Early Life

On a chilly December 13, 1949, in Smithfield, North Carolina, Jeanne Godwin Stancil gave birth to a baby boy she named Gregory Hale Stancil. His arrival was recorded in the Johnston County Birth Records. Gregory's father, Joe Downing Stancil, was 29, and his mother, Jeanne, was 22 and from Pine Level.

Jeanne brought her newborn son to her parents' home, where her sister Dolores helped raise him. Greg affectionately called his grandmother "Gogi," and it was in that home — surrounded by his grandparents and aunt — that he found the stability and love that shaped his earliest years.

When Greg was just two and a half, Joe visited the family store in Selma. They had recent photos of Greg and wanted to show them to him, but Joe refused to look. It was a moment that would echo through Greg's life, deepening his longing for the unconditional love of a father.

Childhood

Greg's childhood was a mixture of joy, mischief, and hardship. Jeanne would occasionally take him for short periods, but she struggled with responsibility, and her parents and sister tried to monitor his time with her. When Greg was four, Dolores found him eating dog food — a moment that revealed both neglect and the challenges Jeanne faced.

Despite these difficulties, Greg thrived under the care of his grandparents. He joined the First Baptist Church of Pine Level, played Little League baseball, and became a Boy Scout. He began school in Pine Level and later attended North Johnston High School.

Like many boys, Greg went through a chubby phase and had long blond hair. When the principal insisted he cut it, Greg responded with a bold choice — he shaved it into a mohawk.

Teenage Years

Gregory's childhood and youth were rooted in both North Carolina and Virginia.

He attended Pine Level High School, North Johnston High School, Kenmore Junior High School, and Wedgefield High School in Arlington, Virginia.

When Dolores married, Greg was a teenager, and these years were difficult for Gogi, who needed help. Jeanne's only contribution was to take Greg with her to Virginia. He enrolled at Wedgefield High School, but the transition was painful — a new state, a new school, and a mother he desperately wanted to love him in ways she could not.

All Greg ever wanted was the unconditional love of a mother and father. It was a longing that shaped his choices and his heart.

Struggles & Strength

As a teenager, Greg recognized his alcoholism and joined a support group, becoming its youngest member. It was a remarkable act of self-awareness and courage. Tall and handsome, with Joe's coloring, Greg wore a size 14 shoe and carried himself with quiet determination.

Marriage & Fatherhood

Greg met Mary Katherine Stewart (1950-2021) in school, and she swept him off his feet. They married in the summer of 1967 when Greg was only 16. Neither returned to school. Shortly before he left for California, they welcomed a son, Robin Dale Stancil.

Greg proudly brought his young family to Selma for a visit. During that trip, he saw his childhood friend, Junior Capps, and confided, "Junior, I won't be coming back." Junior argued with him, hoping he was wrong.

Military Service

Greg joined the United States Marine Corps in May 1967 at age 17, with Jeanne signing the papers. He completed basic training at Parris Island, graduating in the top ten of his class. He trained at Camp Lejeune and Camp Pendleton before deploying to Vietnam on February 29, 1968.

Death & Funeral

After more than ten months in Vietnam, Greg and his men were ordered to sweep for land mines for two straight days. Exhausted, they returned to camp, only to be ordered back out without rest. Greg refused, knowing his men needed sleep. He was stripped of his rank and sent back out.

On January 5, 1969, 19-year-old Greg was struck by a sniper's bullet in Quang Nam Province. He died several hours later.

When his body was returned home, the coffin was covered with glass. Mary Katherine screamed when she saw him. Dolores, unsure if it was truly Greg, asked the color guard to remove the glass and roll up his right sleeve. When she saw the horseshoe-shaped scar from his childhood, she knew it was him.

Greg's funeral was held on January 15, 1969, at the Baptist Church in Pine Level. The church overflowed with mourners. He was buried at the Oliver-Godwin Cemetery near Pine Level.

This obituary, published shortly after Gregory's death, reflects how the community remembered him and the details known at the time.

The Smithfield Herald

Tuesday, January 14, 1969

Johnston Native

Marine Private Killed In Action

Archivist Note: The original newspaper printing misspelled Gregory's middle name as "Hales" and his first name once as "Grebory." The transcript below preserves the original article text but corrects these typos for historical accuracy.

Marine Corps Private Gregory Hale Stancil of Arlington, Va., a native of Pine Level, was killed in action January 5 in Vietnam.

He was the 19-year-old son of Mrs. Jeanne Godwin Stancil. He was injured by hostile gunfire in Quang Nam and died several hours later.

He had been in Vietnam for the past 11 months, serving with the First Marine Division.

He attended Pine Level High School, North Johnston High School, and Kenmore Junior High School and Wedgefield High School in Arlington, Va.

He joined the Marine Corps in May of 1967. He received his basic training at Parris Island, S.C., where he graduated in the top 10 of his class. He was stationed at Camp LeJeune, N.C., and Camp Pendleton, Calif., before being sent overseas.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Pine Level and was a former Boy Scout and Little League player.

His home had been in Arlington, Va., for the past five years.

Surviving in addition to his mother are his wife, Mrs. Mary Katherine Stewart Stancil; one son, Robin Dale Stancil of the home; and his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Walter B. Godwin of Pine Level.

The funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the Baptist Church in Pine Level. Burial will be in the Oliver-Godwin Cemetery near Pine Level. The Rev. Alfred Ayscue and the Rev. Clyde Luther will officiate.

Aftermath & Legacy

Jeanne returned to Virginia, and Mary Katherine raised Robin but never brought him to visit the family in Selma. Robin grew up and called Jeanne once. Jeanne eventually returned to Goldsboro, married Willie Pate, and continued to struggle with alcohol and cigarettes until her death in 2004.

Mary Katherine passed away on May 9, 2021, in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. She was 71 years old.

Greg's life was short, but he left a deep imprint on those who loved him. This page preserves the story of the boy he was, the young man he became, and the family who remembers him still.