Rabil Family Papers

Certificates

Correspondence

Obituaries

Philanthropy

Photographs

Sports

Biographical/Historical Note

Edward George Rabil (1897-1974) was born in 1897 in Hammana, Lebanon. He immigrated to Smithfield, North Carolina from Lebanon in 1909. At least one of Edward’s brothers, Abdallah George Rabil, also immigrated; the brothers lived in Smithfield for most of their lives. In 1921, Edward married Mary Farfour Shelby (1892-1986), who had also been born in Hammana. Edward and Mary owned and operated Ed’s Café in Smithfield for many years; Abdallah opened a department store in Smithfield.

Edward and Mary had two children, Edward George Rabil, Jr. (1923-2007) and Mitchell George Rabil (1924-1987). Edward Rabil Jr. married Cecil Mae Bradley and Mitchell Rabil married Gertrude “Trudy” Marie Carter. Carter and Stephen Rabil were among their children. This generation of Rabils pursued sports at the collegiate level.

Scope/Content Note

This collection contains official documents, newspaper articles, and photographs related to the Rabil family of Smithfield and their extended family throughout North Carolina. The collection has an emphasis on athletics.

Mitchell Carter and Stephen Carter Rabil

Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies

1927-1986, undated

Processed by Khayrallah Program staff. Collection Guide content contributed by Claire A. Kempa and updated by Allison Hall, 2023 November.

The donor retains full ownership of any copyright and rights currently controlled. Nonexclusive right to authorize uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. Usage of the materials for these purposes must be fully credited with the source. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials.

English

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