John Millard Stancil | Dec. 1, 1902-Sept. 4, 1988/title> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media='print' href="print.css" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="balloontip.css" /> <style type="text/css"> body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 20px; background-color: #f4f4f4; } .container { max-width: 800px; margin: auto; background: #fff; padding: 20px; border-radius: 8px; box-shadow: 0 0 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); } h1 { text-align: center; color: #333; } p { margin-bottom: 20px; } .image-container { float: right; margin-left: 20px; } .footer { text-align: center; margin-top: 20px; font-size: 11pt; } .footer a { color: #333; text-decoration: none; } .footer a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } </style> <script type="text/javascript" src="autoBreadcrumbs.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="balloontip.js"> /*********************************************** * Rich HTML Balloon Tooltip- © Dynamic Drive DHTML code library (www.dynamicdrive.com) * This notice MUST stay intact for legal use * Visit Dynamic Drive at http://www.dynamicdrive.com/ for full source code ***********************************************/ </script> </head> <body leftmargin="125" rightmargin="125"> <script type="text/javascript">  </script> <p align="center"> <a href="millardstancil.html" rel="balloon1"> <img border="0" src="bannermillard.jpg" width="100%"></a><br> <div id="balloon1" class="balloonstyle"> <img border=0 width=50 height=153 src=millardstancil100.jpg><span style='font-size:9.0pt>John Millard Stancil <ul> <li> Born Dec. 1, 1902 Johnston County, NC <li>Died Sept. 4, 1988 <li> Married Iva Knight in 1924 <li> Married Helen Roberta Hardee in 1934 <li> Married Ruth Register in 1948 <li> Married Pearl Elizabeth Jordan Wells in 1950 <li> Married Lillian Maysil O'Neal Cradle in December 1969 </ul> </div> <font face="Arial" style="font-size: 15pt"> <table align=left hspace=25px cellpadding=15 border=0 cellspacing=0 width="20%"><tr><td> <div class=articlePhoto><img border="0" src="millardstancil100.jpg" width="100%"> <div class=aLPhotoCreditViewIn><b> <span style="font-size: 11pt">John Millard Stancil in the 1960s</span></b></div> <div class=aLPhotoCaptionViewIn><font size="2">John Millard Stancil was born Dec. 1, 1902, and died Sept. 4, 1988. </font> </div> </div> </td> </tr> <td height="32" valign="top"> <strong>Millard's children with Iva Knight </strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <strong><a href="joseph_downing_stancil.html">Joseph Downing Stancil</a></strong><br> July 31, 1924-Jan. 27, 2000 in Wilson, NC </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <b>Gordon Stancil</b><br> Jan. 27, 1927-March 17, 1928 </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <b>With Helen Roberta Hardee</b> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <b>Dwight Cullon Stancil</b><br> Nov. 21, 1937-Dec. 24, 1937 </td> </tr> </table> <p>John Millard Stancil, the fourth child born to <a href="johnarcher.html">John Archer</a> and Pinettie Stancil, was born on Dec. 1, 1902, in Johnston County, N.C. <p>He appeared in the <a href="1902reunionphoto.jpg">First Reunion photo</a> in 1902 as a young child.</p> <p>Millard was a good athlete. He played baseball for Glendale High School in Johnston County, but dropped out before graduating. </p> <p>Once, Kermit and Millard rode their mules to Harvey's farm for a visit, which was a long trip in those days.</p> <h2>Marriage and Family</h2> <p>Millard loved women, especially beautiful women. Iva Knight was one of these. </p> <p>Iva's parents were Octavia Downing and James Knight. They married on Oct. 22, 1905, in Wayne County. Iva was born around 1907. Her mother Octavia died on July 4, 1915. James remarried twice after Octavia’s death, to Lily Carr and to Carrie Williams. Octavia was an only child. Iva had two brothers, James M. Knight and Alden Knight. They were all raised by Granny Downing when their father remarried.</p> <h2>Marriage and Divorce</h2> <p>Millard fell hard for Iva. She had blond hair and blue eyes with a porcelain complexion. Iva could have passed for a blond Ava Gardner. Millard was working in Penders' Grocery Store in Fremont when Iva walked in with her Grandma Perneicy Downing.</p> <p>The courtship was short and intense. Iva and Millard married in South Carolina in early 1924 and moved in with her grandma. While there, a son, Joseph Downing Stancil, was born on July 31, 1924. He was named for his grandpa, Joseph Downing. </p> <p>Millard and Iva were not getting along, and Iva abruptly left Millard. They divorced in 1927.</p> <h2>Raising J.D.</h2> <p>Millard hastily returned to his parent’s farm in Johnston County with J.D., who was about 3. John and Pinettie stepped in and began raising J.D. Millard began farming for his father.</p> <h2>Separation from Iva</h2> <p>Millard was hurt and decided not to allow Iva to have any more contact with J.D. He cut her photo out of family pictures. When she tried to visit her son, her visits were rebuffed. She left gifts, but they were thrown away. J.D. grew up feeling rejected by his mother. He never saw his mother again and was even forbidden to ever talk about her.</p> <h2>J.D.'s Childhood</h2> <p>Joe had blond hair and blue eyes just like his mother. Even as a young lad, his good looks attracted attention. Joe was a charming child and was overindulged by his grandmother and aunts, especially Aunt Alice. This was the beginning of a troubled life for Joe. Some cousins said they thought Joe delighted in tormenting people. One thing for sure, Joe seldom heard, "No."</p> <h2>Carletta's Role</h2> <p>Carletta, eight years older than J.D., became responsible for his nightly bath and for dressing him. He turned 6 by the fall of 1930 and began school. Carletta drove the school bus to school beginning in the fall of 1932, and J.D. rode with her. He was in 3rd grade.</p> <h2>Millard's Career Moves</h2> <p>Millard decided to return to Penders' Grocery around 1933. He was transferred to their Weldon, NC store. He moved with J.D., but the move was short-lived.</p> <h2>Return to the Farm</h2> <p>Millard returned to his Micro Farm out in the country around 1934. At 9 years old, J.D. moved back in with Pinettie and his Uncle Kermit.</p> <h2>New Beginnings</h2> <p>Millard began living the life of an available man. He met a blond Glendale teacher, Helen Roberta Hardee, 24, from Princeton. After a short courtship, they married on Nov. 28, 1934. They began attending Micro Methodist Church. Millard went to work for the tobacco market in Wilson.</p> <h2>Kermit's Marriage</h2> <p>Kermit began dating Lucille Jackson. They married on Dec. 19. Kermit and Lucille wanted time alone. Pinettie felt like she and J.D. were in the way. They moved onto Millard’s farm. Helen and Pinettie had a good relationship.</p> <h2>Birth of Dwight</h2> <p>Helen became pregnant. Pinettie was happy she was going to have another grandchild. Helen and Millard excitedly anticipated the birth of their child. Dwight Cullon Stancil was born on Nov. 21, 1937.</p> <h2>Tragedy Strikes</h2> <p>Dwight was born with a rare birth disorder. His intestines had grown together. Surgery was performed right before Christmas. He died and was buried on Christmas Day, 1937. Henry Sawyer picked up the child's body from the hospital for burial in the Smithfield Cemetery. Millard took Helen to the graveside service.</p> <h2>Helen's Struggle</h2> <p>Helen had a difficult time coping with the death of Dwight. She was overcome with grief and had a complete mental breakdown. The doctor recommended hospitalization. Helen stayed in a hospital for many years. Pinettie visited her when she could.</p> <h2>Divorce and Moving On</h2> <p>Millard made a difficult decision. He obtained a divorce while Helen was recovering. Millard, Pinettie, and J.D. moved from the farm into a house near the railroad tracks in Micro. Millard rented out his farm.</p> <h2>New Marriage</h2> <p>Millard moved on with his life. He met and wooed Ruth Register from Thomasville, Ga. He must have told her his name was Johnny because when they applied for their marriage license at the Johnston County Court House, he gave his name as Johnnie Millard Stancil. They married on Oct. 15, 1948. Millard was 46 years old, and Ruth was 44. Rev. George B. Saunders married them. Witnesses were Mrs. Eva Hinnant, M. Hinnant, and Millard’s son, Joseph Downing Stancil. Ruth was a teacher, and the family liked her very much. Once again, Millard's happiness did not last. Millard and Ruth divorced.</p> <h2>Later Years</h2> <p>Millard sold his Micro home and kept his farm. He and Pinettie moved to Wilson. This was closer to his work at the warehouse. Pinettie died of skin cancer on Nov. 2, 1956.</p> <h2>Millard's Marriage to Pearl Jordan Wells</h2> <p>Millard met Pearl Jordan Wells, the daughter of Curtis Jordan and Mary Williford. Before long, they married. Millard was happy at last, and the grandchildren loved Granny Pearl. Pinettie and Pearl liked each other. Pearl became very sick and required a full-time caregiver. Millard was glad to find Lillian Cradle. Unfortunately, Pearl's health continued to decline even with Lillian’s care. Pearl died of a brain tumor in 1969. The grandchildren were heartbroken as they adjusted to Granny Pearl’s death.</p> <h2>Marriage to Lillian O'Neal Cradle</h2> <p>Millard's last wife was Lillian O'Neal Cradle, the caregiver he hired to look after Pearl. Millard and Lillian married around 1969.</p> <h2>Millard's Marriages</h2> <p>John Millard married five times. One sister said this about Millard, "He never could stand to be by himself." His frequent marriages seem to bear this out.</p> <h2>Millard's Personality</h2> <p>Millard was well-liked by his nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was friendly, pleasant, fun to be around, and had a good personality.</p> <h2>Career in the Tobacco Industry</h2> <p>Millard had a bad year on the farm. There was no security in farming. Millard thought about being a timber buyer but decided to work in the Tobacco Industry. He worked for the Big Dixie Warehouse in Wilson and traveled the tobacco circuit. He earned very good money.</p> <h2>Vacation Home</h2> <p>Millard bought a vacation home on Little River in New Bern, NC. His grandchildren, Jay, Gerry, and Nettie, loved visiting. Millard was an avid Canasta player and taught all his grandchildren to play, as well as his great-niece Marty Sellers.</p> <h2>Health Issues</h2> <p>Millard had a stroke in the mid-1960s and retired. It was difficult for him to cope with being partially disabled, and at times he was depressed. Millard developed lung cancer in his 80s. He had started smoking at an early age and continued smoking until his death in 1988 at 86 years old.</p> <h2>Executor of Alice's Estate</h2> <p>Alice selected Millard to look after her affairs and be the executor of her estate. She died in a nursing home.</p> <h2>Final Reunion</h2> <p>The last Stancil Reunion that Millard and Lillian attended was in 1987, a year before his death.</p> <h2>Millard's Passing</h2> <p>Millard died on Labor Day Weekend in 1988. His service was held at Singleton Funeral Home in Wilson. He was buried in Maplewood Cemetery in Wilson, North Carolina.</p> <p align="right">— <i><a href="mailto:rennhinton@stancilreunion.com?subject=Millard">Renn Stancil Hinton</a></i></span></p> <div style="text-align:center"> <span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:'Times New Roman'"> <hr size="2" width="100%" align="center"> </span> </div> <table width="100%"> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:0;mso-yfti-firstrow:yes;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes;height:23.25pt"> <td width="4" valign="top" style="width:3.0pt;background:white;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:23.25pt"></td> <td width="1061" style="width:795.75pt;background:#B3C0CA;padding:.75pt .75pt 3.75pt .75pt;height:23.25pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:'Times New Roman'"> <a href="http://www.stancilreunion.com">www.stancilreunion.com</a> <span class="footer"><span style="font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif">© 2024</span></span><br> <span class="footer"><span style="font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif"><a href="aboutus.html">About Us</a> | </span></span> <a href="mailto:rennhinton@stancilreunion.com?subject=stancilreunion">Contact Us</a> <span class="footer"> | Modified Oct. 8, 2024</span></span> </span> </td> </tr> </table> </body> </html>