Wilson Daily Times, 3 August 1981.
In the 1910 census of Wilsons Mill, Johnston County: farmer William Nunn, 39; wife Lucy, 28; and children Percie, 13, Rosa, 7, Paul, 5, Nora, 3, and Elsie, 9 months.
On 21 August 1920, Eugene Rhine, 26, of Wilson married Rosa B. Nunn, 18, of Wilson in Wilson. Minister H.E. Clank performed the ceremony in the presence of David Richardson, Hubert Vinson, and T.S. Holt.
On 29 November 1939, Peter Lupes married Rosa Rhyne in Emporia, Greenesville County, Virginia. He was a merchant, a resident of Wilson, North Carolina, divorced, and listed his age as 45. He was born in Portugal to Joe and Mary Lupes. Rosa was widow born in Johnston County who also lived in Wilson.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 717 Viola Street, Peter Lucas [sic], 50, and wife Rosa, 35. Peter’s birthplace was listed as Massachusetts. He worked as the operator of a beer parlor and Rosa as the operator of a cafe.
Peter Lupe died 21 May 1958 in Wilson. He death certificate notes that he was a resident of the city for 50 years and that he was a United States citizen. He was born 21 March 1891 in “Cape of Verdia Island, Portugal” to Teorga Montel Lupe and Mary Montel Lupe; lived at 717 East Viola Street; and worked as a merchant. His wife Rosa Lupe was his informant.
On 2 July 1960, James Monroe Weathers, 41, of Granada, Mississippi, married Rosa R. Lupe, 53, of Wilson, in Wilson. Catholic priest John R. Ferris performed the ceremony in the presence of Bessie Richardson, Clarence Crawford, and Inez Watson.
Rosa Weathers died 25 October 1999 in Garner, Wake County, North Carolina. Per her death certificate, she was born 13 September 1902 in Johnston County; her maiden name was Nunn; and was a manager in an eating and drinking place.
What a woman Rosa was! And to think she was certified to teach primary school after only finishing seventh grade. There’s so much history in these articles. Thanks for sharing them, Lisa!
I remember Rosa and her last husband James. Once Betty Lou and I were given a really large Tennessee ham. It was too big to fit in our oven. We carried it to Rosa’s Place. Rosa cooked it perfectly. One of the best hams we ever had. She was a Wilson institution!
Nice story! Thanks for sharing!
How many of “y’all” actually met Rosa .. ? Well I did! In fact Rosa so respected my amazing grandmother Nannie Briggs Fleming that she came to my house on Walnut Street and cooked for all the other folks that came to give their respects to her when she died rather suddenly .. I was just probably 23 years old at the time but I knew all along that this was something quite special between the blacks and whites of the town I grew up in .. it’s time to face up to it and hug them back friends ..
I never met Mrs. Weathers (as I prefer to call her), but have nothing but wonderful things about her. As for the “special thing” between blacks and whites in 20th century Wilson, well, I’m not sure I buy that as a generalization.