Lane Street Project: a grass-cutting appeal.

Oh! Look! Odd Fellows Cemetery awash in dandelions! Lovely, isn’t it?

Well. Not really.

Odd Fellows is a graveyard. Not a meadow. It’s overgrown. And our lawnmower has conked out. Until Friends of Lane Street Project (FoLSP) raises funds for a new one, won’t you consider stopping by to mow the front? Our last cleanup of the season in Saturday, May 23, but you can come whenever convenient. 

Thank you!

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, May 2026.

Walter had Pete by the collar and had a gun in his hand.

Wilson Daily Times, 8 May 1923.

——

  • Walter Bethea

In the 1910 census of Crossroads township, Wilson County: railroad laborer Raddie D. Betha, 40; wife Mary A., 38; and children Samuel D., 19, Mary C., 18, Herbert, 14, Walter H., 11, Lilly V., 6, James E., 4, and Clifton L., 2 months.

On 9 March 1919, Walter Bethea, 18, of Crossroads township, son of R.D. and Mary Bethea, married Mattie Westley, 16, of Crossroads township, daughter of John Anne Westley, in Wilson County. Herbert Bethea applied for the license, and A.M.E. minister J.F. McNair performed the ceremony at the A.M.E. church in Lucama in the presence of R.D. Bethea, Will Hines, and James Bunn.

In the 1920 census of Crossroads township, Wilson County: railroad laborer Walter Bailey, 19, and wife Mattie W., 17.

In the 1920 census of Crossroads township, Wilson County: farmer Raddie Bethea, 50; wife Mary R., 45; and children Lillie, 15, James A., 11, Clifton, 9, Vastrie, 6, and Herbert, 22.

Walter Bethea died 29 July 1929 in Rocky Mount, Edgecombe County, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was 26 years old; was born in Dillon, S.C., to R.D. Bethea and Mary C. Wright; was married; lived at 333 Matthew; worked as a common laborer; and was buried in Wilson County.

  • Pete Fields

In the 1900 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Washington Fields, 60; wife Julia, 53; daughters Chrischanie, 25, Amanda, 15, and Lutory, 10; grandson Peter, 10; and granddaughters Julia, 5, and Lillie, 7 months.

In the 1910 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Washington Fields, 68; wife Julia, 70; grandson Peter J., 18; and granddaughters Julia A., 14, and Mary Lilly, 9.

On 1 February 1914, Pete Fields, 22, of Crossroads township, married Verrona Mayo, 18, of Crossroads township, in Lucama, Wilson County.

Peter Fields died 5 May 1923, Cross Roads township, Wilson County; single; about 33 years old; worked as a tenant farmer for W.J. Scott; born Wilson County to Daniel Hodge and Chritchania Allen; buried in Lamm Cemetery. “Murdered by Walter Bethea. Death was instantly.”

  • James Stevenson
  • Queen Ella Mae McDonald
  • Eddie Mitchell

In the 1900 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farm laborer Laurence Michel, 29; wife Easter, 24; and children Alonza, 8, Nettie, 6, Eddie, 4, and Babe, 1.

In the 1910 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Lawrence Mitchell, 40; wife Easter, 36; and children Alonzo, 19, Nellie, 17, Eddie, 13, Jesse, 11, Bettie, 7, Coy S., 5, Mattie, 3, and an infant, 11 months.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Henry Street, Eddie Mitchell, 43, chips blocks at Wilson Veneer; wife Pattie, 33, hangs tobacco at redrying plant; and children Willie, 16, fills order at woodyard, and Lawrence, 14.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 605 Henry Street, Eddie Mitchell, 58; wife Pattie, 48; and son Lawrence, 22, tobacco factory laborer.

  • Lester Harris
  • Ed Lewis
  • John Richardson

Probably, in the 1920 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer John E. Richardson, 26; wife Jessie, 19; and son-in-law [brother-in-law?] Johnnie Hines, 17.

John Eli Richardson died 19 November 1933 in Cross Roads township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 10 June 1893 in Wayne County, N.C., to John M. Richardson and Susan Bunn; was married to Vonia Richardson; worked as a farmer; and was buried in Wilson County.

303 Elba Street, for sale.

When I first hit Wilson, I always pay my respects to my father and grandmother at Rest Haven and to the dead of Vick, Odd Fellows, and Rountree Cemeteries, and I always check on 303 Elba Street.

My family owned this little house from 1908 until 1938. My grandmother grew up here, Jack Henderson lived here when he first arrived in Wilson, and my father and his siblings were born here. It was, as the old folk say in Wide-Awake, my family’s “home house.”

Friday, for the first time since I’ve been paying attention, a For Sale sign hung out front.

If I were burning money, maybe I’d hand over $38,000 for a tiny house that needs a complete gut to be habitable. As it is, I’ll just pull up to the curb to pay homage to Hattie Henderson Ricks and Jesse and Sarah Henderson Jacobs as long as 303 stands. 

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, May 2026.

Charity Mae Wells turns 10.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 11 May 1949.

——

  • Charity Mae Wells
  • Cora Jordan Whitted
  • Mary Frances Diggs
  • Jean Roberson
  • Delores Parker — in the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 900 Viola Street, Florence Parker, 45, separating clothes at dry cleaners, and children James L., 20, Mabel, 18, Deloris, 16, Alton Gray, 14, Annie M., 10, Ruby T., 8, and Linwood, 7.
  • Anna Brodie
  • Edgar Diggs
  • Velmarie Stanley — in the 1930 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: Sam Stanton [sic], 32; wife Charity, 31; children Velma, 5, Esteare, 3, and Wade, 2; and boarders Essie M., 14, and Lula Anderson, 12, and Willie L. Wills, 9. In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Sam Stanley, 45; wife Charity, 43; children Essie, 24, Lula, 22, Willie, 19, Marie, 17, Wade, 14, Edward, 13, Velma, 12, Ester, 10, and Ruby and Ruth, 6; and grandson Bobby, 7 months.

The obituary of Mamie Cooper Bunn.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 8 March 1947.

——

In the 1900 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: shoemaker Watson Cooper, 40; wife Fannie, 34; and daughters Savanah M., 15, Minnie, 12, Eva, 10, Mamie A., 6, and Ether P., 2.

In the 1910 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: Watson J. Cooper, 51; wife Fannie, 43; and children Minnie, 20, Eva, 16, Mamie, 13, Ethel, 11, Lubia, 8, and James, 5.

On 12 June 1912, Willie Shirley, 21, of Toisnot township, son of A.S. and Lizzie Shirley, married Mamie Cooper, 18, of Toisnot township, daughter of Watt and Fannie Cooper, at Fannie Cooper’s house. Buck Locus applied for the license in Wilson County.

In the 1912 Rocky Mount, N.C., city directory: Shirley Mamie (c) laundress h 210 Dunn

In the 1940 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: widow Fannie Cooper, 73, cook; daughter Mamie Bunn, 45, widow, and granddaughter Susie, 7.

Lane Street Project: Mother’s Day 2026.

Was a mother buried here?

We will never know, but today we remember and honor all the mothers buried in Vick, Odd Fellows, and Rountree Cemeteries, and vow to continue the search for all lost graves in these grounds.

Photos of the disturbed gravesite in Vick Cemetery and bits of its marble surround taken May 2026 by Lisa Y. Henderson.

Ardelia Pender, a mother you should know.

The Afro-American (Baltimore, Md.),  30 May 1953.

——

In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Saratoga Road, Jesse Barnes, 37, farmer; wife Sarah, 31, public school teacher; and children Lucresia, 16, Ned, 14, Nancy, 12, Lemon, 11, Jessie Bell, 10, Maggie May, 7, and Ardenia, 5.

In the 1920 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Saratoga Road, farmer Jesse Barnes, 46; wife Sarah, 47; and children Ned, 23, Nancy, 22, Lemon, 20, Jessie Belle, 18, Maggie, 15, Ardenia, 13, Frank, 11, James, 6, and Mildred, 3.

On 17 September 1924, Jonah Pender, 24, of Wilson, married Ardenna Barnes, 20, of Wilson, daughter of Jesse R. Barnes, in Wilson. Presbyterian minister A.H. George performed the ceremony, and James O. Bunn, Mack Jones, and Rosa J. Hussey witnessed.

Comodore Pender died 17 December 1925 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 25 November 1925 in Wilson to Jonah Pender and Ardena Barnes; lived at 718 Viola; and was buried in Barnes Cemetery, Wilson.

In the 1930 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Lane Street, Johnnie Pender, 29, tobacco factory laborer; wife Ardena, 24; and children Robert L., 5, Therado [Theodore], 4, Henry T., 3, Louvena, 18 months, and Katie, 1 month.

In the 1940 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: widow Ardelia Pender, 33, tobacco factory laborer, and children Robert, 16, grocery store delivery boy, Theodore, 15, Henry, 13, and Luvenia, 11.

Theodore Pender died 4 November 1944 in Goldsboro, Wayne County. Per his death certificate, he was born 25 November 1925 in Wilson to Jonah Pender and Ardelia Barnes; was single; lived at 1016 Robinson [Roberson]; and worked for J.C. Penney Company.

In 1945, Richard Henry Terry Pender registered for the World War II in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 31 August 1927 in Wilson County; lived at 1016 Robertson [Roberson] Street; his contact was Ardelia Pender; and worked for Bissette Drug Company, Nash Street.

In the 1950 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: at 1016 Roberson, widow Ardelia Pender, 45, and children Richard, 23, operates washer at laundry, Luvenia, 20, Katie, 17, Dorothy, 15, Jessie, 16, grocery store clerk, Paul, 15, grocery store clerk, Harry, 12, and James, 11.