Yearbooks can be a valuable source of photographs of community members whose images were infrequently captured or retained. The 1952 edition of Charles H. Darden High School’s yearbook, The Trojan, highlighted the custodial staff, which included Lessie Mercer, born in Wilson County in 1892.

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In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: day laborer Hayard Cooper, 50; wife Jula, 30, washing; and children Willie, 8, Lessy, 7, Hallie, 4, and George, 2.

In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Lipscomb Road, widow Julia Cooper, 40, farm laborer, and children Lessie, 18, cook, Mahaly, 16, cook, Jessie, 9, and Allen, 5.

On 21 March 1911, Isiah Mercer, 2o, of Wilson, son of Henry and Florence Mercer of Wilson, married Less Cooper, 19, daughter of Heywood and Julia Cooper of Wilson, at July Cooper’s residence in Wilson. Primitive Baptist Minister Jonah Williams performed the ceremony.

In the 1912 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Mercer Lessie (c) lab h Harper’s Ln nr Herring av

Mable Mercer died 28 January 1915 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 8 March 1913 in Wilson to Isear Mercer of Florida and Lessie Cooper of North Carolina and was buried in Wilson [probably, Vick Cemetery.]

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 217 Hackney, Isax Mercer, 28, factory laborer; wife Lessie, 27; and lodger Walter Mumford, 19, lumber yard laborer.

In the 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Mercer Lessie (c) laundress h 314 Hackney

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 908 Carolina Street, tobacco factory laborer Isear Mercer, 51; wife Lessie, 48, laundress; and mother Julia Johnston, 68.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Isear Mercer, 63, “drives floor truck – local tobacco factory”; wife Lessie, 58, maid at local colored school; mother-in-law Julia Johnson, 76, widow; and nephew Augustus Mercer, 25.

Isear Mercer died 4 June 1953 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 13 June 1892 in Wilson County to Henry Mercer and Florence Farmer; was married; lived at 908 Carolina Street; and worked as a laborer. Lessie Mercer was informant.

Lessie Cooper Mercer died in August 1975.