Sam Roberson was “one of Wilson’s most able caterers.” This is the first reference to an African-American caterer that I’ve come across. He is strangely elusive in census records, but is likely the 24 year-old cook living with his mother Sue Roberson, 42, and sister Nellie B. Roberson, 17, at 506 [South] Goldsboro Street in the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County. If so, in the 1920 census of Wilson: at 510 [South] Goldsboro, widow Sue Robinson, 42; children John, 23, tobacco factory worker, Sam, 19, hotel bellboy, Sudie, 16, tobacco factory worker, and Nellie, 8; and grandson Kemmie, newborn.
In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Short W. Barnes, 38; wife Frances, 40; daughters Armena, 13, and Maggie, 6; and cousin Ella, 19.
In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: carpenter Short Barnes, 50; wife Francis, 50; daughter Maggie, 16; and Mark Ellis, 25.
In 1917, Clarence Allen Crawford registered for the World War I draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 23 September 1891 in Durham, North Carolina; resided at 617 East Green Street; worked in brick laying for Wilkins Brothers; and supported a wife and child.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 617 Green, carpenter Short W. Barnes, 60; wife Francis, 62; son-in-law Clarence A. Crawford, 28, brickmason; daughter Maggie L., 26; and grandchildren Verest A., 2, and Clarence A., Jr., 9 months. Barnes owned his house free of mortgage.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: carpenter Short W. Barnes, 70, wife Francis, 71, daughter Maggie Crawford, 36, son-in-law Clarance Crawford, 39, and their children Verda, 13, Clarance, 10, and Annie, 8. The house was valued at $6000.
Frances Barnes died 30 May 1938 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 78 years old; was born in Wilson County, N.C., to Morrison Woodard and Martha Thorn; was married to Short W. Barnes; and lived at 616 East Green Street. Maggie Crawford was informant.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: carpenter Short W. Barnes, 80; daughter Maggie Crawford, 46, and grandchildren Vertist, 22, truck driver Clarance, 20, and Annie F., 18. The house was valued at $3000.
In 1940, Clarence Allen Crawford registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 1 June 1919 in Wilson; lived at 616 East Green Street; his contact was mother Maggie Barnes Crawford; and he worked for C. Woodard Co., 417 & 419 East Barnes Street.
In 1940, Daniel Willard Crawford registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 3 January 1901 in Wilson; lived at 605 Spring Street; his contact was Maggie Crawford, 616 East Green; and he worked for carpenter Louis Thomas, 715 East Green Street.
Short William Barnes died 30 November 1943 at his home at 616 East Green Street, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 14 February 1860 in Wilson County to Redman and Nellie Barnes; was a widower; was a carpenter; and was buried in the Masonic cemetery. Maggie Crawford, 616 East Green Street, was informant.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 616 East Green, Maggie Crawford, 56, widow, born in Georgia(?); son Clarence J. Crawford, 31; his wife Retha S., 29; and their children Ralph, 11, Barbara J., 9, and Felice M. and Florece M., 4.
Magelene “Maggie” Barnes Crawford died 20 March 1971 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 2 August 1893 in Wilson County to Short Barnes and Frances Woodard; was a widow; lived at 616 East Green Street; and was a retired music teacher. Vertist C. Edwards of Tacoma, Washington, was informant. She was buried in the Masonic Cemetery.
In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farm laborer Tossy Jenkins, 30, widow, and children Jackson, 9, Ossie M., 6, Ovella C., 5, Lonnie, 7, and Arries D., 5.
On 10 August 1928, Dockery Royall, 28, of Wilson, married Ossie Mae Jenkins, 25, in Wilson. Walter M. Foster applied for the license, and Baptist minister B.F. Jordan performed the ceremony.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 321 Hackney, Doc Royall, 34, body plant laborer, and wife Ossie May, 26, cook.
Dock Royall died 31 March 1938 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 14 September 1898 in Sampson County, N.C., to Samuel and Rachel Royall; was married to Ossie Mae Royall; worked as a mechanic at Hackney Body Company; and was buried in Wilson [probably Vick, but possibly Rest Haven, Cemetery.]
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 203 Pender Street, widow Ossie M. Royall, 33, an elevator girl at the courthouse; her mother Tossie Jenkins, 53, stemmer at a tobacco factory; daughters LaForest, 16, and Evanline Royall, 14; and a roomer named Ed Hart, 45, a laborer employed by the town of Wilson. Ossie and LaForest were born in Wilson; Evangeline in Battleboro [Nash County]; and Tossie and Ed in Nash County.
Ossie Jenkins Royall died in Amherst, Massachusetts, on 16 March 2000.
This little two-team league charms me endlessly, not least because I know so many of the players, who are now (or would be — rest in peace) in their late 80s.
The Red Raiders’ squad were co-captains Barbara Jones and Hattie Henderson, and Marjorie Taylor, Louise Holiday, Betty Mincey, Evangeline Reid, Helen Barnes, Myrtle Lynch, Ruth Hart, Jean Wynn, and Mary Morris.
Ruby Delaney and Fay Bryant were co-captains of the White Phantoms, with Bernice Artis, Shirley Best, Charlotte Cooper, Julia King, Annie Coley, and Jean Reid rounding out the team.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 602 Viola Street, Samuel Sweny, 53, painter, and children Neoma, 17, Laney, 15, Easter, 13, Gracy, 12, John H., 10, and George P., 7.
In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Swinney Saml (c) pntr h 602 Viola; also, Swinney Naomi (c) student h 602 Viola
On 13 August 1935, Talmon Hunter, 24, of Wilson County, son of Will and Callie Hunter, married Noami Swinney, 22, of Wilson County, daughter of Samuel and Georgia Swinney, in Nashville, Nash County, North Carolina.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 606 East Green, Talmon Hunter, 29, Hamilton Funeral undertaker, and wife Naomi, 27, private nurse.
George Cleo Swinney registered for the World War II draft in 1942. Per his registration card, he was born 15 April 1923 in Wilson County; lived at 602 East Viola; his contact was Naomi Hunter, 11 1/2 North Pender Street; and he worked for Thurston Motor Line, Wilson.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 311 1/2 Pender, Talmon Hunter, 39, assistant funeral home director; wife Naomi, 37, house cleaner; and son Joseph, 17.
Naomi Swinney Hunter died 31 December 1986 in Chapel Hill, Orange County, North Carolina.
Fannie Harris
In the 1930 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: James Harris, 53; wife Fanny, 43; children James, 20, Robert, 17, Annie L., 13, Bennie, 8, Albert, 6, Jimmie J., 3, and Dolpha M., 1; and orphan Eddie B. Taylor, 6.
In the 1940 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: James Harris, 63; wife Fanny, 55; and children Benjamin, 17, Albert, 16, Dorothy, 13, Jimmie, 12, and Eddie B., 16.
In the 1950 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: widow Fanny Harris, 55; children Jimmie, 23, and Dorthy, 22; sister Louise Haster, 64, widow; nieces Evon, 4, and Lenda Fay Harris, 1; and grandchildren James R., 9, and Jearldine Harris, 10.
In the 1920 census of Bullhead township, Greene County, N.C.: farmer Wesley Swinson, 40; wife Adie, 36; and children Henry, 16, Wesley Jr., 15, Willie, 13, Harrish, 11, Addie, 7, Sarah, 5, and Iola, 3 months.
On 22 July 1933, Willie Swinson, 27, of Wilson, son of Wesley Swinson and Addie [no maiden name given], married Isadelle Turner, 20, of Wilson, son of Jasper and Madie Turner, on East Green Street, Wilson. A.M.E. Zion minister I. Albert Moore performed the ceremony in the presence of David Henderson, Maggie Mae Best, and Mable Boney.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 921 Atlantic, rented for $13/month, Wesley Swinson, 59; wife Addie, 53; and children John H., 35, Willie, 30, Iola, 20, Odessa, 18, and Doris, 15.
In 1940, Willie Lee Swinson registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 1 August 1907 in Greene County, N.C.; lived at 921 Atlantic Street; his contact was wife Isadell Swinson; and he worked for Boyd Clark at Carolina Warehouse.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 921 Atlantic, Wesley Swinson, 61, plumber helper; wife Addie, 67; and son Willie, 41, chauffeur for local tobacco buyer.
Willie Swinson died 24 January 1986 in Portsmouth, Virginia. Per his death certificate, he was born 1 August 1907 in North Carolina to Wesley Swinson and Addie Sutton; was married to Isidell Sutton; and worked as a floorman for Clark Warehouse.
Grace Patterson — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Walter Patterson, 35, W.P.A. project laborer; wife Grace, 33, housekeeper; and children Walter Jr., 11, and Julia, 10.
This clipping of an obituary for Lydia Meeks Grissom Coley is found in a scrapbook kept by Savannah Powell Farmer (1908-1996). I have not been able to source the newspaper or its date of publication, but it does not appear to have come from the Wilson Daily Times.
Many thanks to Levolyre Farmer Pitt for sharing her mother’s scrapbook!
UPDATE, 4 September 2025: the clipping was from 30 March 1946 Norfolk Journal and Guide!
In October 1945, the Negro Library on Pender Street observed its first “kiddies story hour” for members of its book club. Librarian Pauline Coley read two books to the children, including Munro Leaf’s now-classic The Story of Ferdinand. Nine year-old Hattie Margaret Henderson was elected group leader, and Rosalind Taylor as her assistant. The reading club included Patricia Garner, Gail Peacock, Betty Handy, Doris Crooms, Helen Pepper, David Pepper, Delores Wilson, Wendell Hines, Joane Jenkins, John Barnes, Randolph Speight, Willie Wynn, Vilma Dew, David Charles Smith, and William H. Thomas Jr.
Charles Bryant Lassiter registered for the World War II draft in Richmond, Virginia, in 1940. Per his registration card, he was born 8 November 1917 in Smithfield, North Carolina; resided at 303 East Clay Street, Richmond; his contact was mother Mamie Lassiter, 710 Viola Street, Wilson; and he worked at the Hotel John Marshall in Richmond.
Charles B. Lassiter died 8 March 1946 at the Veterans Administration hospital in Kecoughtan, Virginia. Per his death certificate, he was born 8 November 1917 to John M. Lassiter and Mamie Sanders; lived at 710 East Viola Street, Wilson; was single; was a World War II veteran; and worked as an insurance agent.
