Reuben Earl Mercer

• Born July 5, 1910
• Died Aug. 21, 1985
• Married Flave Mercer on Jan. 8, 1930

Reuben Earl Mercer was born Feb. 24, 1935, and died June 17, 2020. He married Shirley Temple Thigpen on Sept. 10, 1950.
Reuben's children with Shirley Temple Thigpen Mercer
Earl Trent Mercer
William Frederick Mercer Sr.

Reuben Earl Mercer, the oldest son of Flave and Beulah Stancil Mercer, was born at home on March 22, 1932, in Beulaville, Duplin County, North Carolina. Reuben is the grandson of Alvin and Fannie Columbia Pittman Stancil.

Reuben was 76 days older than his uncle, Donell Franklin Stancil. An older sister, Fannie Jean Mercer, died on the day of her birth. Reuben resembled his mother’s side of the family. His siblings were A.R. (Albert Ray), (Columbia) Ann, Margaret (Elizabeth), and Wanda (Lorraine).

Reuben's father, Flave, was a farmer who grew tobacco, corn, and soybeans, and raised hogs and chickens, relying on mules for his farming. Reuben began plowing as soon as he was strong enough to hold the handles, primarily working with two mules named “Old Grey” and “Stubborn.” “Stubborn” would often challenge him by racing to the barn at the end of each row. Reuben was thrilled when his father eventually purchased a Farmall A tractor.

Growing up, Reuben attended Cabin Free Will Baptist Church in Beulaville. He, Ann, A.R., and Margaret were members of a popular church quartet, and Reuben also played the guitar. His parents instilled in him the importance of following Christian teachings and giving praise to God. Reuben took this to heart, even quitting his high school basketball team when his coach frequently cussed at the players. Despite his strong moral compass, Reuben sometimes skipped school to play pool, where he proved to be a natural, often returning home with extra money.

A special girl, Shirley Temple Thigpen, three years his junior, caught Reuben’s eye. After Reuben graduated from Beulaville High School, he continued farming while dating Shirley until her graduation. They married on September 10, 1950, with a friend driving them to Dillon, South Carolina. They initially lived with Reuben’s parents. With the Korean War underway, Reuben joined the National Guard, and when his unit was called up, he joined the Army. While he was away, their first son, Earl Trent, was born.

After the war, Reuben moved his family to Fayetteville. He worked for Sears and Belk-Hensdale, attended Worth Business College, and was then hired by the Jewel Box. During this time, he and Shirley welcomed their second son, William "Fred" Frederick. At the Jewel Box, Reuben quickly established himself as a skilled businessman. Carlyle & Co. Jewelers eventually bought the Jewel Box and transferred Reuben to manage their high-end store in Greensboro, where he worked for 46 years.

In Greensboro, Reuben founded the Boy Scout troop at St. Paul Presbyterian Church. The troop was active, camping monthly, and many scouts, including his sons Trent and Fred, achieved Eagle Scout rank. While at St. Paul’s, Reuben served as a deacon and elder. Each October, the family took a trip to the mountains to see the autumn leaves, traveling on the Blue Ridge Parkway, stopping to see cider and molasses being made, and listening to unique mountain music. They also enjoyed their house on Topsail Island, North Carolina, where Reuben loved to fish and taught his sons to enjoy the ocean. The island location was also conveniently closer to his family home.

Reuben enjoyed the challenge of playing pool. Their new home included a spacious 22’ by 40’ room that housed his professional table, where they spent hours playing friendly games with Shirley in charge of refreshments. In Greensboro, Reuben was active in the Exchange Club and was an enthusiastic participant in making and selling pints of homemade Brunswick stew. Reuben also served in numerous civic organizations, including volunteering in the Guardian ad Litem program.

Reuben and Shirley cherished their travels together, vacationing in Hawaii, going on cruises, and visiting the Panama Canal, Grand Canyon, Williamsburg, and other historical sites.

In 2006, Reuben and Shirley returned to Duplin County, building a beautiful brick home in the country. They joined Bethel Presbyterian Church near Chinquapin, North Carolina. Shirley enjoyed making jam, and Reuben took up woodworking. They shared garden space with Margaret, planting butter beans and snap beans. Reuben would often remark at picking time, “We rise early, pick beans before the hot sun drives us back inside!” Reuben also grew up attending Stancil Reunions.

Reuben and Shirley had a special, loving relationship that many envied and hoped to have. They were married for 69 years, their lives reflecting their deep love for each other and their unwavering faith in God. Reuben was guided by his dad’s words of wisdom: “It ain’t what you do, but how you do it. It’s not what you make, but how you use what you make."

Reuben Earl Mercer died on June 17, 2020, in Beulaville, Duplin, North Carolina, and is buried in East Duplin Memorial Gardens in Beulaville.

Shirley Thigpen Mercer died at 89 on July 4, 2024, at her home in Beulaville, North Carolina. She was born on February 24, 1935, in Beulaville, the daughter of Clarence Gibson Sr. and Rowena Lanier Thigpen. She was the last of her siblings to pass.

Shirley found joy in traveling, gardening, cooking, reading, sewing, and painting, and was active in her church and community organizations.

She is buried in East Duplin Memorial Gardens in Beulaville alongside her beloved husband.

— Renn Stancil Hinton, daughter of George Ralph Stancil