family trip.

In the summer of 1954, Jane asked her pa, as he was packing to leave for the family trip, "Daddy, don't you get tired of living out of a suitcase?"

Jack replied, "Yes," and explained he lived out of a suitcase to provide for his family.

In 1955, Gurnie, Jack, Charlie, Jane and Guy all joined the Bethany United Methodist Church. Gurnie wanted to wait so the children would understand the meaning of joining a church. The youngest was Guy was 8 years old.

After joining the church Gurnie began singing in the Church choir. Over the years she also taught children's Sunday school classes and later the adults.

Gurnie had always loved music and enjoyed hearing the piano at grandpa's house. Gurnie was so happy when they could afford to purchased a piano. Gurnie taught herself to play. She loved the old time hymns. Gurnie's all time favorite was “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”

Gurnie Stancil Crabtree at the 2008 Stancil Reunion.

Gurnie made many beautiful granny square Afghans and gave most of them away.

The children grew up and married. They maintained a close relationship with Gurnie and Jack, visiting often.

Jack developed heart problems and had his first heart attack while traveling in South Hill, Va. He had to quit driving the 18 wheelers. Jack sold his business and began raising cattle on his grandpa's farm. He enjoyed riding his horse and seeing after the cattle. His final heat attack happened while he was checking on his cattle, June 9, 1975. Jack died instantly. Clements Funeral Home, Durham, NC, handled the arrangements. Jack was buried in Hawfields Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Alamance County, NC on June 11, 1975.

Now Gurnie focused on nursing, this kept her busy.

Gurnie and Ruth visit older brother Guy in Hawaii. After this, Gurnie tried to visit every few years. The last trip Gurnie made to Hawaii was in 1984.

Whenever Gurnie visited Center Ridge Presbyterian Church, she was asked to sing a solo. Gurnie was flattered and the congregation loved hearing her. Gurnie sang in the Bethany United Methodist Church choir for over 50 years. The last solo Gurnie sang was on Palm Sunday. She sang "He Washed My Eyes with Tears."

When Gurnie celebrated her 90th Birthday tapes of her singing were played. She was presented with a plague for 55 years of faithfully being a choir member.

Gurnie last nursing job was as a private duty nurse for three patients, Mr. Walter Lucas, Mr. Elliott Tague and Miss Mittie Harwood, at Durham County Memorial Hospital.

Gurnie, using her walker, accompanied by her caregiver, walked into the ABC Liquor Store near her home. She stated, "I am 95 years old and don't know if I have ever been in a liquor store but I need to buy a fifth of gin!!!!" Gurnie was told that if she ate nine raisins, soaked in gin each day, it would help her arthritis!

In thinking back over her life, Gurnie thinks this song expresses what she believes, "We'll understand better by and by."

 

— Renn Stancil Hinton
 

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