James Williams stabbed to death while feeding stock.

Wilson Daily Times, 9 May 1945.

James Williams was a Wilson County native working in Nash County when he was killed by his employer.

Though the attack was unprovoked, Davis was charged only with manslaughter. He pleaded nolo contendere, a legal response in a criminal case where the defendant does not admit guilt, but foregoes trial and accepts the punishment as if he were guilty. Davis was sentenced to 3 to 5 years in state prison, which was suspended, and five years probation. He paid Williams’ hospital and funeral expenses and was ordered to pay Williams’ estate $4750. In essence, Davis got away with murder.

Nashville Graphic, 30 August 1945.

Williams’ death certificate reveals that he was stabbed in the left lung, liver, and stomach.

——

On 12 August 1938, James Williams, 22, of Nash County, son of Will and Rosa Williams, married Senora Hall, 16, daughter of Weldon and Pearlie Williams, in Nash County, N.C.

In the 1940 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: farmer James Williams, 23; wife Senora, 17; and daughter Jearleen, 1.

In 1940, James Joseph Williams registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 9 April 1916 in Wilson County; lived at Route 1, Wilson, Wilson County; his contact was wife Senora Williams; and he worked for Watson Tobacco Company, South Lodge Street, Wilson.

In July 1945, Senora Williams was named administrator of her husband’s estate and named herself and daughters Geraldine and Bettie Lou Williams as his heirs.

Corporal William Batts, stationed at Camp Swift, Texas.

——

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 628 Warren Street, farm laborer Willie Batts, 28, wife Olivia, 29, and children Ernest, 8, Claria, 5, Elizabeth, 3, and twins Jodie and Josephine, 6 months.

In the 1920 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Willie Batts, 39, wife Olivia, 39, and children Ernest, 17, Clara, 16, Elizabeth, 13, Josephine, 10, William, 7, E. George, 5, and M. Mary, 1 1/2.

In the 1930 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Will Batts, 50, wife Olivia, 50, and children Ernest, 25, William, 16, Georgiana, 14, Magdelene, 11, Rosa L., 10, and Henry, 8.

On 1 April 1938, Wm. Batts, 23, of Taylors township, Wilson County, son of Will and Olivia Batts, married Bessie Lee Williams, 18, of Wilson, daughter of Isaac and Lucy Williams, in Wilson. Elder Abram Hill performed the ceremony. 

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 303 Finch Street, brick laborer William Batts, 25; wife Bessie, 20, tobacco factory laborer; children Thelma, 2, and Lucille, 9 months; and sister Dollie Williams, 17.

In 1940, William Batts registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County:

Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library.

The deaths of James Whitfield Jr., John Keaton, and Agnes Melton.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 26 December 1936.

James A. Whitfield Jr. died 17 December 1936 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 24 July 1912 in Wilson to James Whitfield and Elizabeth McNeal; was single; worked as a school teacher; and was buried in Wilson. James Whitfield, 1004 Washington, was informant.

John R. Keaton died 18 December 1936 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 26 years old; was born in Statesville, N.C., to Haywood A. Keaton and Suzanne Lackey; was single; lived in Wilson; and worked as an insurance agent for N.C. Mutual Life Insurance Company.

Wilson Daily Times, 18 December 1936.

Agnes Melton died 19 December 1936 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 42 years old; was born in Lunenburg County, Virginia, to Washington Hopkins and Julia Ghee; was married to Thomas Melton; lived at 104 Carroll; and was buried in Wilson.

Lane Street Project: thank you, P.L. Woodard & Co./Womble Hardware!

They say a closed mouth don’t get fed.

Tuesday I asked for help cutting Odd Fellows Cemetery’s front section, as our well-used lawnmower recently died and the grass is shin-deep. Within hours, I received a call. P.L. Woodard and Company/Womble Hardware, Wilson’s 125+ year-old downtown hardware emporium, was offering to donate a brand-new mower!

Yesterday morning, Senior Force leaders Briggs Sherwood and Castonoble Hooks picked up our gift. With it, we will be able to keep Odd Fellows presentable during the fecund summer months when our cleanups are on hiatus, but weeds leap skyward under hot sun and rain.

We are grateful for the generosity of Jimmy Miller at Woodard/Womble, as well as those who facilitated this connection, and are greatly encouraged by this concrete show of deep community support. Friends of Lane Street Project is excited about this new phase of our journey to reclaim East Wilson’s historic African-American cemeteries, and we invite you to travel with us. Also: support local business!

Lane Street Project: Flat Rock A.M.E. Church, Fayetteville, Georgia.

Though I will always be of Wilson, I have lived in Atlanta nearly all of my adult life. It is very much “home” for me, too, and is a bottomless well of African-American culture and history that often informs the way I process research and work related to Black Wide-Awake and Lane Street Project.

I’ve begun visiting metro Atlanta’s historic African-American burial grounds. How have they weathered exploding population growth, shifting demographics, outmigration, land loss, and other pressures? The seventh in a series — Flat Rock African Methodist Episcopal Church Cemetery in Fayetteville, Georgia.

——

Flat Rock A.M.E. Church, a few miles southeast of downtown Fayetteville, is believed to be the oldest congregation in Fayette County. Like many early churches in Wilson County, Flat Rock also offered schooling for the community.

Its cemetery lies adjacent to the church, with the newest section closest to the building.

In 2025, this historical marker was erected in Fayetteville’s historically white town cemetery to commemorate the Union Benevolent Aid Society.

Photos by Lisa Y. Henderson, May 2026.

Help comes to Hamilton Burial Garden.

Hamilton Burial Garden is in crisis, but last week, the community came together to give the cemetery a Mother’s Day cleanup. Special thanks to Greg Willingham and Brandon Head of Saving Stones Headstone Restoration and Preservation for leading the way. 

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, May 2026.

Private First Class Richard T. Baker, stationed at Fort Benning.

——

In the 1930 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Haywood W. Baker, 52; wife Mollie, 43; and children Charles, 17, Hildarene, 16, Jasper, 14, Harold, 13, Mary P., 11, Richard T., 7, and Carlton Baker, 5.

In the 1940 census of Farmville township, Pitt County: farmer Haywood W. Baker, 62, and children Jasper, 22, Tensley James, 26, Richard Thomas, 16, and Carlton Baker, 14, and Mary Joyner, 20. All reported living in Greene County in 1935 except Tensley, who had lived in Goldsboro, Wayne County.

In 1942, Richard Thomas Baker registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 24 August 1923 in Stantonsburg; resided at 719 East Green Street, Wilson; his contact was Haywood Baker of the same address; and he worked at G.H.T.M. in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library.