Courtesy Stancil Family Reunion Archive
Billy Horace Godwin, son of Marvin and Bessie Stancil Godwin, was born Aug. 15, 1930, in Johnston County, North Carolina. He was the fourth of five children. He joined older siblings James Cleon Godwin, Emma Lee Godwin, and Elmer Leon Godwin. Younger sister Esther Marie Godwin was born in 1934.
Billy attended Lee Woodard School as a child. After graduating from high school, he joined the U.S. Army.
He married Jessie Mae Lancaster on Sept. 3, 1951, in Emporia, Greensville County, Virginia.
Jessie, the daughter of Reb and Lillie Mae Jackson Lancaster, was born June 9, 1932, in Wilson County, North Carolina.
They had three children: "Butch" Billy Lancaster Godwin, Charles "Steve" Steven Godwin, and "Tony" Marvin Anthony Godwin.
Jessie was active in Wendell Baptist Church and a member of the Eureka Bible Class. She was a childcare provider for 28 years.
Jessie and Billy enjoyed traveling, and took trips to see the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, and out West to see the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam. They also visited Tombstone, Texas and Louisiana. Emma and Earney Cayton accompanied them.
Jessie Godwin passed away on April 28, 2003, in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina. She is buried at Evergreen Memorial Park in Wilson.
Billy married Rose Fuller on July 7, 2007. Rose, who was born in 1940, is the daughter of the late John and Mary Fuller of Wilson County, North Carolina.
Billy and Rose Godwin are active members of the Stancil Family Reunion, and they have attended every reunion since 2007. They live in Wilson, North Carolina.
— Renn Stancil Hinton, daughter of George Ralph Stancil
