1940s

Patsy Tabron turns two!

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 1 November 1941.

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In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: painter-contractor Butler Jones, 59; wife Myrtie, 57; and sons Joseph, 25, Willard, 20, and John, 19, all painters; son-in-law William Tabron, 26, janitor at Carolina Theatre; daughter Myrtie, 21; and granddaughter Patsy, 6 months.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1011 East Nash Street, painter Butler Jones, 69; wife Myrtie, 67; son John H., 27, and his wife Lizzie M., 28; son-in-law William L. Tabron, 35; wife Myrtie, 30; and daughters Patsy, 10, and Julia, 9.

Bertha Bryant becomes Mrs. Dewitt Hawkins.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 24 October 1942.

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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 596 Wainwright Street, tobacco factory laborer Isham Bryant, 27; wife Rossie, 21; and children Beatrice, 5, Bertha, 4, and Inez, 1.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 805 Roberson Street, Isom Bryant, 37, factory laborer; wife Rossie, 32, public school maid; and daughters Beatrice, 15, Bertha, 14, and Inez, 11.

Bertha Bryant married Dewitt Hawkins on 8 September 1942 in New York City. Hawkins died 21 October 1956. Per a Report on Interment, he served in 3294 QM Svc. Co. QMC from 1942 to 1945 as a private first class and was buried in Long Island National Cemetery. His next of kin was Bertha Hawkins, 183-48 Dunlop Avenue, Saint Albans, New York — “Widow Bertha to be buried in the same grave.”

Bertha Bryant Hawkins returned to Wilson and later married Dan Carroll, who owned a popular Nash Street pool room.

B.W.A. Historical Marker Series, no. 29: Williamson High School.

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.

WILLIAMSON HIGH SCHOOL

African-American merchant-farmer Paul T. Williamson donated the land on which the Wilson County School Board built a six-room high school to serve black students in southwestern Wilson County. Williamson High School opened in 1941. Merged with new Springfield H.S. in 1951.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, October 2025.

The history of Williamson High School.

A 14 May 2014 Wilson Daily Times article, “Education’s still a priority: Williamson-Springfield alumni holding gospel festival Saturday,” included this history of Williamson High School:

“In 1939, James Boykin spoke with Luther Wilder about the need for a high school for black children in the western part of the county.

“Students had to attend school in surrounding areas, including Johnson County or Darden High School in Wilson, both of which long distances for students to travel.

“A meeting was eventually held at Rocky Branch Church in Kenly, where then Wilson County Schools Superintendent K.R. Curtis attended. Parents were concerned about the future of their children’s education.

“In July 1940, the Wilson County Board of Education met and discussed the idea about purchasing property for the high school. A six-acre plot was purchased for $600 from Jennie Whitley, was the sister of Paul Williamson, who owned the land.

“A group of 40 young people, both black and white, helped with the construction of the building, which would become Williamson High School.  Construction was completed in March 1941. Until then, Rocky Branch Church held classes there until the school was completed. During the 1941 school year, classes were held on Saturdays at the church and school in order to get credit. Opened in 1942, the Williamson School was a six-room high school that offered grades 9-12. Williamson School merged with Springfield in the fall of 1951. While the first graduating class was in 1952, the first full class, who spent all 12 years at the school, was in 1964.”

Wilson Daily Times, 7 July 1994.

AKAs hold annual bridge tournament.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 24 October 1942.

The local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority held its annual bridge tournament at Reid Street Community Center on 8 October 1942.

Chapter members included Odelle Whitehead Barnes, Lucy Barnes, Nettie Daniels, Norma D. Darden, Marian Davis, Doris Freeman, Esther Brown Goodwin, Vera Greene, Dolores Hines, Mae Murray McKoy, Marion Howard Miller, Helen Townsend Parker, Cora Miller Washington, Rosalyn Whitehead, Thelma Reid Whitehead, and Rosa Kittrell Williams.

Local guests included Grace B. Swinney, Ruth Jones Plater, Grace McNeil Johnson, Ethel Gray Howell, Flossie Howard Barnes, Dorothy Grissom Parker, Dr. George K. Butterfield, Robert A. Johnson, Ethel Cornwell Hines, Levi Jones, Tempsie Robbins Jones, Addie Davis Butterfield, E. Dortche Fisher, Letitia Lovett Fisher, Sarah P. Hines, Eleanor P. Reid, Georgia Cooke Gant, Flossie Dunston, Marie Mitchner, Maggie Barnes Crawford, Lurean Barnes Zachary, Catherine Turner Watson, Margaret Edwards Kornegay, Myrtle Lane Mitchell, Annie Gilliam, Annie Dupree, and Margaret Hines.

B.W.A. Historical Marker Series, no. 28: East Nash Street Monument Company.

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.

EAST NASH STREET MONUMENT COMPANY

Clarence B. Best began cutting marble and granite headstones in 1914 and in 1946 established his own monument company in his backyard at 1306 East Nash St. Known for his distinctive font, deep cuts, stylized plant motifs, and use of recycled material, thousands of Best’s headstones can be found in Wilson and Surrounding counties.

Wilson Daily Times, 13 October 1945.

 

Williamson seeks brother.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 16 October 1943.

Paul T. Williamson and John Williamson were the sons of Alex and Grace Shaw Williamson.

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John Clemon Williamson, son of Alex and Grace Williamson, practiced medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for 14 years before his death in 1927. This is curious. Could Paul T. Williamson not know that his brother was dead? I’ve found no evidence that Dr. Williamson lived in Texas.

However, in the 1900 census of Waxahachie, Ellis County, Texas: day laborer John Williamson, 24, born in N.C. to parents born in Georgia; wife Minnie, 28; and children Alexander, 6, Beatrice, 4, and Fleta, 3, all born in Texas. [Ellis County is a southeastern suburb of Dallas.]

In 1910 census of Dallas, Dallas County, Texas: laborer John Williamson, 39, born in N.C. to N.C.-born parents; wife Minnie, 32; and children Alexander, 19, Beatrice, 15, Pleta, 13, and Warren, 7.

Did Alex and Grace Williamson have two sons named John? Yes. The first John (whose name is attributed as Ellic in some family trees), their firstborn child, was born about 1866. The second was John Clemon, born about ten years later. Both appear in the 1880 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer Elic Williamson, 44; wife Gracy, 29; and children John, 14, Lugen, 11, Joseph, 9, Jennie, 7, Mary, 6, Clem, 4, Sarah J., 2, and Pall, 1.

John Williamson the elder, who migrated to Texas before 1900, does not appear in census records after 1910 and likely was dead long before his brother Paul advertised for his whereabouts in 1943.

The death of Henry Green.

Baltimore Sun, 6 October 1941.

Henry Green migrated temporarily to Maryland to work at a dairy. Tragically, he did not come home.

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In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Grace Street, public service laborer Henry Green, 47; wife Lottie, 40, cook; and children Cora, 12, Fred, 9, Henry Jr., 7, Edward, 2, and James, no age given.