In this series, which will post on occasional Wednesdays, I populate the landscape of Wilson County with imaginary “historical markers” commemorating people, places, and events significant to African-American history or culture.
We been here.
Also known as Kirby’s or Boyette’s School. Three-room school stood near St. Delight Original Free Will Baptist Church, facing railroad. Constructed with Rosenwald funds ca. 1920; probably replaced an older building.
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[Sidenote: Hoping to get a sense of where Kirby’s Crossing School stood, I turned into the narrow unpaved track leading road leading to Saint Delight. A man working on the church’s front porch said his wife’s family might know about the school, but he wasn’t as familiar with the area because he was from Stantonsburg. I studied his face a bit, then commented, “I have family from near there. You favor them — they’re Artises.” He rared back a little: “That’s my name!” In fact, he is a grandson of Leslie and Minnie Diggs Artis and a great-grandson of my great-great-grandmother Louvicey Artis Aldridge’s brother Napoleon Artis!]
Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, July 2025.