Church

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.

Presbyterian popularity contest winner.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 22 April 1939.

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In the 1930 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: Jesse Winn, 38, railroad shifter; wife Katie, 37; and children Ralph, 16, George, 14, Charlie, 9, Jennie M., 7, Marie, 6, Herbert, 4, Katie, 2, and Edward, 1.

In the 1940 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: on Main Street, Jessie Wynn, 45, grocery store merchant; wife Kattie, 45; and children Ralph E., 25, garage mechanic, Charlie, 19, Jennie Mae, 17, Marie, 16, Hurbert, 14, Kattie D., 12, Rudolph, 11, Lindbergh, 8, and Joyce, 4.

In the 1950 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: on Main Street, grocery store salesclerk Katie Wynn, 55, and children Marie, 25, Herbert, 23, cabdriver,  Katie, 22, and Joyce, 14.

The obituary of Hattie Dafney.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 13 February 1954.

I feature this obituary primarily for its mention of “Bishop S.C. Johnson’s Church” on Walnut Street, a church formally known The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith. and founded in 1930 by Edgecombe County native Sherrod C. Johnson. The church purchased several adjoining parcels — which were consolidated as 513 and 515 East Walnut Street — from Asa and Annie Locus in July 1950 after commencing a radio ministry earlier that year. Church trustee Isaiah Mercer founded the adjoining Whole Truth Lunchroom. The church’s adherents, known colloquially as “Bishop Johnsons,” were once numerous in Wilson.

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Hattie Dafney died 29 January 1954 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 10 February 1892 in Cumberland County, N.C.; was married; and lived at 927 Carolina Street. Mary McIntosh was informant.