I was peering at the cornerstone of Stantonsburg’s 105 year-old Saint Luke Free Will Baptist Church when a small pickup truck pulled up behind me. Mother Annie Dupree stepped out and asked me to identify myself. After I established my bona fides — we are not related, but share kin — I was invited into the sanctuary and given both a tour and a history of the church. Before I left an hour later, I’d purchased a commemorative brick — HONORING HISTORY/ LISA Y HENDERSON/ BLACK WIDE AWAKE — and gotten permission to take pictures of pictures of a half-dozen early church leaders and write about them here. Stay tuned.
ST. LUKE FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH ESTABLISHED 1917 WILLIE JORDAN SECT. REV. J.E. BROWN PASTOR
In the 1910 census of Pine Level township, Johnston County, N.C.: farmer Rufus A. Horton, 37; wife Mary J., 33; and children William O., 12, Fredie, 10, Alonzo V., 9, Callie M., 7, Flossie V., 5, Romie, 3, and Rufus Jr., 2 months.
In the 1920 census of Smithfield, Johnson County: farmer Ruffes Horton, 47; wife Mary J., 44; and children Van Dan, 19, Calla M., 18, Flosie, 16, Ramon, 13, Ruffes, 9, and Etheal, 4.
On 15 September 1923, Alonzo Creech, 37, of Smithfield, son of Bristol and Susanna Creech, married Callie Horton, 21, of Smithfield, daughter of Rufus and Mary Jane Horton, in Wilson’s Mill, Johnston County.
In the 1930 census of Smithfield, Johnston County: farm laborer Alonzo Creech, 49; wife Callie M., 29; and children Roger, 4, Hortense, 3, Odessa, 2, and Roland, 7 months.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farmer Alonza Creech, 57; wife Callie, 37; and children Alonza Jr., 15, Roger, 14, Odessa, 12, Roland, 9, and Doris, 8.
In 1943, Roger Olander Creech registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 3 October 1925 in Johnston County; lived at 1100 East Nash Street, Wilson; his contact was Callie M. Creech, 1100 East Nash; and he worked for A.B. Carr, Kenan Street, Wilson.
On 28 June 1901, Wilson’s Board of Commissioners enacted town ordinances, including IX, which governed cemeteries. Twelve years later, the city abandoned African-American Oakdale Cemetery in favor of Vick Cemetery, which in turn it proceeded to neglect.
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Section 1 — That any person making an interment in the Town other than in Maplewood or Oakdale Cemeteries should be subject to a fine of Ten Dollars.
Section 2 — That any one injuring or defacing the inclosures around Maplewood or Oakdale Cemeteries, or tombstones, or plucking the flowers shrubbery therein or in any Church yard, should be subject to a fine of Five Dollars.
Section 3 — That any person riding or driving a horse or vehicle within the Cemeteries faster than a walk should be subject to a fine of Five Dollars.
Section 4 — That the use of the avenues in the Cemeteries as public thoroughfares is hereby prohibited, under a penalty of Two Dollars for each offense.
Section 5 — That no dead body should be exhumed in the Cemeteries except by permission of the Mayor, under a penalty of Ten Dollars.
Section 6 — That it should be the duty of the Keeper of Cemeteries to keep all lots clean, keep all graves filled when caved and in good condition.
Section 7 — That the Keeper of Maplewood Cemetery should be and is hereby invested with full Police power and is denominated Cemetery Policeman.
Section 8 — That no Cemetery lots should be sold except for cash.
In the 1920 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: on Elm City Road, Mahaly Barnes, 51, and children Benessia, 19, Elizabeth, 18, Jason, 17, Lizzie, 18, David, 16, Mattie, 15, and Ernest, 8.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: widow Mahaley Barnes, 61; sone Earnest, 17, tobacco factory laborer; and Jason Smith, 24, tobacco factory laborer.
On 14 September 1939, Ernest Barnes, 27, of Wilson, son of Joe and Mahalia Barnes, married Lucile Stewart, 24, of Wilson, daughter of Noah and Mary Stewart, in Wilson. Elder Marshall Cooper, Baptist minister, performed the ceremony in the presence of James Aycock, Eddie Ricks, and Junius Best.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1321 East Nash, Ernest Barnes, 28, cook; wife Lucile, 28, cook; mother Mahaley, 73; sister Bernice Hines, 35, tobacco factory stemmer; and her children William, 16, Ossie May, 14, James Cleo, 12, Lester, 11, Paul D., 7, Bernice, 5, and John Eddy Hines, 3.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1321 East Nash, Mahalia Barnes, 84; Ernest Barnes, 38, cook; Lucille Barnes, 38, cook; and granddaughter Occie M. Hines, 24, “never worked.”
Earnest Barnes died 19 March 1968 at the Veterans Administration hospital in Durham, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born 24 January 1912 in Wilson County to Joe Barnes and Mahalia Barron; and worked as a “domestic (cooking).” Informant was Lucille Barnes.
Lucille Barnes applied for a military headstone for her husband on 25 March 1968. The application noted that he was ranked Staff Sergeant and had served in World War II in the 242nd Quartermaster Truck Company.
On 18 August 1924, Joe Cockrell, white, interrupted four African-American men — Sam Jackson, Tom Smith, Otis Taylor, and John Smith — pulling fodder in a corn field on George Dew’s farm. After demanding liquor, Cockrell argued with Jackson. Shortly after, a shot rang out, Jackson dropped to the ground, and Cockrell fled. He was on the lam for about two weeks before being arrested at his uncle’s house, charged and held without bail.
On 6 November 1924, Raleigh’s News and Observer reported that a judge had determined there was not enough evidence to hold Cockrell on first degree murder charges and had reduced the charge to second degree and released Cockrell on $5000 bond.Â
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On 9 December 1918, Sam Jackson, 19, of Wilson, son of Turner and Nellie Jackson of South Carolina, married Victoria Watson, 18, of Wilson, daughter of Will and Alice Watson of Clayton, North Carolina, at the courthouse in Wilson.Â
On 4 January 1919, Sam Jackson, 20, of Wilson, son of Simon and Nellie Jackson of Conway, South Carolina, and Mary Carroll, 19, of Wilson, daughter of Major and Dollie Carroll, in Wilson. Free Will Baptist minister A.A.J. Davis performed the ceremony in the presence of William Cassill, Molley Wright, and Mary Davis. [A month after Jackson married Victoria Watson??]
In the 1920 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: farm laborer Sam Jackson, 22, and wife Mary, 23.
Sam Jackson died 18 August 1924 in Taylor’s township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was 30 years old; was married; and was a farmer. He was buried in Coleman’s cemetery. George Dew was informant.
Hilliard Ellis — in the 1930 census of Oldfields township, Wilson County: farmer Hilliard D. Ellis, 28; wife Ella, 23; and children Doereatha, 4, and Hilliard Jr., 1.
Harland Sessoms
Helen Willingham
Lessie Davis — probably, in the 1940 census of Oldfields township, Wilson County: farmer John Davis, 65; wife Willie, 54; and children William H., 24; Mattie L., 20; Jessie, 18; Lessie, 16; and Willie, 15.
Nora Farmer
Perlie Jane Jones
Mozzelle Hamilton — in the 1940 census of Oldfields township, Wilson County: farmer Jacob Hamilton, 53; wife Beulah, 51; and children Ethel, 15, Othel, 18, Lawrance, 13, Mozell, 11, and Hubert, 8.
Beatrice Wilkins — in the 1940 census of Oldfields township, Wilson County: farmer Clifton Wilkins, 42; wife Sardie, 42; and children William, 14, Beatrice, 11, John Jr., 9, and Jeff, 7; plus daughter Sally Ann Bagley, 19, widow, and her children Nellie May, 3, and James Jr., 1.
