Gene and Isabelle Willard

Gene and Isabelle Willard celebrated 50 years of marriage on Friday, July 3, 2015.

They plan to celebrate with their family on Saturday, July 11 with an intimate party hosted by their daughters at the home of Jatana McCormick.

They married at Community Church in Rockingham on July 3, 1965. Gene is a retired self-employed barber and Isabelle is a retired teacher of Richmond County Schools.

They have three daughters: Jatana McCormick (Bill) of Rockingham, Shannon Willard (Diane) of Wilmington, and Micah Willard (Thomas) of Rockingham. They have seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren: Adeana, Ethan, Meghan, Maddie, Will, Ava, Rylee, Tyler and Sean, all of Rockingham.