Judith 'Judy' Ann Wilson Stancil

Charles "Chuck" Carlton Stancil

Born 1937
Married Judith 'Judy' Ann Wilson Stancil on Oct. 30, 1959

Judith 'Judy' Ann Wilson Stancil

Chuck and Judy Stancil at the 2007 Stancil Reunion

Family photo

Judith ‘Judy’ Ann Wilson Stancil, Samuel Branch, wife of Chuck, mother of Robin, Debbie and Robert, died Sept. 13, 2013, at 69.

Judy developed brain cancer in 2011. Following treatment, she was in remission for a time.

Sadly the cancer returned and she died peacefully surrounded by family and friends in her home in Blairsville, Ga.

Her life was celebrated on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013, in the First United Methodist Church, Blairsville. Friends and Family gathered before her service Rev. Mark Burgess officiated.

Judy is survived by Charles ‘Chuck’ Charleston Stancil, her husband of 55 years, mother Carmlee Harris Wilson; son Robert Edward Stancil, daughters Robin Elaine Stancil Berry, husband Brian and Debbie Prior; brother Jimmy Wilson; grandchildren Peggy Lee Stancil, Connor Justin Berry and Collin Daniel Berry; sister-in-law Betty Matthews Stancil, widow of Jay; brother-in-law Gary Wayne Stancil; nieces Roselyn Stancil Brown, Flora Jean Stancil, Diana Stancil Bailey, Shirley Ann Pipkin, Alice Pipkin Parker, Patricia Jones Hardison, husband Donald, Gayle Jones Ellis, Cynthia Stancil Groff, husband David, Lynn Stancil Woodard, husband Thomas, Leia Stancil Perry ;nephews Jerry Durward Stancil, Steven Arthur Stancil, wife Karen, George Dallas Pipkin Jr., Richard ‘Dickie’ Jones, William Daniel Jones, Ron Stancil, wife Cindy, Michael Ray Davis, wife Terri, Jody Ryan Stancil, wife Courtney, plus many cousins.

Judy was preceded in death by her father Harry Wilson; mother-in-law Gladys Pearl Lamm Stancil; father-in-law Freeman Elbert Stancil; sister-in-laws Thelma Lee Stancil Pipkin, husband George, Eloise Virginia Stancil, Annie Laurie Stancil Jones, husband William Henry, Shirley Ann Stancil, Sheila Stancil Davis, husband Leland; brother-in-law Freeman Durward Stancil, wife Bessie, Josiah Fernandas "Fernie" Stancil, wife Doris, "Jay" James Elbert Stancil.

Judy was born to Carmlee Harris and Harry Wilson, on Oct. 12, 1943, in Ann Arbor, Mich. Carmlee was born in Illinois. She had an older brother, Jimmy Lee. The family had moved to Lake Worth, Palm Beach County, Fla., by 1945. Harry, born in 1919 in Ohio, had three years of college. He owned a transit company.

Judy grew up in West Palm Beach. She was 15 when she met 21 year old Charles ‘Chuck’ Charleston Stancil. Chuck, the son of Gladys and Freeman Elbert Stancil, grew up in Wilson, N.C. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1955 and in 1959 was stationed at Palm Beach Air Force Base.

For Judy and Chuck it was almost love at first sight and they dated as often as possible. On Oct. 30, 1959, they decided to elope. They were secretly married in Danville, Ga., about a 500 miles north, close to Warner-Robin AFB. This was just weeks before Chuck left with the Air Force for the Azores. The Azores are islands owned by Portugal. Judy lived at home, continued school and finally told her parents she and Chuck were married when she was expecting. Robert Edward was born in the summer.

Chuck was in the Air Force from 1955 to 1959. Judy and Chuck stayed in Florida.

Daughter Robin Elaine was born in 1963 in Florida.

Judy liked plants and while in Lake Worth, Florida, she established the Tropical Topics Nursery. They had a weekend house on a canal at Lake Placid, Fla. The man next door touched Judy and each time before they left for home, she left him extra food for the week. This was typical of Judy as she was a generous, giving person who made friends easily.

She gave this up and they moved to Lake Placid, Fla. Judy met a neighbor who didn’t seem to have any family. Judy opened her home and heart to him, making sure he had plenty of food ready to eat. It gave her joy to be a good neighbor.

Judy and Chuck decided to move to Blairsville, Ga. Her welcoming smile attracted many new friends, both on the golf course and in the First United Methodist Church. Judy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002. Her treatment was successful.

She was close to daughter Robin and family. They were active members of the First United Methodist Church in Blairsville, Ga.

Judy loved animals and had two very special dogs, Samantha and Sabrina, her constant companions.

Judy and Chuck attended the 2007 Stancil Reunion.

Judy was diagnosed with brain cancer in October 2011, Judy was diagnosed with brain cancer and underwent successful treatment. Cancer was also in her chest and back.

For her birthday on Oct. 12, 2012, among Robin’s gifts was an iPad II. Robin visited her parents often.

In August 2013, Judy cancer advanced and she was hospitalized in Gainesville, Ga. This was a 1 ½ hour trip. Robin was there. Hospice came.

Judy was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2011. After treatment it appeared to be in remission and Judy was able to resume the activities she love. She enjoyed crocheting and sharing her creations. When the cancer returned, she continued crocheting and making hats dubbed “Heavenly Hats” for practically everyone she encountered during treatment. Each recipient was surprised and thrilled with this special gift. Thinking of others was typical of Judy who was always reaching out, lettings folks know they were in her thoughts.

One of Judy’s wishes was for her and Chuck to renewed their wedding vows. This special ceremony was celebrated with them by close family and friends.

Shortly before her death, son Bob drove up from Florida.

Judy will be remembered for her love of family and friends and for offering a helping hand and cheery smile. Judy instinctively knew the right words to say along with a warm hug. She lifted spirits as she went about living the “Golden Rule.”

Mom's journey

Written by daughter Robin Stancil Berry

It’s with heavy heart that I stand before you today. Not only have I lost my Mom but I lost my Best Friend too!
I feel as though we have grown up together. In a way, we did! My Mom was only 15 & my Dad 21, when they eloped to Georgia from Florida. In their 55 year marriage, there were more memories in a week than some couples will have in a year. Their love for each other was stronger than any two people I know. I thank GOD for giving me all the wonderful memories too.
I’ll never forget the look on my Mama’s face when I came home with the Army Recruiter & said, “Hey, guess what Mom? I enlisted in the Army, oh yeah & I’m going to Airborne School & I’m gonna be assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division! Pretty cool huh! And I don’t have to cut my hair….”
She said, “You’re Gonna do What!!”
That was in 1988. By Aug 8, 1990, I was in the Gulf War. Back home in Florida, my Mom started a ‘Desert Moms’, to support the troops deployed during Operation Desert Shield Desert. This support group got recognition from not only local news channels, but from ABC, CNN, MSNBC, to name a few.
My Mom even wrote the President of the United States of America. Now who’s Mom does that? And you know what, President Bush wrote her back. Even he knew a good person!
I met my future husband soon after I returned from the Gulf. I brought him home to meet my parents. If you knew my Mom-then you knew she was the McGuyer in the kitchen. You could give her a box of crackers, a bag of flour & chicken broth & she could make a (7) course meal out of it. You could give me a (7) course meal already prepared and tell me to put it in the microwave for 3 minutes & I would mess it up. It’s obvious that Brian & I didn’t marry for my cooking skills. My Mom was the Master Hostess!
If you had the pleasure to come to my parent’s home- you were never disappointed with a meal, followed by entertainment downstairs in their gameroom - shooting pool or darts, playing Wii, watching movies or football games on the Big Screen. Her smile could light up the darkest room.
Her laughter always attracted a crowd. She was a woman of many talents. I would watch her cut out a pattern to an outfit, have it stick-pinned together, get up early, sew it together & wear it to work. No, I didn’t learn this skill either. I can barely sew on a button.
One hobby my Mom enjoyed more than anything in the world was crocheting. I can see all the heads nodding out there. I don’t think there’s a person in Blairsville that doesn’t have a hat & scarf combo made by my Mom.
She called her creations ‘Heavenly Hats.' She always wore them to her appointments & would sit there crocheting while getting treatments. Even then she was the center of attention. All the doctors, nurses and assistants that cared for her will stay warm this winter thanks to my Mom. I know she will always have a special place in their hearts too, as she does in all of ours. Oh I forgot to tell you-she taught me how to crochet (2) years ago-Now I can do that!
There are so many great memories I could go on to tell you about my Mom. If you want to know more about what a wonderful woman Mom was, please feel free to come over to my parent’s home. The walls speak for themselves. Or if your are ever in my neck of the woods, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, wear you mucking boots, there’s always lots of farm work. You can meet ‘Judy’s Jewel’, prettiest little filly born on my farm last year, I named after my Mom. She was so proud of that foal & I was so very happy she got to see her.
Poem: by Henry David Thoreau I went to the woods because I wished to love deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life and see if I could not learn what it had to teach and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.
My Mom lived life to the fullest. Thanks to my amazing Dad, who stayed by her side & helped her complete her journey. I Love you Dad.

— Robin Stancil, daughter of Judith

— Renn Stancil Hinton