This beautiful matching set of photographic portraits depicts Rufus and Sara Sherard Coley.

On 28 November 1912, Rufus Coley, 29, of Wayne County, son of Dennis and Sarah Coley, married Sarah Sherard, 28, daughter of Swinson and Laura Sherard, in Fork township, Wayne County.

In the 1916 Wilson city directory, Rufus Coley is listed as a carpenter living on Atlantic Street between North Vick and Reid Streets.

Rufus Coley registered for the World War I draft on 12 September 1918. Per his registration card, he was born 6 September 1883; resided at R.F.D.#4, Wilson; was engaged in farming for John R. Raines; and his nearest relative was Sarah E. Coley.

Rufus Coley died 5 April 1925 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born about 1886 in Wayne County to Dennis Coley and Sarah Hill; was married to Sara Coley; worked as a bank manager at First National Bank; and was buried in Wayne County. Levi Coley of Goldsboro, North Carolina, was informant. [Bank manager? First National Bank? Was this a later iteration of Commercial Bank?]

Rufus Coley died intestate, and his wife Sara E. Coley applied in Wilson County Superior Court for letters of administration on 8 June 1925. She estimated his estate as a house and lot valued at about $1200.00 and personal property worth an additional $550.00, and named as heirs herself and children Elaine and James F. Coley. William Hines joined her in pledging bond.

Just over a year later, on 18 July 1926, Sarah E. Coley died in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 25 March 1883 in Wayne County to Swinson Sherrood and Laura Hooks, both of Wayne. She was the widow of Rufus Coley and resided at 1012 East Atlantic Street, Wilson. John Sherrood was informant.

Sara E. S. Coley and children Elaine (born 1916) and James Frederick Coley (born 1921).

Photographs courtesy of Ancestry.com user lambie04.