City of Wilson

In memory of L/Cpl Archie Lee Cooper, killed in action in Vietnam.

Twenty year-old Marine Archie Lee Cooper died in action in Trung Tin, Quang Nam province, Vietnam, on 7 September 1967. Cooper was the son of Annie Marie Cooper and grandson of James W. and Amanda Alberta Artis Cooper. and a graduate of Darden High School, where he had been a honor roll student and sports standout.

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In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 110 – 4th Street, James Cooper, 61, machinist helper at tobacco factory; wife Amanda A., 50; children George C., 18, Alberta, 15, Chester, 13, Lillie B., 11; and grandsons Gary L., 7, Floyd J., 5, and Archie L., 3.

Wilson Daily Times, 23 March 1966.

Greensboro Daily News, 19 September 1967.

Wilson Daily Times, 21 September 1967.

Application for military headstone for Archie Lee Cooper.

Wilson Daily Times, 2 November 1967.

U.S. Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1861-1985, http://www.ancestry.com.

The obituary of Eleanor P. Reid of Washington, D.C.

More than six years ago, I wrote about a letter my grandmother Hattie Henderson Ricks received from her friend Cora Miller Washington Artis. The note contained this brief mention:

At the time, I could not identify “Pet” Reid, but my recent discovery of her obituary cleared the mystery.

Evening Star, 8 December 1958.

“Pet” Reid was Eleanor P. Frederick Reid, long-time Wilson teacher and principal of the Colored Graded School after her husband J.D. Reid was forced out in the wake of the Mary C. Euell incident.

Lane Street Project: Vick Cemetery’s veterans are honored.

I’m always uneasy when I see a text notification at 7:39 A.M., but I needn’t have been. Rev. H. Maurice Barnes was sharing great news!

Cemetery Commission Leader Heather Goff told Barnes that it was laid on her heart that something should be done to recognize Vick Cemetery’s veterans, so she purchased and placed flags at the central monument to honor their service and sacrifice. This marker, in essence, marks tombs of unknown soldiers, and Goff’s gesture is fitting and deeply appreciated.

Thank you, Commissioners.

On its way to the seven men and women of the Wilson County Commission. They’ve been grappling with the Confederate memorial issue for several years. Reaching consensus could not have been easy, nor finding a solid way to effectuate their decision, but here we are. The monument, with its capped segregated water fountains, Confederate battle flag, and ten Saint Andrew’s crosses, has been removed from courthouse grounds. 

Wilson City Council, you’re on the clock.

B.W.A. Historical Marker Series, no. 3: Piney Grove Free Will Baptist Church.

In this series, which will post on occasional Wednesdays, I populate the landscape of Wilson County with imaginary “historic markers” commemorating people, places, and events significant to African-American history or culture.

We been here.

PINEY GROVE FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH

Church org. in 1882. Trustees purchased this lot at Vance and Elba Sts. in 1900 from Samuel and Annie Vick. Wooden building with 2-story tower constructed. Moved to present Vick St. location in 1930s; building later renovated.

Photograph by Lisa Y. Henderson, May 2024.

Mincey siblings killed by lightning.

On 4 August 1931, siblings Mary and Willie Mincey were struck by lightning and killed instantly in Wilson.

Willie Mincey’s death certificate is identical to his sister’s except for his name and age — 7. I have found no details of their deaths in available local newspapers.

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In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 507 Stantonsburg Street, James Mincey, 26, fertilizer plant laborer; wife Lucinda, 22, tobacco factory stemmer; and children Mary N., 8, Willie, 7, and James Jr., 6.