Newspapers

Soldier stabbed.

Wilson Daily Times, 12 April 1943.

William H. Vick survived this knife attack and lived till 1963.

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  • Willie Ruffin
  • William H. Vick

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Rufus Neal, 66, gardener; wife Hattie B., 55; children David L., 17, tobacco warehouse trucker, Joseph, 16, tobacco warehouse trucker, and Viola, 12; granddaughter Essie Ray Lucas, 7; and lodger William H. Vick, 22, tobacco factory cooper.

In 1940, William Henry Vick registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 1 May 1917 in Nash County, North Carolina; lived at 608 Daniel Street; his contact was friend Sam Clark, same address; and he worked for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Wilson.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Sam Clark, 45, nightwatchman at tobacco redrying plant; William H. Vick, 32, repacker at tobacco warehouse; and Luther Walker, 26, “ships out” at tobacco warehouse.

William Henry Vick died 27 January 1963 at the Veterans Administration hospital in Durham, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born in Rocky Mount, N.C., to Will Vick and Bessie Cook; was never married; lived at 707 West Walnut Street, Wilson; was an odd jobs laborer for James I. Miller; was a veteran of World War II; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery.

N.A.A.C.P. honors …

I have lived a lot of places, but Wilson is home, and there is nothing quite like being recognized and honored by your home folk.

Tonight, I received a Community Service Award from the Wilson Branch of the N.A.A.C.P. at the organization’s annual Freedom Fund Banquet.

The evening included a special tribute to the late Frank D. and Bobbie D. Jones.

The magnificent Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II delivered personal anecdotes about the Joneses’ lives and work and a homily for the perilous times we live in. We face dangers seen and unseen, so what will you do with the time you have — whether six minutes or six hours or six days or six months or ….?

It was great to see two of the Joneses’ children, Bobbie and Freddie. We both lost fathers in 2022 and at the time reached out to remind each other of the blessing of being raised by such incredible men. (By the way, that’s Dante Pittman sitting at our table. I spotted him looking around and invited him to join us. If you live in Wilson, take some time to get to know this man.)

Thank the Lord I said my little bit before 95 year-old Samuel Caswell Lathan, legendary musician and my friend, was recognized. He brought the house down with a rendition of “What a Wonderful World,” followed by remarks that began “I was born in 1929 — and you don’t have to tell me nothing” about perils and rose to “I’m gon tell you some things — and I don’t care if you carry it back.” In other words, he delivered a word, too.

Harry B. Harris readies the Jones family for reflections on the night’s events.

The indefatigable William E. Myers. (He is 91, y’all. NINETY-ONE.) For the last 60+ years, a banquet in Wilson ain’t a banquet, a wedding ain’t a wedding, a funeral ain’t a funeral without this treasured musician live on sax or keyboards.)

Me and my lovely sister, Karla Henderson-Jackson.

Thank you.

The obituary of Zannie Daniel Moore.

Wilson Daily Times, 8 May 1947.

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In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Amos Daniel, 44; wife Olive, 25; and children Willy, 14, and Zana, 12.

In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Pettigrew Street, Edward [Edmond] Moore, 23; wife Zana, 22; and daughter Mary, 3.

In the 1900 census of Rocky Mount, Nash County, North Carolina: on Thomas Street, Edmon Moore, 43, farmer; wife Zanie, 45; and children Mary, 22, Susa, 19, Edgar, 18, Wiley, 15, Matilda, 13, and Fred, 5.

In the 1910 census of Rocky Mount, Nash County, North Carolina: Edmond Moore, 55, farmer, and wife Zany, 50.

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Moore Edward (c; Zanie) lab h 904 Atlanta [Atlantic]

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 904 Atlantic, Edward Moore, 70; wife Zannie, 60, laundress; and lodgers Blanch Guilford, 16, Julia Williams, 16, Ruth Donald, 17, private nurse, and Edner Donald, 15.

Zannie Moore died 6 May 1947 at Saint Agnes Hospital, Raleigh, North Carolina. Per her death certificate, she was 91 years old; was born in Wilson County to Amos Daniel and Ollie Jenkins; was the widow of Edmond Moore; worked as a farmer; and was buried in William Chapel church cemetery.

Note of thanks from the County Home.

Wilson Daily Times, 27 May 1947.

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Rev. Frank Moore and his wife, Ara Moore, regularly ministered to residents of the Wilson County home, which was located near the intersection of present-day Ward Boulevard and Goldsboro Street.

Frank Hilliard is listed in the 1940 census of Wilson as one of 46 lodgers at the home, 19 of whom were African-American.

Confederate monument “has to come down.”

Also this week, a rally in downtown Wilson to demand removal of the Confederate monument on the grounds of the county courthouse. For more about the structure, see here, here, here, here and here.

Wilson Daily Times, 3 May 2024.

[Update, 11 May 2024: days after this protest, the Confederate battle flag on the monument was defaced with dark spray paint. The police quickly identified and arrested a 58 year-old white man on misdemeanor property damage charges. Per the Wilson Times: “When asked if the county will clean the monument, Wilson County Manager Ron Hunt said no plans have been made as commissioners continue their research regarding the memorial.” (I’m here for this unbothered response.) Photo below courtesy of the Times‘ 7 May 2024 edition.