The Heritage of Person Co., NC (cont.)

Being a strong believer in education, Mclver's father was not pleased with his son's progress or lack of progress as it may have been, at Central School so after the lOth grade he sent Mclver to Oak Ridge Military School in Summerfield, N.C. to finish his education. Mclver 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 Mar. 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 Mclver met Alyce Stanfield. Alyce Minerva Stanfield was born in Person Co. on Mar. 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. -

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 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 that Alyce was going with another young man when she met the tall handsome young Mclver Featherston, but she only had to look into Mclver's soft brown eyes to know.

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First Baptist Church in Danville, Va. Their vows were witnessed by Edgar Masten and Helen Stanfield. They purchased the home of Mclver's mother and father, T.P. Featherston, in September 1945 which still stands today at the corner of Madison Blvd. and Oak Street.

To this union was born a daughter Gail Lee on 2 Apr. 1939 who died at birth and Susan Ann born 9 Oct. 1946.

Susan married William U. Laws. Jr. Oct. 23, 1965. They have 2 daughters Alisa Hope b. 30 July 1971 and Katharine Lynelle b. 9 Aug. 1976.

Alyce and Mac were both loved and respected for their many kind and neighbourly 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 Gloria who was 16 at the time of her mother's death.

Aunt Alyce and Uncle Mac were the grandparents 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."

Mclver died suddenly of a heart attack on Sept. 20. 1972 only 6 months after retiring from Collins and Aikman. Alyce died Mar. 5, 1980 after several years of declining health. Both are buried at Burchwood Cemetery in the Featherston family plot.

by Susan Featherston Laws

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