Worth "Tom" Hayes Stancil | May 16, 1924-Dec. 29, 1985

Worth "Tom" Hayes Stancil

Born: May 16, 1924 Johnston, NC
Died: Dec. 29, 1985 Prince William Hospital, Manassas, Prince William, VA
Buried in Holland and Bass Cemetery, Pinkney, Wayne, NC
Married: Jean Stephens on Aug. 21, 1958 Washington, D.C.

Worth “Tom” Hayes Stancil, son of Arthur and Clyde Holland Stancil, was born May 16, 1924, in Johnston County. Tom had dark brown hair.

Tom graduated from Glendale High School. Tom and his brother Bill left Johnston County, and headed for the shipyards in Wilmington, North Carolina. They moved into a boarding house run by cousins Emmette and Dessie Stancil. Tom wanted more income and moved to Norfolk, Virginia, to work in the shipyards.

Military Service

He was drafted and joined the Army on July 26, 1943. His good friend Lloyd Thomas Sellers enlisted on the same day. They reported to Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Tom was sent to France where he experienced the brutality of war. Just before the start of the Battle of the Bulge, and before he was 19, he lost his right leg and his left ankle was severely damaged when a bomb exploded near him. Tom was treated and finally airlifted to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. When he was released months later, he returned to Kenly, and his mother. Tom endured a great deal of pain for the rest of his life.

Post-War Life

In 1947, Margaret returned to D.C. at the same time her brothers Tom and Bill and her Mother had also decided to move to D.C. Tom received a house and car because he was an amputee. One of the benefits of the GI Bill was to look after those who sacrificed so much for their country. Tom, Bill, Margaret, Lloyd, Marty and Clyde all lived together in the D.C. area. The house was too small for so many and Tom moved out.

Tom’s first cousin, J.D. (Joseph Downing), visited him often. J.D. lived in Baltimore, Maryland. They enjoyed drinking together in the 1950s.

Career and Family

Tom worked in Washington as an office manager. There he met Jean Stevens, a pretty blond, 5 feet, 1 inch tall with hazel eyes, through a friend of Jean’s roommate. Jean was attracted by his movie star good looks and Tom appreciated her beauty, intellect and outgoing personality.

Jean grew up on a farm in Whiteville, North Carolina, in a close-knit family. She was the daughter of Walter Kenneth and Leona Stephens. Walter’s parents were Kenneth P. and Mandy A. Stephens. Mandy died and Ken married Emma Thompson on Jan. 14, 1914. Ken's parents were Samuel and Judy A. Stephens.

Jean took business subjects in high school, shorthand, typing and bookkeeping. Prior to graduation from Whiteville High School, the government visited the school and gave tests to those interested. Jean did quite well and had many opportunities for employment in Washington, D.C.

The position she selected was with the CIA. Jean was a clerk typist. Jean left for D.C. three days after graduation on the train. She was given three days board at the Meredith Inn on Upper 16th. Jean knew several people there and rented an efficiency apartment with another girl. This was close enough for her to walk to work. On rainy or cold days she could take the city bus. Jean was busy and happy and was surprised she experienced no homesickness.

Her first visit back home was at the end of July. Her family found Jean to be a self-confident and self-assured young lady. At first her parents had wanted Jean to attend college and Jean seemed to be heading in that direction. She recalled wanting to be a teacher. By the time she graduated, she knew teaching was not for her.

Tom took Jean to the popular wharf for seafood on their first date. Romance blossomed. They were married on Aug. 21, 1958, in the home of a retired Methodist minister in Maryland. Jean wore a beige dress with matching shoes.

There was some estrangement between Tom, Bill and Margaret. It was several months before Jean met them.

Tom affectionately nicknamed Jean, “J.J.” Tom and Jean had four children: Wayne Thomas was born on Aug. 14, 1959, in Washington, D.C., Margaret Rebecca was born on July 18, 1960, in Washington, D.C., Charles Allen was born on Nov. 30, 1961, in N.C., and Stephen Gene was born on Feb. 13, 1963, in N.C.

Return to North Carolina

Jean and Tom returned to North Carolina before Charles was born in 1961. Jean and the children lived with her parents on their Whiteville, North Carolina, farm.

When Jean discovered Tom had never been on a picnic, she planned one. At first Tom said, “If I wanted to eat with the birds and squirrels, I'd live in the woods!” Jean selected the Lock and Dam Park in Elizabeth City as the perfect site for their first picnic. She carefully planned the menu. The picnic was a big success. Tom enjoyed meeting the other people there and within a few weeks suggested they go again.

Establishing family traditions were left up to Jean. Tom never mentioned holidays of his childhood.

Tom had a great sense of humor and liked to play jokes like his grandpa’s brother, Harvey.

Tom took the family to visit cousin Emmette Stancil at White Lake, North Carolina.

Emmette had a resort on White Lake. A highlight was taking a plane ride with Emmette’s son Jr. who did his usual hair raising stunts, swooping very low over the cottages, thrilling both those on board and on the ground.

Tom had high expectations for his children. They were taught to be polite, mind their manners and to study hard. All of them learned to use the dictionary and strive for perfection.

About 1968, Tom bought a 1960 white Dodge dart with a pushbutton gear shift for his children to play with. Wayne was 9, Becky 8, Charles 7, and Stephen 6, the car was kept in the backyard. The children were allowed to drive it about the farm but were cautioned to keep it out of the fields where grandpa Stevens made his living. They delighted taking turns speeding around the farmyard and using lots of gas. This was certainly a memorable toy.

They even gave an uncle a ride! He was not so impressed with their driving ability. Unfortunately one of them drove it into the field, causing deep ruts and getting it stuck. The next day, Tom sold the Dodge Dart much to the sorrow of the children. They never forgot the lesson learned.

The large farm had 8 tobacco barns, the work was never ending as barns were filled, cured, transported to packing houses. In spare moments the large garden was tended and the vegetables picked and canned. The cow was milked daily and the eggs gathered.

Tom began drinking in excess and this damaged his relationship with his wife and children. Finally Jean made a difficult decision. She divorced Tom.

Tom was intellectually gifted and quite smart. He studied and easily passed the CPA exam. Tom had a marketable skill and was always able to move into a new place and secure a job. He had a special interest in the law. Tom completed many law classes but never took the bar. Tom especially enjoyed working in a federal attorney's office.

When Jean's father, Walter, died on Feb. 3, 1984, Tom called to lend his support. He always kept up with his family; they stayed close to his heart.

Tom became interested in Stancil Family History and spent many hours doing research. He wrote detailed letters with important finds to his cousin Ralph Stancil. He also wrote an article about Stancil Ancestry for the Heritage of Johnston County published in 1985.

Tom attended the Stancil Reunions in 1982 and 1984. His favorites among his aunts and uncles were Millard and Alice and among his cousins, Emmette Stancil. He visited another cousin, J.G. Renfrow, son of his father's first cousin Rachel, a few times.

At the time of his death, Tom had dark brown hair and was still a handsome man. He was buried in the Holland Family Cemetery located in Johnston County, North Carolina, beside his Aunt Marty.

Tom’s son Wayne gave his dad's extensive Stancil family research to the Johnston County Heritage Room in Smithfield, North Carolina.