Wilson Daily Times, 21 June 1948.
Photo courtesy of Shatoya Colón. Thank you!
Photographs
This is who … (the birthday gratitude edition.)
This is who is scouring the internet, poking through the archives, and interviewing the elders.
This chunky toddler in knee-high socks, asleep in her high chair, gripping a chicken leg, is grateful to greet the risen sun on this 62nd turn in its orbit — sound in mind and body, nimble of toe and wit, surrounded by love, and always, always, always ready to put in work.
Black Wide-Awake is the gift that ricochets from me to you and back, and I am especially thankful on my birthday.
Photo in collection of Lisa Y. Henderson.
Remembering Tarheel Slim.
We were talking about Wilson County surnames that you don’t really find among black people. One said, “Lamm.” Then, “Fulghum.” I said, “Bunn,” but Grover Jones Jr. said, “Tarheel Slim! His real name was Allen Bunn,” and that sent me down a rabbit hole.
It turns out Tarheel Slim was born in Nash County, but he had Wilson County roots, and he and his family frequently moved back and forth across the Wilson-Nash line. That’s plenty reason to call his name this Black Music Month.
Alden Bunn was a guitarist, singer, and songwriter whose work spanned gospel, blues, doo-wop, R&B, pop, and rockabilly. He was born in 1924 near Bailey in Nash County (or maybe near Lucama in Wilson County) to a sharecropping family. In the early 1940s, he sang with local gospel groups the Gospel Four and the Selah Jubilee Singers, but eventually moved into secular music. He married Carrie Ella Dingle, whose family had migrated to Wilson County from South Carolina. Bunn joined Wilson native David McNeil as a member of The Larks before migrating to New York City around 1950. He achieved his greatest acclaim recording with his second wife Anna Lee “Little Ann” Sandford circa 1960, then enjoyed a new album and a revival on college campuses and in hipster circles in the early 1970s.
Tarheel Slim’s “Number 9 Train,” Fury Records, 1958.
Bridgeport (Conn.) Telegram, 19 March 1960.
Washington (D.C.) Daily News, 23 January 1961.
Alden “Tarheel Slim” Bunn died in August 1977.
New York Times, 26 August 1977.
A few years after his death: “Charly, the independent blues and R ‘n B label, has delved back into the 50s and 60s for an enterprising reissue series of 25 three-track singles.” One of the records showcased Tarheel Slim.
Manchester (England) Evening News, 26 September 1980.
In the early 1990s, the era of feverish CD reissues of whole catalogs of nearly forgotten labels, Tarheel Slim and Little Ann appeared on a two-disc compilation of songs recorded by the Harlem-based Fire and Fury labels.
Hartford (Conn.) Courant, 18 April 1993.
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In 1918, Henry Ramphson Bunn registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 4 July 1899; lived in Lucama, Wilson County; and worked for Jim Bunn.
On 26 January 1919, Henry Bunn, 19, of Cross Roads township, son of Jim and Millie Bunn, married Leona Owens, 20, of Cross Roads, in Lucama, Wilson County. Missionary Baptist minister R. Crockett performed the ceremony at the Baptist church in Lucama in the presence of Rev. C.D. Dew, Rev. Emson Hooks, and J.H. Battle.
In the 1920 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: laborer Henry Bunn, 23; wife Leonia A., 24; and son Valise, 3 months.
Nash County, North Carolina, birth records indexes show Allen Rathel Bunn born 24 September 1923 in Bailey, Nash County, to Henry R. Bunn and Leona Owens.
On 23 July 1927, Israel Thomas, 38, married Leona Bunn, 23, in Wilson. Church of God minister Hattie L. Daniels performed the ceremony at her church at 207 East Reid Street in the presence of Andrew Williams, Bettie Cooper, and T.W. Owens.
In the 1930 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: Isrel Thomas, 46; wife Leonia, 34; and [her] sons Valee, 11, and Alten B., 7.
In the 1940 census of Mannings township, Nash County: Isarel Thomas, 57; wife Leona Thomas, 43; and stepsons Vailience, 20, and Alden Bunn, 16, all day laborers. Israel Thomas reported that the family was living in Wilson County in 1935.
In 1942, Alden Rathell Bunn registered for the World War II draft in Nash County. Per his registration card, he was born 24 September 1924 in Nash County; lived at R.F.D. #2, Middlesex, Nash County; his contact was Leonia Thomas; and he worked for Rufus Fulghum. He was described as 6’3″ and 172 lbs.
Leonia Thomas died 5 November 1947 in Lucama, Springhill township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 3 July 1897 in South Carolina to Mack Owens and Mary Gardner; was married to Issrael Thomas; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery, Wilson. Allen Bunn, Route 1, Lucama, was informant.
Happy Father’s Day 2026!
Some popular media would have you believe that good black fathers are like Carolina cougars — rarely sighted, semi-mythical. But I grew up in a community in which they were thick on the ground, and today I honor my own father, Rederick C. Henderson, and all the fathers (and father figures) of my childhood “village.”
In Bel Air Forest, across East Wilson, and beyond, the protectors and providers I’m shouting out include, but aren’t limited to, Harvey Reid Jr., Thomas O. Lofton Sr., Avant P. Coleman, Bennie J. Woodard, Crawford E. Lane, David J. Speight, Herbert Woodard, Nathaniel Roberson, T. Roosevelt Ellis Jr., Howard C. Jones, LeRoy Barnes, William E. Myers, George K. Butterfield Jr., J. Douglas Hagans, Louis Hall Sr., Charles E. Branford, S.P. Artis, Willis Peppers, James E. Farmer Jr., Elmer J. Cummings Sr., Benjamin A. Harris Jr., Julian B. Rosemond Jr., Clarence Hoskins, Daniel McKeithan, Kenneth Speight, Booker T. Edwards, Franklin D. Jones, James T. Forbes, Chester Ward, Harold Bullock, Charles C. Allen, John C. Allen III, Hayden B. Renwick, Fred L. Valentine, Lucian J. Henderson Sr., and Jesse A. Henderson.
Only a handful of these men remain with us, but their legacies live on.
Corporal James Walter Ellis, stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.
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In the 1930 census of Stantonsburg, Wilson County: Oscar Ellis, 39; wife Mamie, 39; and children Oscar Jr., 16, William, 14, Estelle, 12, Ejay, 11, Colen, 10, James, 9, Bessie M., 8, Hubert L., 6, Leroy, 2, and Dorothy, 1 month.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1113 [East Nash], Oscar Ellis, 50, W.P.A. project laborer; wife Mamie, 49; children Henry, 23, public service laborer, Estell, 22, private housekeeper, A.J.A., 21, cafe waiter, Charles, 20, Moore’s Drug deliveryman, James, 18, Bessie, 17, Hubert, 15, Leroy, 13, Fred, 8, Mamie, 10, and Clarence, 5; and adopted children Annie, 15, and Rosco Jones, 13.
In the 1950 census of Washington, D.C.: James W. Ellis, 28, federal government messenger, and wife Vera L., 23.
Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library.
Wilson-born physician’s historic house burns in Greenville.
The historic Dr. James A. Battle house in Greenville, North Carolina, partially collapsed during a ferocious fire early this morning.
Technician Fifth Grade James Johnson, drowned in Burma.
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In the 1940 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Columbus Ward, 20; mother Hattie Ward, 55, widow; brother Bill Ward, 28; and half-brother James Johnson, 19.
In 1941, James Johnson registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born1 November 1920 in Wilson; lived on R.F.D. #2, Wilson; his contact was Hattie Johnson; and he worked for M.L. Smith.
Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library.
Lane Street Project: giant steps at Vick Cemetery.
I agree with Castonoble Hooks. A corner’s been turned. Before today’s work started, I took a brief call from a city official with a run of show — an unthinkable courtesy just months ago. By day’s end, a monument proclaiming the identify of this sacred space stood on high ground, visible on the street from both directions. Two smaller monuments were placed at the western end of the cemetery, and the marble vault unearthed and damaged in December was re-interred. The granite pillars flanking the parking lot — inaccurately labeled and encroaching on Odd Fellows — have been removed, and the third corner marker will be installed later. Additional ground-penetrating radar has been delayed, but remains in the plan.
My thanks to everyone who had a hand in today’s respectful work. Your care is deeply appreciated.
Private Bruce Sutton, now at Fort Sam Houston.
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In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 716 East Green, rented for $14/month, Joseph Sutton, 61; wife Malissa, 60; children Beatrice, 26, James, 25, Fred, 23, Bruce, 19, Beulah, 17, and Mable, 16; and grandchildren Ivan, 8, and Geraldine, 7.
The 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory lists laborer Fred Sutton, maid Beatrice Sutton, CCC worker Bruce Sutton, tobacco worker James W. Sutton, laborer Levi Sutton and wife Josie, and Melissa G. Sutton at 716 East Green.
The 1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory lists student Bruce Sutton, housekeeper Melissa G. Sutton, and domestic Rosa Sutton at 716 East Green.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 606 Green Street, Jane White, 48, laundry checker; son-in-law Bruce Sutton, 28; daughter Lucille Sutton, 20; and children William E., 2, and Bruce Jr., 1.
Community Senior Citizens Club.
Wilson Daily Times, 7 June 1976.
This photo of members of the Community Senior Citizens Club was taken well after the period covered by Black Wide-Awake. However, it depicts a generation of elders — mostly born in the 1890s to the 1910s — who helped build the community we honor here:
Margaret Powell, Estelle Cooper, Mary Leach, Lula M. Hayes, Ernestine Shepard, Essie Corbett, Mabel Bennett, Elizabeth Faison, Nora Reid, Maria Delaney, Mena Bailey, Bertha Carroll, Ophelia Adams, Rossie Bryant, Mary Howell, Allie M. Harris, Sarah Bryant, Marie Owens, Naomi Hunter, Effie Battle, Lela Hilliard, Janie Mitchell, Menorah Rodgers, Eva Brooks, William Clark, Vicia Thompson, Millie Ellis, Louise Perry, Estelle Darden, Effie Dawson, Callie Darden, Rosa Lucas, William Taylor, and William Lane.