Charles McIver Featherston (1906-1972)



(for larger image, click on photograph, then click "Actions/View all Sizes")
_______________

Charles McIver Featherston was born in Caswell County December 17, 1906, the youngest child of nine living children born to Thomas Preston Featherston and Amanda Hester Featherston. At his birth, his oldest sister Elizabeth (Lizzie) begged her mother to let her name him for Dr. Charles McIver who was President of Women's College in Greensboro where Lizzie had finished school. McIver's older sisters relate that at his birth he was so small they used to take turns, along with their mother, sitting in front of a fire with him to keep him warm. A man's handkerchief folded in the shape of a triangle was used as a diaper. This story seems hard to believe for a man people remember of being over six feet tall and a shoe size of thirteen.

Being the youngest of nine children and having seven older sisters had its advantages as well as disadvantages. Many a time McIver was given a nickel to wash dishes for his sisters so they could "go out courting."

Being a strong believer in education, McIver's father was not pleased with is son's progress or lack of progress as it may have been, at Central School, so after the 10th grade he sent McIver to Oak Ridge Military School in Summerfield, N.C. to finish his education. McIver then went to Coyne's Electrical School in Chicago, Ill.

He left there to return to Roxboro where he went to work at Collins and Aikman in 1929. He worked there for 43 years and held the position of supervisor of the weave room when he retired in March 1972. While at C & A he received an award for a technique used in the weave room which saved the company considerable money per year. It was at Collins and Aikman that McIver met Alyce Stanfield.

Alyce Minerva Stanfield was born in Person County on March 18, 1910, the oldest daughter of Walter Lee Stanfield and Beulah Whitt Stanfield. Alyce was named for both her grandmothers, Alice Brooks Whitt and Catherine Minerva Fox Stanfield. Alyce never liked the middle name Minerva and even after she was grown and married disliked being teased about it. Alyce was consider by others to be a pretty child and very responsible.

Therefore, after her father was killed in a car wreck in 1928, Alyce was left to care for her younger brother Harold and sister Gloria while her mother "Miss Beulah" worked as a practical nurse to support the family. Times were hard for the family but Alyce managed to stay in school and graduated from Roxboro High School in 1929. She then attended Pineland Business School in Salemburg, N. C. and graduated from there in May 1931 She returned to Roxboro and started work as a secretary at Collins and Aikman.

It is said Alyce was going with another young man when she met the tall handsome young McIver Featherston, but she only had to look into McIver's soft brown eyes to know where her heart was. Alyce and McIver were married June 24, 1933 at the parsonage of the First Baptist Church in Danville, Va. Their vows were witnessed by Edgar Masten and Helen Stanfield. They purchased the home of McIver's mother and father, T. P. Featherston, in September 1945 which stands today at the corner of Madison Blvd. and Oak Street.

To this union was born a daughter Gail Lee on April 2, 1939 who died at birth and Susan Ann born October 9, 1946. Susan married William U. Laws, Jr., October 23, 1965, and they have two daughters, Alisa Hope born July 30, 1971, and Katharine Lynelle born August 9, 1976. Both children were born at Person County Memorial Hospital. Bill and Susan bought a home on Tanglewood Circle in Roxboro in 1970. Bill is employed as a Service Manager for Ryder Truck Rental and Susan is employed part time as a dental assistant for Dr. Andrew P. Collins.

Alyce and Mac were both loved and respected for their many kind and neighborly deeds. Their home was always open to family and friends who might drop in. After the death of Alyce's mother in 1942, the Featherston home became the home of Alyce's younger brother Harold and sister Gloria who was 16 at the time of her mother's death.

Christmas was always a special time with the Featherston's gathering the 2nd Sunday in December and the Stanfield's having their family time on Christmas Eve. Aunt Alyce and Uncle Mac were the grandparents to the Stanfield nieces and nephews never got to know. A niece wrote at her death: "She was always our matriarch. Our family has always been special. There has always been so much love, strength, and security there for us, so much faith in us. I think Aunt Alyce was responsible to a large extent for creating that sense of family.

Children loved them both but "Uncle Mac" seemed to have a special attraction to "little ones." Much to the embarrassment of his daughter, Susan, he always stopped to speak to children, even ones he did not know. Since having children of her own, Susan can now appreciate that special quality her own father possessed.

Dr. John Maides stated during McIver's funeral service that "McIver believed in his fellow man, was endowed with a good nature and was never known to be critical of people. He loved children, which is in itself a mark of greatness. If you knew the man you knew he loved his family and cared for their every need to the best of his ability."

McIver died suddenly of a heart attack on September 20, 1972, only six months after retiring from Collins and Aikman. Alyce died March 5, 1980 after several years of declining health. Both are buried at Burchwood Cemetery in the Featherston family plot. They both left a strong legacy of love, faith and compassion for their family friends to remember them by.

Source: Heritage of Person County, Volume II at 153 (Article 188: "Charles McIver and Alyce Stanfield Featherston" by Susan Featherston Laws).
_______________

North Carolina Death Certificates, 1909-1975
Name: Charles McIver Featherston
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 65
Birth Date: 17 Dec 1906
Birth Place: Caswell, North Carolina, United States
Death Date: 20 Sep 1972
Death Location: Roxboro, Person
Spouse's Name: Alyce Stanfield
Father's Name: Thomas Preston Featherston
Mother's Name: Amanda Hester
Residence: Roxboro, Person, North Carolina

• Married: 24 JUN 1933

1. Gail Lee Featherston b: 02 APR 1939
2. Living Featherston

1. Details: North Carolina Death Certificate of Charles McIver Featherston (1906-1972).