Church

Rev. Prince Mincey.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 6 April 1940.

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In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farm laborer John Minsie, 30; wife Olivia, 28; and children Laurena, 12, James, 11, Robeta, 9, Joseph, 4, Etta, 2, and Prince, 6 months.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: tobacco factory worker Jack Mency, 45; wife Olivia, 40; and children Laura, 20, James, 18, Beatrice, 16, Joseph, 13, Etta, 11, Prince, 8, Olivia, 5, Margory, 3, and Susan, 1.

On 12 September 1929, Prince Mincey, 22, of Wilson, son of Jack and Olivia Mincey, married Alice Hannah, 20, of Wilson, daughter of Davis and Ollie Hannah, in Wilson. Holiness minister July Wells performed the ceremony in the presence of W.E. Holliday, Dock Cooper, and Rob Batts.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: tobacco factory laborer John Mincey, 50; wife Olivia, 46; children Olivia D., 17, Joseph, 23; Margie, 15, Susie M., 12, Johnie C., 8, Percy, 6, and Prince, 21, and Prince’s wife Alice, 19; and grandsons James, 12, Lawrence L., 7, and Willie L. Carroll, infant.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 511 Stantonsburg, Prince Mincey, 30, fertilizer plant laborer, and wife Alice, 29, tobacco factory laborer.

In 1940, Prince Mincey registered in the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 18 March 1908 in Wilson; lived at 511 Stantonsburg Street, Wilson; his contact was wife Alice Hiunh [Hannah] Mincey; and he was employed by C.J. Moore in Wilson.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 511 Stantonsburg, Prince Mincey, 40, stacks fertilizer at fertilizer plant, and wife Alice, 39.

Signal Boost: grant funding opportunity to preserve black churches.

Calling all pastors, elders, deacons, trustees, members, and community preservationists:

“The National Trust’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund is now accepting applications for grant funding for historically Black Churches in your community through the Preserving Black Churches grant program.

“As the oldest institutions created and controlled by African Americans, these spaces are a living testament to the achievements and resiliency of generations of American families and communities. To preserve and uplift these historic places and the neighborhoods they serve, the Preserving Black Churches grant program provides funding ranging from $50,000 to $500,000.

“In 2025, 30 historically Black Churches across the United States received a collective $8.5 million in funding to support critical preservation work, from structural restoration work to enhancing stewardship planning.

“No church is too small. No town is too remote. If you or someone you know cares for a historically Black church, it may be eligible!

Grant applications are due September 12.”

Learn more: https://ow.ly/8Anz50WznNj

[Note: the announcement sets a September 12 due date. So does the website. The flyer says September 16. Don’t slip — assume the earlier date!]

B.W.A. Historical Marker Series, no. 27: Wilson Chapel Free Will Baptist Church.

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.

WILSON CHAPEL F.W.B. CHURCH

Original site of First Missionary Baptist Church. Wilson Chapel formed in 1910; bought frame church here in 1915. Destroyed by fire in 1922, and larger frame church built. Replaced for current brick building in 1958.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, July 2025.

Bishop and wife celebrated at Saint John.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 12 August 1939.

In 1939, Saint John A.M.E. Zion hosted the Wilson District’s celebration of the golden anniversary of Bishop and Mrs. John Wesley Wood. Photos snapped during the event included members of the Women’s Club, the Young Women’s Club, the Emma C. Clement Missionary Society, and the Novelty Club.

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A glance at Wilson.

Though this newspaper article issued a few years after Black Wide-Awake’s coverage, I could not resist its images of East Wilson.

The Afro-American (Baltimore, Md.), 21 February 1953.

Below, the 500 block of East Nash Street, Wilson’s former Black commercial center. The three-story building at right is the Odd Fellows Building, built by Samuel H. Vick in 1894. Beside it, we see the verandas of the Biltmore Hotel (earlier known as the Union and the Whitley), Wilson’s only Green Book hotel. On the left, we see the hedges that fronted several residences that once lined that side of the street.

Below, Yancey’s Drug Store, which stood at 563 East Nash.

Other buildings shown include Mercy Hospital, the then-brand-new Elvie Street School; Jackson Chapel First Baptist Church; the home of Daniel and Bertha Carroll, which still stands on Lincoln Street; and a taxi and driver of United Cab Company.