Wilson Daily Times, 19 December 1947.
1940s
“Cabin in the Sky” at the Drake.
Pfc. Brown’s bravery recognized.
“Mythical” here — I think — means that the award was not an official military one, but created by a South Pacific military newsletter to recognize exemplary acts.
News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 17 March 1944.
——
- Pfc. Ellis Brown
Carol-singing at First Baptist.
Wilson Daily Times, 22 December 1948.
Medical auxiliary entertains at afternoon tea.
Wilson Daily Times, 14 December 1948.
——
- Mrs. W.H. Phillips — Rena Carter Phillips.
- Mrs. Addie D. Butterfield
- J.L. Cook — Jerry L. Cooke.
- Hartford Bess
- W.H. Manley
- Iris Langley
- Matile Floyd — Matteele Floyd.
- Mrs. Ethel C. Hines
- Mrs. J.F. Cowan — Annie Williamson Cowan.
- Mrs. Flossie H. Barnes
- C.W. Hines — Carl W. Hines.
Bethel burns to the ground.
Parker sentenced for refusing to go to back of the bus.
News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 7 April 1943.
Raleigh’s major newspaper followed up on the sentence levied on James Parker, who refused to move to the back of a Wilson bus twelve years before Rosa Parks. All things considered, Parker’s punishment was surprisingly light — perhaps, none yet perceived a real threat to the Jim Crow system.
Blood Red River.
Rocky Mount (N.C.) Telegram, 8 September 1945.
At the 1945 trial of William Wesley Gardner for the murder of A.J. Sanders, South Carolina-born Oscar Brown testified that he had not witnessed the shooting because he had been sitting in a back room playing Josh White’s blue tune “Blood Red River” on his guitar.
——
- William Wesley Gardner — William Wesley Gardner registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County in 1942. Per his registration card, he was born 17 April 1901 in Robeson County, North Carolina; lived at 606 South Dew Street, Wilson; his contact was George Gardner, 518 South Lodge; and his employer was M.A. Tyson, Saratoga.
- A.J. Sanders — Anthony Sanders Jr. died 25 August 1945 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 25 December 1900 in Florence, South Carolina, to Anthony Sanders Sr. and Katy Manuel; worked as a machinist; was married to Georgia E. Sanders; lived at 612 Bank; and died of a gunshot wound to the thigh.
- Oscar Brown — Oscar Brown registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County in 1940. Per his registration card, he was born 15 June 1905 in Beaufort, South Carolina; and his contact was his employer Jim Garriss’ farm.
Esther Brown appointed to caseworker position.
Chicago Defender, 7 December 1940.
——
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 419 Hines Street, tobacco contractor Lewis Townsend, 62; wife Henretta, 60; and children Alzie Townsend, 22, tobacco factory worker, and Geneva Brown, 24; son-in-law George, 26, garage mechanic; and Ester, 1, George Jr., 4, and Martha, 2.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 508 South Spring, George Porter, 34, pressing clothes at pressing club; Jeneva Brown, 30, and her children Brown, 15, Estelle, 13, Martha, 12, and Olive, 9; and daughter George M. Porter, 4.
Esther B. Goodwin died 21 July 1984 in Newport News, Virginia. Per her death certificate, she was born 10 January 1916 in North Carolina to George Brown and Geneva Townsend; was married to Felix Lee Goodwin; and he worked as a social worker in Tucson, Arizona.
Tucson Citizen, 30 July 1984.
School enrollment in 1945.
Rocky Mount (N.C.) Telegram, 8 September 1945.
There were 1696 African-American students enrolled in Wilson city schools at the start of the 1945 school year. Darden had 670 students in grades seven through twelve, and a total of 950 children attended the two intown elementary students. Sixty-six children crowded into Barnes School on Airport Road, but only ten were at one-room Lane School.