Harold Stancil |
Harold Stancil
Harold Stancil was born June 25, 1925, and died March 24, 2011. He married Loretta Jean Muse on March 3, 1956. He married Ann Elizabeth Crenshaw Turner on Aug. 29, 1992.
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Harold's children |
| “Chris” Harold Stancil II |
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Fred Waverly Stancil March 24, 1961 Marietta, GA-April 18, 1961 Marietta, GA |
| Russell Alan Stancil |
| Allison Kay Stancil Bass |
Harold Stancil, Josiah Branch, the youngest son of Leumos and Sarah Ethel Harris Stancil, was born June 25, 1925, in a large rented two-story house in Nashville, North Carolina.
Dessie Stancil, wife of Leumos' first cousin, Thomas Emmette Stancil Sr. (George Branch), helped with the delivery. Emmette, Dessie and Thomas "Junior" Emmette Stancil Jr., were boarders. Leumos sold Rawleigh Products, a line of home remedies door-to-door.
Harold looked like his father with fair skin and blue eyes. Grandma Minnie said that he reminded her of her mama’s folks, the Creeches.
Harold and younger sister Maxine were only 16 months apart. Maxine remembers Harold's taking her by the hand, calling her "Backbean," as he could not say Maxine. Their mother told them they had their own unique language.
In 1927, grandpa Harris had a stroke. Ethel took Paul, Harold, and Maxine by train to her home in Delrio, Tennessee. They stayed for several months.
When Harold was 4 years old, Leumos got a job working at the Wilson County Stockade that housed prisoners. During this time workers took their children to work with them. One black convict, "5 Spot," shackled with a ball and chain, is credited with helping save Harold’s life. Harold was riding in the truck cab with "5 Spot" while Leumos scraped the road. Harold was overcome with carbon monoxide from exhaust entering the cab from the holes in the floor board. Older brother Jimmy realized there was a problem when he could not arouse Harold. “5 Spot” stopped the truck, picked up the ball, and ran for water while Leumos started CPR. The water helped rouse Harold and endeared "5 Spot" to Leumos.
Health concerns prompted the family to move to the mountain air of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Ethel and her five children -- Jimmy, Paul, Harold, Maxine, and Billie Jean rode the train from Wilson, N.C.
The family settled down in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Harold and older brother Paul often spent the summers with Grandma Minnie and Grandpa Josiah on the farm near Raines Crossroads, Johnston County, N.C. They were city boys with little understanding of country ways. Harold recalled tossing biddies (baby chicks) into the air, expecting them to fly. Many died. Harold told Grandma Minnie that he found a dead biddie. She told him to toss it on the barn roof so it wouldn’t smell.
Another time Harold found a stick of dynamite. Thinking it was a big firecracker, he started to light it. Grandpa Josiah stopped him. Fortunately there was no blasting cap.
Harold and Paul spent the summer of 1935 with Grandma Minnie and Grandpa Josiah. Grandpa Josiah took them along with Minnie, Aunt Mozelle, cousins Euris and Barbara to White Lake, North Carolina. The children rode in a trailer behind his Chevrolet. Harold and Paul got sunburned, and blisters formed before they even got home. Once home Grandma Minnie used an old fashioned remedy, birch balm, on the blisters. This was supposed to be a cooling, healing skin ointment, but for Harold it only intensified the pain. Harold recalled rolling around in the dirt trying to remove the birch balm, to no avail.
Grandpa Josiah had a Chinaberry tree with beautiful pinkish lavender blossoms in the spring. He cautioned the grandkids not to climb the Chinaberry tree as the limbs were brittle and would break. It was also poisonous; as few as six berries could cause death.
Josiah’s words didn’t slow Harold any. Harold climbed it knowing better. Josiah whipped Harold everywhere he could until Harold crawled under the house to escape!
During tobacco barning, the small kids, ages 3 to 8, were staying at Leafy's house. Ten year old Harold was supposed to be in the tobacco field, but he came in and crawled under Leafy's house and scared the kids by banging on the floor with a stick. Leafy caught Harold and spanked him. Ethel was very upset and quickly told Leafy that the only ones that could spank her kids were Grandpa Joe and Grandma Minnie.
Harold would call the hogs because he liked to see them run. Grandpa Josiah said, "Son, you’re going to run the fat off my hogs if you keep calling them like that."
Paul chased Harold through ashes from the tobacco furnace. No one knew the ashes were there. The kids seldom wore shoes. Grandma Minnie had Paul go gather fresh cow manure for Harold to put his feet in because the manure would take the heat out of his feet. Amazingly it worked. Minnie also used fresh manure whenever the kids caught ground itch.
When Harold grew large enough to carry a golf bag, he worked as a caddy at the golf course. The tips were good and provided spending money. This influenced him as an adult. As soon as he could, he joined a country club and became a very good golfer.
Grandpa Josiah died on July 5, 1939, at age 73. Leumos took Harold and Maxine to Josiah's funeral held at his home in Johnston County, NC.
When Harold was in Junior High, a fire destroyed his school. It was winter time. He and Maxine had to walk 2 ½ miles each way to a new school. Clothing was sparse, they were cold, and there was no money for a city bus or trolley. Harold went on to Chattanooga High School. At the end of 10th grade, he quit school. By this time Jimmy and Paul had joined the Merchant Marines and school was not as exciting as the tales they told.
In September 1943, Harold decided to join the U.S. Coast Guard. He served aboard the USS George Wythe, a liberty ship that took part in the D-Day landings on 6th June 1944. Harold invited his mother and Maxine to eat dinner on the ship, then took them on a tour of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland. Harold knew times were hard and sent money home. In 1948, niece Anne recalled traveling by train with her grandma Ethel to visit Harold in New Orleans. They ate on board the ship; Harold was the cook and had made the mashed potatoes! He took them shopping and bought Anne a BIG stuffed dog. Anne remembered that Harold sent his mother a pair of dolls from every port he visited. Ethel joined the Chattanooga Doll Club. She had over 200 dolls.
After Harold’s discharge in August 1953, he was drafted into the U.S. Army as private first class. He worked his way up to Corporal. Harold was discharged from the Army in 1955. He received his GED while in the Army. The Army promised Harold they would make him Mess Sergeant if he would re-enlist, but Harold had enough of the military life.
Harold was an active member of American Legion Post 160 throughout his life.
Harold met Loretta Jean Muse, his first wife, at a Knights of Columbus Dance in Chattanooga. After a short courtship, they were married on March 3, 1956, by a Baptist preacher in the home of his sister, Billie Jean Stancil Rowles, Decatur, Georgia. Harold and Loretta had five children; Harold Stancil II, Fred Waverly Stancil, Russell Alan Stancil, Allison Kay Stancil and David Tyler Stancil.
Harold began his 35-year career working for Sears and Roebuck, repairing appliances. 1975 was a difficult year. He required back surgery and his 19 year marriage ended. Harold focused on his children as he set about raising them alone.
Harold's son Russell shared this "Bees Run" story. "We were taking one of many adventurous walks thru the woods when we were children and my Pop, he always carried a stick to poke around at stuff, and we were in a culvert. There was some kind of paper substance in a little hole, so he poked at it with his stick. It was a hornets' nest, and he yelled, 'Bees Run.' At that moment I threw David up and out of the culvert, and we ran, but poor old Allison could not seem to get out of the way of the bees and got tore up! We often relive that story. Later, Allison drew Pop a picture with her and the bees on it, and the bees were saying, 'Get Allison!' We have often laughed at that story, but not Allison."
Harold found happiness again when he met Georgia native, Ann Elizabeth Crenshaw Turner. They were married in Blessed Hope Baptist Church, Marietta, Georgia, on Aug. 29, 1992. Harold and Elizabeth were active members of Life’s Hope Baptist Church.
Harold was always popular with the children. This was never more evident than at the 2001 Stancil Reunion when 1½ year old Kassi Hartley of the Henry Branch went right to him.
Harold was thoughtful and appreciated the little things in life. Following a meal with a relative, he would dash off a personal thank you letter. Harold loved reconnecting with family at reunions and attended many. The last Stancil Reunion Harold and Elizabeth attended was in 2006.
Harold and Elizabeth loved spending time in the Smokey Mountains near Dollywood. They also went on a number of Caribbean cruises. They arranged to leave from Fort Lauderdale and spent several days with Maxine and Jim.
Harold and Elizabeth began hosting an annual Labor Day gathering for their blended family. Through the years a special closeness developed.
In 2005 Harold accompanied Paul, Jimmy, and Maxine's son Tim on a visit to Maxine and Jim’s in Fort Lauderdale. They enjoyed catching up, remembering, joking, and laughing.
Harold and Elizabeth participated in the Marietta Senior Games in 2007. He won a gold medal in bowling with a score of 479. Harold kept himself physically fit.
Harold and Elizabeth stood together through the challenges of heart problems and broken bones. They shared an optimism that welcomed people into their lives.
Harold had a wonderful and memorable Christmas with all his family except for “Chris,” who lives in California. After the holidays, Harold’s congestive heart became worse. Eventually he was on oxygen, and Hospice came to his Marietta, Georgia, home.
Harold died peacefully sitting in his favorite recliner, with Elizabeth by his side, on the evening of March 24, 2011. He is buried in the Marietta National Cemetery in Marietta, Ga.
Harold was preceded in death by son Fred Waverly Stancil, sister Billie Jean Stancil Rowles and husband William Thomas; brother James "Jimmy" Harding Stancil and wife Edna Florine; sister-in-law Winifred Stopford Stancil, niece Gayle Lee Rowles McKane, nephew Phillip Anthony Stancil.
Harold will be remembered for his warm smile, twinkle in his eye, love, and devotion.
Niece Anne shared, "We will all miss Uncle Harold. I can only say that his death is a great loss to all who knew and loved him."
Russell said, "I have lost my best friend, and there is an empty hole now."
"I will never forget everything he's done for me. He was truly a special part of my life and a part of many cherished memories that I will always hold close to my heart," said granddaughter Miranda.
Harold's final words were to this beloved wife, Elizabeth, "I love you Babe."
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