social life

Yelverton 4-H Club is most outstanding.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 18 May 1940.

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  • Bertha Ruffin — in the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Charles Ruffin, 39; wife Henrietta, 38; and children Bertha, 19, Charles, 17, James R., 16, Juanita, 12, Gladys Lee, 10, Christine, 8, Bruce, 7, Bertie Mae, 4, and and Curtis, 10 months.
  • James Ruffin — see Bertha Ruffin, above.
  • Mattie Barnes — probably, in the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Roland Barnes, 35; wife Lillian, 35; and children Mattie B., 14, Mittie Lee, 13, Lillian L., 10, Lurline, 9, James R., 6, Milton L., 4, Marion H., 3, and Albert R., 8 months.
  • Mary Eason — probably, in the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer John Eason, 42; wife Hetty, 38; children Mary Evelyn, 15, Hattie Mae, 12, Jack, 11, John Ella, 9, Estelle, 8, Berthena, 6, Irene, 4, and William H., 2; and mother Sissie Eason, 70, widow.
  • Charles Ruffin — see Bertha Ruffin, above.
  • Louise Delorme
  • C.L. Spellman — Cecil L. Spellman.
  • Jane A. Boyd

Robinson is candidate for Worshipful Grand Master.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 29 March 1924.

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Mount Hebron Lodge nominated Samuel H. Vick‘s close associate, Alfred Robinson, for the office of Worshipful Grand Master for the state of North Carolina.

[What was the J.C. Price Community Forum?]

Lucama news, March 1943.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 20 March 1943.

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  • Roxanna Kirby Exum

In the 1940 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer William Kirby, 55; wife Nannie, 52; children Hobby Lee, 17, Havey Isa, 15, Nettie, 13, Willie K., 13, and Roxia A., 22; niece Lucille Shaw, 18; and lodger Jr. Barnes, 4.

Per their marriage license, Levell Exum and Roxanna Eva Kirby, both 25, were married 7 March 1943 in Johnston County, N.C. Primitive Baptist minister David Bynum lived near Lucama, in Wilson County, however, as did Mamie B. Williamson and David Bynum Jr.

  • Pvt. Daniel Vick

Daniel Vick registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County in 1940. Per his registration card, he was born 3 January 1917 in Wilson; his contact was mother Bethaniel Allen; he lived at Mount 1, Lucama; and he worked for farmer Joe Moore, Lucama.

  • Paul Morgan
  • Bettie Bess

The obituary of Lucinda Miller and other news.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 2 August 1930.

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  • Lucinda (or Lucintha) Miller

On 15 August 1901, George Henry Washington, 38, of Wilson, son of Jerry and Jane Washington, married Cora Miller, 25, of Wilson, daughter of Cynthia Miller, at the bride’s residence on Green Street. A.M.E. Zion minister C.L. Alexander performed the service in the presence of Sallie M. Barbour and Alice F. Moore.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: widowed cook Lou Miller; her daughter Cora Washington, 34, a widowed school teacher; her grandchildren Irene, 7, James, 4, and Cora Washington 1; and two boarders, Mary Hadley, 20, cook, and Mary Pender, 60, widowed servant. [“Lou,” as in Lucinda Miller, was the Cynthia Miller named on Cora Washington’s marriage license. Also, Cora’s second child was in fact a girl named Janie, not a boy James. Though no street is identified on the enumeration sheet, it is clear from the names of the Miller-Washingtons’ neighbors that they lived on or just off East Green Street.]

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Miller Lucinda (c) h 701 E Green

Lucintha Miller died 18 July 1930 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 70 years old; was born in Greene County, N.C., to Stephen Parker and Ara Parker; was a widow; and was buried in Wilson. Cora Miller was informant.

  • Bessie Hodge — in the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 904 East Nash, Nathaniel Hodge, 26; wife Bessie, 21; and son Nathaniel Jr., 11 months.
  • Modern We — Modern We was one of dozens of social clubs flourishing in East Wilson in the first half of the twentieth century.
  • Bedford Savage and Elias Lucas
  • Dr. and Mrs. Z.M. Johnson

Greenville links.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 17 October 1925.

Notes of Greenville’s social doings reveal numerous links with folks in Wilson:

  • Katherine Bynum — Catherine Whitehead Bynum.

In the 1920 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Saratoga Road, Henry Whitehead, 48; wife Victoria, 32; and children Willie, 27, Della Mae, 13, Catherine, 9, Odell, 7, James, 5, Grace, 2, and Rosalie, 1.

In the 1930 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Highway 91, owned and valued at $2500, oil mill contractor Henry Whitehead, 53; wife Victoria, 43, seamstress; and children Katherine, 19, Odell, 17, James, 15, Grace, 13, Rosalyn, 11, Herbert, 9, Gertrude, 6, Mable, 4, and Victoria, 2.

On 8 September 1933, Graham Bynum, 25, of Wilson, son of Peter and Dora Bynum, married Catherine Whitehead, 23, of Wilson, daughter of Henry and Victoria Whitehead. C.E. Artis applied for the license, and Missionary Baptist minister Charles T. Jones performed the ceremony in the presence of Ash Hines, George Green, and Francis Rosser.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 817 East Green, Graham Bynum, 31, building carpenter, and wife Katherine, 29, hospital nurse.

In 1940, Graham Gregory Bynum registered for the World War II draft. Per his registration card, he was born 28 July 1908 in Wilson; lived at 909 East Green Street, Wilson; his contact was wife Catherine Lethia Bynum; and was self-employed.

In the 1950 census of Raleigh, Wake County, N.C.: at Shaw University, Catherine W. Bynum, 39, dean of women.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: the widower Mark Blount, 38, a cook, and his children Coneva, 10, Dotsey, 9, and Theodore W., 6, were lodgers in the household of George Faggin.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: cook at cafe Mark Blount, 60, wife Mary, 29, children Allen, 2, Frances E., 1, Dotsey, 19, a nurse, and Walter, 17, a tobacco factory laborer.

On 21 June 1916, A.B. Barnhill, 27, of Greenville, N.C., son of Fred and Atha Barnhill, married Dotsie Blount, 24, of Wilson, daughter of Mark and Annie Blount, at Calvary Presbyterian Church. John Perrington applied for the license, and Presbyterian minister H.B. Taylor performed the ceremony under the presence of G.W. Joyner, M. Ada Perry, and C.C. McCoy.

In the 1920 census of Greenville, Pitt County: Alfred Barnhill, 31, milk wagon driver; wife Dotsie, 28; and children Dorothy L., 2, and Alfred D., 8 months.

In the 1930 census of Greenville, Pitt County: Alfred Barnhill, 41, cook at college; wife Dotsie, 38; and children Dortha L., 12, Alfred, 11, Ethel G., 6, and James N., 6.

In the 1940 census of Greenville, Pitt County: widow Dotsie Barnhill, 48, laundress; daughters Dorothy, 22, assistant nurse, and Ethel, 16; and son James, 15.

In 1942, James Norward Barnhill registered for the World War II draft in Pitt County. Per his registration card, he was born 6 November 1924 in Pitt County; lived at 310 Tyson Street, Greenville; his contact was mother Dotsie Barnhill; and he worked for Bell’s Cafe, 310 Albemarle Avenue.

In the 1950 census of Greenville, Pitt County: widow Dotsie Barnhill, 58; son Alfred Jr., 30, funeral home embalmer; daughter Ethel, 26, house service; son James, 25, delivers ice; and daughter-in-law Margaret, 22, beauty parlor operator.

  • Edgar Barnes

On 4 October 1909, Edgar Barnes, 21, of Wilson, son of Willis Barnes and Cherry Barnes, married Mary Hill, 19, daughter of Joe Hill and Anna Hill, at Saint John A.M.E. Zion in Wilson.

In 1917, Edgar Barnes registered for the World War I draft in Pitt County, N.C. Per his registration card, he was born 15 January 1892 in Wilson; lived on Second Street, Greenville; worked as a laborer for W.S. Skinner; and was single.

On 24 September 1921, Edgar Barnes, 27, of Greenville, son of Willis Barnes and Cherry Barnes, married Delia Hawkins, 22, daughter of Will Hawkins and Ella Hawkins, in Greenville, Pitt County.

In the 1930 census of Greenville, Pitt County, N.C.: at 1311 North 4th Street, owned and valued at $3000, Edgar Barnes, 36, plasterer, and wife Delia, 25, presser.

In the 1940 census of Greenville, Pitt County, N.C.: at 1311 North 4th Street, Edger Barnes, 47, plasterer, and wife Delia, 33.

Edgar Barnes died 6 April 1940 at the Veterans Hospital in Kecoughtan, Elizabeth City County, Virginia. Per his death certificate, he was born 8 March 1893 in Wilson to Willis Barnes and Cherry Eatman, both of Wilson County; was married to Delhia Barnes; worked as a plasterer; and was buried in Greenville.

Nurse Ellis throws a surprise party.

With the help of C.E. Artis, nurse Mable Ellis threw her husband George Ellis a surprise birthday party in February 1928.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 17 March 1928.

Contrast the tone of this piece, published in a Black newspaper, with the snark of white newspapers of the era, which often sneered at even the most joyous occasion. The Ellises were newlyweds, having married the previous September. George Ellis was 52, and Mable Weaver Ellis, 26, when they wed. Told with humor and charming detail, here were Black people via a Black gaze.