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| Leafy's child with Levie John Edwards |
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| Willard Fernie "Bill" Edwards Aug. 25, 1929 NC-Sep. 21, 1998 Pinkney, NC; Buried in Kenly, NC |
Courtesy Stancil Reunion Archive |
Courtesy Stancil Reunion Archive |
Leafy Irene Stancil was born on December 11, 1909, the eighth child of Josiah and Minnie Sasser Stancil.
Growing up on a farm, Leafy's duties, unlike those of her brothers and hired hands, did not include field work. Instead, she and her younger sister Mozelle assisted their mother, Minnie, with housekeeping. Under Minnie's guidance, Leafy quickly became skilled in tatting, crocheting, quilting, and sewing, developing a lifelong love for handwork. Leafy attended school in Kenly through the seventh grade, where recitations were an important part of the curriculum. She delivered a particularly memorable recitation about a girl who stole money to feed her siblings. However, her interest in formal schooling waned, and she eventually left.
Leafy's future husband, Levi John Edwards, was the son of Charlie E. Edwards and Ellen Balance. Levi's father, Charlie, born May 18, 1874, was the son of Jack Edwards and Jane Parnell, who had moved to Johnston County in 1904. Jane, born in 1855, was the daughter of Jerry Parnell and Martha Ponnell and passed away on August 18, 1937. Levi's mother, Ellen, born October 3, 1876, was the daughter of John Balance and Pinette Holland. Charlie and Ellen married on December 10, 1899, in Johnston County. Charlie's first job was as a railroad laborer, but by 1910, he had purchased a farm in East Beulah. Ellen passed away on December 15, 1952, and was buried in the Boyette Cemetery. Charlie died on March 30, 1963, and was buried in the Balance Cemetery. Josiah, Leafy's father, initially disapproved of Levi due to his family's modest financial standing.
On September 29, 1928, Leafy, at 18, married Levi Edwards, then 24, in Johnston County. The ceremony was officiated by Rev. James Daniel, with Randolph Langly, Nancy Daniel, and Isabell Daniel serving as witnesses.
They began their married life farming for Levi's father. This marked a significant change for Leafy, who, despite being raised to focus on housework, now found herself working side-by-side with Levi in the fields to earn a living. She proved to be a capable farmhand, much to the chagrin of her father, who was unaccustomed to seeing his daughter "sweating in the fields."
Courtesy Stancil Reunion Archive |
Leafy and Levi welcomed their son, Willard Fernie "Bill" Edwards, on August 25, 1929. Tragically, Leafy experienced the profound loss of two more children: a son born on July 22, 1934, and a daughter born on May 16, 1935.
To assist with farm labor, Levi hired Mr. Connie Morris, who worked for room and board. Leafy, with her clever wit, once cautioned Mr. Connie about leaving his false teeth on the rafters, suggesting a rat might take them. When he dismissed her warning, Leafy secretly hid his teeth under a chest. The following morning, a frantic Mr. Connie searched for his teeth, eventually agreeing with Leafy that a rat must have carried them off. Leafy then suggested he check the floor in case the "rat" had dropped them, leading him to discover them. He never left his teeth on the rafters again, and Leafy never revealed her playful deception.
Their son, Bill, graduated from Nahunta High School in 1947 or 1948. While he initially remained on the farm, he soon realized he was not a farmer at heart. This news was difficult for Levi, who relied on Bill's labor. In 1948, Levi and Leafy moved their house closer to the road and drilled a new well nearby. Bill eventually moved to Newport News, Virginia, staying with Aunt Mozelle and finding employment in the thriving shipyards.
Later, Johnston County began a program to find placements for elderly, family-less men, offering a small stipend. Leafy proposed the idea to Levi, who agreed to take on Mr. Connie Morris again. Leafy was delighted to have another helping hand.
Mr. Connie proved invaluable, working in the fields, caring for the hogs, mules, and chickens, mucking stalls, and plowing. He was as efficient as any hired man, and they were compensated for his care. This arrangement suited Leafy perfectly; she always had tasks for Mr. Connie, jokingly described as being "close to a slave driver." This arrangement changed when Miss Ina, Levi’s sister, a widow, began to visit more frequently, often appearing at suppertime and for Sunday dinner. A romance blossomed between Miss Ina and Mr. Connie, leading to their marriage. Leafy "lost her right hand man" as Miss Ina moved him into her Fremont house, where they enjoyed many more good years together. Leafy might have humorously reflected, "My ‘slave’ has become my brother-in-law, who would have thought this possible."
Courtesy Stancil Reunion Archive |
Leafy cherished the company of her niece Jo Ann. Leafy would travel by Greyhound bus to Newport News to visit Bill and then return home with Jo Ann. During these visits to the farm, Jo Ann eagerly joined in the farm work, chopping grass from cotton, gathering fresh vegetables, plowing with the mule, working with tobacco, and driving the trucks. She also shelled many butter beans. Jo Ann fondly remembered Leafy's country breakfasts, the welcoming sound of the bell, the aroma of fresh coffee from the wood stove, country ham, and fried eggs, all served with fresh milk and Kellogg's cornflakes. Leafy also taught Jo Ann practical skills, including cleaning and refilling oil lamps, crocheting, reading crochet patterns, and sewing a straight seam under her watchful eye. At the end of the summer, Leafy would send Jo Ann home with handmade pinafores for school and a treasure trove of happy memories from life on the farm with Aunt Leafy and Uncle Levi.
Bill returned home from the shipyards and married Laura Ellen Woodard on September 9, 1950. Laura was born on December 3, 1933, to Linwood B. Woodard and Nancy Carter Woodard in Johnston County. Bill later joined the Air Force, where he had a distinguished career spanning over 20 years. Upon his retirement, he returned home and built a house.
In the early 1970s, Leafy's health began to decline. Her first cousin, Rachel Stancil Renfrow, wrote on February 27, 1972, that Leafy had been in the hospital for over a month but was slowly improving. Her brother Herb visited for a week. On April 9, 1972, Effie Stancil Renfrow, another first cousin, wrote that Leafy was "better or can talk better" than she had been three weeks prior, though her memory was still struggling. Effie also shared the sad news that Herbert had passed away the previous week, having died suddenly while resting on his patio. Levi had been advised by the doctor not to tell Leafy, fearing it might cause a heart attack or another stroke.
Leafy Irene Stancil Edwards passed away on September 4, 1973, at the age of 63, due to pneumonia. She is buried in the Kenly Cemetery, Kenly, North Carolina. After her death, her clothes were burned in the fireplace.
Levi John Edwards died on May 3, 1986.
Their son, Bill Edwards, passed away on September 21, 1998, in Pinkney, North Carolina, and is buried in the Kenly Cemetery. Laura Ellen Woodard Edwards died on September 15, 2023, in Wayne, North Carolina, and is also buried in the Kenly Cemetery.