John Millard Stancil
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| Millard's children with Iva Knight |
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| Joseph Downing Stancil July 31, 1924 Wayne, NC-Jan. 27, 2000 Wilson, NC |
| Gordon Stancil Jan. 27, 1927-March 17, 1928 |
| Millard's children with Helen Roberta Hardee |
| Dwight Cullon Stancil Nov. 21, 1937-Dec. 24, 1937; Buried in Sunset Memorial Park, Smithfield, Johnston, NC |
Courtesy Stancil Reunion Archive |
John Millard Stancil, the fourth child born to John Archer and Pinettie Stancil, was born on Dec. 1, 1902, in Johnston County, N.C.
He appeared in the First Reunion photo in 1902 as a young child.
Millard was a good athlete. He played baseball for Glendale High School in Johnston County, but dropped out before graduating.
Once, Kermit and Millard rode their mules to Harvey's farm for a visit, which was a long trip in those days.
Millard loved women, especially beautiful women. Iva Knight was one of these.
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.
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.
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.
Millard and Iva were not getting along, and Iva abruptly left Millard. They divorced in 1927.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Millard's last wife was Lillian O'Neal Cradle, the caregiver he hired to look after Pearl. Millard and Lillian married around 1969.
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.
Millard was well-liked by his nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was friendly, pleasant, fun to be around, and had a good personality.
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.
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.
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.
Alice selected Millard to look after her affairs and be the executor of her estate. She died in a nursing home.
The last Stancil Reunion that Millard and Lillian attended was in 1987, a year before his death.
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.
