Wilson County

Blood Red River.

Rocky Mount (N.C.) Telegram, 8 September 1945.

At the 1945 trial of William Wesley Gardner for the murder of A.J. Sanders, South Carolina-born Oscar Brown testified that he had not witnessed the shooting because he had been sitting in a back room playing Josh White’s blue tune “Blood Red River” on his guitar.

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  • William Wesley Gardner — William Wesley Gardner registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County in 1942. Per his registration card, he was born 17 April 1901 in Robeson County, North Carolina; lived at 606 South Dew Street, Wilson; his contact was George Gardner, 518 South Lodge; and his employer was M.A. Tyson, Saratoga.
  • A.J. Sanders — Anthony Sanders Jr. died 25 August 1945 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 25 December 1900 in Florence, South Carolina, to Anthony Sanders Sr. and Katy Manuel; worked as a machinist; was married to Georgia E. Sanders; lived at 612 Bank; and died of a gunshot wound to the thigh.
  • Oscar Brown — Oscar Brown registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County in 1940. Per his registration card, he was born 15 June 1905 in Beaufort, South Carolina; and his contact was his employer Jim Garriss’ farm.

Tragedy on rail and road.

News and Record (Greensboro, N.C.), 7 April 1941.

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  • Simms Fairchild — Sim Fairchild died 6 April 1941 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 33 years old; was born in Alabama; was married to Mayalia Fairchild; and lived at “P.L. Woodard Section Houses.”
  • George Pack — in 1940, George Pack registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 2 May 1918 in Edgecombe County, N.C.; lived at 104 Pettigrew Street, Wilson; his contact was half-brothers Eron Pack, “whereabouts unknown”; and he worked for the State Highway.

In honor of Julia Bailey, “a tender mother and a faithful friend.”

My deepest gratitude to Randy Marshburn and Al Letchworth, who located and photographed the headstones of Julia Bailey and Andrew Terrell at the edge of Buckhorn Reservoir.

They recently returned to Bailey’s grave to reset the monument and place flowers in honor and remembrance.

Thank you!

Photo courtesy of R. Marshburn.

4-H Club members receive certificates.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 13 August 1938.

In 1938, Wilson 4-H Club members racked up certificates of completion awarded by the state agricultural extension service. Among those recognized were: Mittie Sutton, Leamon Jones, Hilda Joint [Joyner], Levi Simmons, Beatrice Jones, William Bynum, Cleo Jones, Herman Alston, Hattie Armstrong, Rosa Armstrong, Mary E. Barnes, Luther Battle, Lucille Best, Lillian Bullock, John Bunch, Lucille Earl, Charlotte Exum, Marie Hilliard, John A. Jones, Willie Jones, William Kirby, Mary D. Lenzy [Lindsey], Marie Lucas, Christine Mitchell, Warren H. Mitchell, Calona Montague, Alexander Pearce, William Pearce, Ruth Sanders, Sudie Spinner, Mary Terry, and Dollie M. Williams.