At “Williamson Community Day,” the Springfield High School Adult and Young Farmer’s Club honored Paul T. Williamson, the merchant/farmer who had been so instrumental in establishing Williamson Elementary, Williamson High, and, finally, the consolidated Springfield High School.
Williamson would surely have been proud of the alumni who recently formed Springfield Community Center for Arts, Education, and Civil Rights Legacy to redevelop the abandoned school building. Their aim is to preserve history while creating new opportunities in the community. See this recent abc11.com spotlight on the project. [Quick note: Springfield was not the first high school in the area. That was Williamson, which opened ten years earlier in 1941. However, when Speight and Williamson High Schools opened in 1951 as the direct result of pressure applied by the black community, they were top-notch facilities.]
This audacious try happened two years ago, but the clip is making the rounds again this Black History Month. Abe Jones, who represents part of Wake County in the North Carolina General Assembly, is a Harvard University and Harvard Law School graduate, and I wanted to know a little more about him. Imagine my surprise to find that Jones was born in Wilson!
A quick bit of research informed me that Jones was born to Frissell W. Jones and Pauline Gallop Jones during the brief period that Frissell Jones taught diversified occupations, math, and English at Darden High School. Jones left Wilson to teach at Saint Augustine’s College, and Abraham Penn Jones was born soon after.
Dr. Frissell W. Jones modeled excellence for his son, and we celebrate both!
The suit Dr. Boisey O. Barnes and Dr. Darcey C. Yancey filed eventually led to the construction of a new elementary school in East Wilson. Barnes died in 1956, and the school was named in his honor.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., was a relative latecomer to Wilson, but as a woman steeped and marinated in crimson and cream, I recognize our national Founders Day here.
My mother Beverly A. Henderson is a Delta. My father’s sister Hattie H. Ellis is a Delta. My sister Karla M. Henderson-Jackson. My niece Sydney Jackson. Two first cousins, Monica E. Barnes and Tracey E. Leon, and innumerable, more distant relatives. Deltas crowded my childhood “village,” i.e. East Wilson, and I was nurtured by Diana D. Myers, Yvonne C. Lofton, Evelyn W. Hagans, Shirley S. Woodard, Ruth H. Harris, Mary Peppers, Minnie E. Cummings, Jessie M. Jones, Ethel A. Woodard, Marian G. Lane, and so many others.
Sisterhood, scholarship, service, and social action. We are anchored in legacy and evolving with intention. Happy 113th Founders Day, sorors!
On 20 November 1877, Shade Reed, 23, married Susan Edwards, 21, in No. 8 township, Edgecombe County, N.C.
In the 1880 census of Sparta township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: farmer Shade Reid, 25; wife Susan, 23; and son Ross, 1.
In the 1910 census of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana: farmer Shed Reed, 55; wife Caroline, 45; and children Sammie, 24, Lossa, 24, and Ossa, 21, all born in North Carolina.
On 27 February 1913, Samuel Reed, 28, married Mary Hamilton, 29, in Chicago, Illinois.
On 22 November 1916, Samuel Reed, 31, married Mary J. Wright, 23, in Chicago.
In 1918, Samuel Reed registered for the World War I draft in Cook County, Illinois. Per his registration card, he was born 22 July 1885; lived at 6204 Ada, Chicago; worked as a Pullman porter for Pullman Company, Chicago & Alton Railroad; and his nearest relative was wife Mary J. Reed.
In the 1920 census of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois: at 6145 South Ada, railroad porter Samuel Reed, 34, and wife Mary, 25.
In the 1930 census of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois: at 6231 Racine, railroad porter Samuel Reed, 43; wife Birdie, 41; mother[in-law?] Ollie Smith, 65; and Elizabeth Walker, 19, xx.
In the 1940 census of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois: at 6016 May, owned and valued at #3000, Samuel Reed, 54, porter on steam railroad; wife Nancy, 39; and daughters Amelia, 16, and Elizabeth, 17.
In 1942, Samuel Reed registered for the World War II draft in Cook County, Illinois. Per his registration card, he was born 22 July 1885 in Edgecombe County, N.C.; lived at 6016 South May, Chicago; his contact was Louis Baler, 6142 South Ada, Chicago; and he worked for the Pullman County, Chicago.
In the 1950 census of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois: railroad company porter Samuel Reed, 64, and wife Nancy, 49.
Peter Randolph
In the 1940 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Dan Randolph, 28, farmer; wife Mary, 26; children Paul G., 2, and Deloise, 1; and uncle Pete Randolph, 67, widower.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 608 Spring, Peter Randolph, 77, and wife Clockie, 67.
Peter Randolph died 4 March 1959 at his home at 510 South Spring, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 4 July 1883 in Edgecombe County, N.C., to Robert Randolph and Julia Johnson; was a widower; and was buried in Elm City Cemetery. Mattie Ruffin was informant.
On 29 September 1934, Fred Woodard, 45, of Wilson, son of Bettie Woodard, married Lucy Bynum, 27, of Wilson, daughter of Cooper and Willie Ann Bynum, in Wilson. Rev. M.T. Lewis performed the ceremony.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 111 East Street, Fred Woodard, 46, and wife Lucy, 33, both tobacco warehouse laborers.
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.
EBENEZER MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
Founded about 1917 as Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. Orig. a wood-framed bldg. Also known as Weeks Chapel after Rev. A.L.E. Weeks. Remodeled in 1937 under Rev. Charles T. Jones; name changed to Ebenezer. Current building constructed in 1956.
In the 1900 census of Raft Swamp township, Robeson County, N.C.: Calvin Tompson, 37; wife Jennie, 48; and children Nathan, 14, Jadie, 12, Robert, 8, Edna, 5, Lettie, 3, and John C., 1.
In the 1910 census of Pembroke township, Robeson County, N.C.: Calvin Thompson, 43; wife Martha J., 40; children Jadie, 22, Edna, 15, Lettie H., 13, Johnie, 11, Alford, 9, Willie, 4, and Carlie, 2; and sister Rosa 50.
In 1917, Jadie Thompson registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 25 April 1888 in Lowe, N.C.; lived in Lucama, N.C.; was a tenant farmer for Wiley Love; and was single. He signed his card “Jaddie Thompson.”
On 4 May 1918, J.D. Thompson, 29, of Cross Roads, son of Calvin and Jennie Thompson, married Irene Rowe, 17, of Cross Roads, daughter of Ruffin and Piety Rowe, in Wilson County. Missionary Baptist minister C.D. Dew performed the ceremony.
In the 1920 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer Jaddie D. Thompson, 31; wife Jennie, 19; and son Jaddie L., 10 months.
In the 1930 census of Jackson township, Nash County, N.C.: farmer Jadie Thompson, 42; wife Rena, 29; children Jadie, 12, Carrie, 9, Emma, 7, Lonnie, 6, Rosa, 5, and Willard, 9 months; and aunt Rosa Moore, 70.
In the 1940 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: farmer J.D. Thompson, 52; wife Rethea, 41; and children Lonnie, 16, Cary, 18, Bessie, 18, Rosamarie, 15; Willard, 9, David, 6, Beatrice, 5, and Pauline, 1.
In 1940, Jadie Lee Thompson registered for the World War II draft in Nash County. Per his registration card, he was born 10 March 1919 in Wilson County; lived on R.F.D. 1, Wilson, Nash County; worked for J.H. Robins; and his contact was Jadie Thompson, R.F.D., Wilson, Wilson County.
In the 1950 census of Jackson township, Nash County, N.C.: farmer Jadie Thompson, 61; wife Irene, 50; children Carrie, 29, Willard, 19; David, 18; Beatrice, 15; Minnie L., 11; Pauline, 10; and Nathaniel, 6; and sister Edna T. Finch, 49.
Jadie Thompson died 15 November 1950 in Nash County, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born 25 April 1888 in Wilson County to Calvin Thompson and Jennie Smith; lived in Wilson County; worked as a farmer; and was buried in Sandy Fork Cemetery.
