Wilson County

The long marriage of John and Eula Mae Boykin Renfrow.

Wilson Daily Times, 31 May 2010.

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In the 1920 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer John Renfrow, 33; wife Mary, 31; and children Rennie, 12, Plummer, 10, Vernon, 9, John O., 5, and Burnice, 3.

In the 1920 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer William T. Boykin, 44; wife Sarah, 41; and children Elvira, 17, Katie, 15, Ida, 13, William T., 10, Ula M., 4, Lillian, 2, and Junius, 1.

In the 1930 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer John M. Renfrow, 41; wife Mary, 40; and children Vernon, 17, John O., 15, Bernice B., 13, David, 10, Minnie I., 4, and Myree, 1.

In the 1930 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer William T. Boykin, 54; wife Sarah, 52; and children Ida, 14, W. Howard, 20, Eula M., 14, Lillian, 13, and Jounious, 11.

On 15 May 1935, John Omes Renfrow, 20, of Kenly, son of Johnny and Mary Renfrow, married Eula May Boykin, 18, of Lucama, in Smithfield, Johnston County, N.C.

In the 1940 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer John Renfrow, 25; wife Eula Mae, 24; and children Louretha, 3, Edna Gray, 2, and Marie, 1.

In 1940, John Omes Renfrow registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 26 October 1914 in Wilson; lived at Route 3, Kenly, Wilson County; his contact was Eula Mae Renfrow; and he worked for George R. Hinton.

In the 1950 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer John O. Renfrow, 35; wife Eula Mae, 34; children Retha, 13, Eula Gray, 12, Marie Van, 10, John Donald, 7, and Katrina, 3; and mother-in-law Sarah Boykin, 65, widow.

Rocky Mount Telegram, 5 September 2011.

Rocky Mount Telegram, 1 February 2014.

Artelia Barnes leads Rockingham School to music prize.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 9 May 1942.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: brickmason John M. Barnes, 44, wife Annie L., 32, Leonard E., 5, Lee J. [Leo Artelia], 4, Selma [Thelma] F., 2, and John W., 3 months.

On 22 June 1929, Leo Artelia Barnes, 22, of Wilson, married Emanuel D. Jones, 26, of Brooklyn, New York, in Wilson. Rev. J.E. Kennedy performed the ceremony in the presence of C.L. Darden, Annie L. Kennedy, and W.A. Mitchner.

In the 1930 census of Brooklyn, Kings County, New York: Emanuel W. Jones, 27, Pullman waiter, and wife Artelia L., 24.

Leo Artelia Davis died 16 December 1982 in Houston, Texas. Per her death certificate, she was born 6 May 1906 in North Carolina to John M. Barnes and Annie Darden; was a widow; was a music teacher; and her regular residence was in Stafford, Fort Bend County, Indiana.

Dew walks off with governor’s car.

News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), __ April 1946.

Wilson Daily Times, 9 April 1946.

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In the 1930 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: Mallie Dew, 28, farmer; wife Bettie, 28, laundress; and sons Mallie L., 8, Earl, 7, and Grover, 5.

In the 1940 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: Mallie Dew, 38, farm laborer; wife Bettie, 37, laundress; sons Mallie, 20, Earl, 18, Grover, 15, and Bobbie Ray, 2.

In 1943, Earl Dew registered for the World War II in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 25 November 1922 in Black Creek, Wilson County; lived at Route 3, Kenly, Wilson County; his contact was mother Bettie Dew; and he “worked” at Prison Camp #401, Bunn, Franklin County, N.C.

Richmond News-Leader, 28 February 1946.

Earl Dew died 28 December 1948 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson, of an accidental gunshot wound to the abdomen. Per his death certificate, he was born 25 November 1929 in Wilson to Mallie Dew and Bettie Mitchell; worked as a farmer; was single; lived at Route 1, Sims; and was buried in the Dew Cemetery.

Family reunion season!

I spent last Saturday morning in a Zoom meeting with attendees of the 2025 Freeman-Hagans family reunion. I talked about the “why” of Black Wide-Awake, introduced them to the blog’s format, and, best of all, showed them how to best access its content by visiting several recent posts related to branches of their family. If you’re interested in a similar presentation for your next family gathering, please contact me at blackwideawake@gmail.com. I want all my posts to find their people!

Raped by white men, 17 year-old girl gets no justice.

This article contains descriptions of a sexual assault against a minor and the injustice that followed. For privacy, I have redacted the girl’s name and those of her family members.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 5 August 1933.

I have not found the Daily Times‘ “brief statement” about this incident, and I continue to search for information about what happened after charges were dismissed against the alleged assailants.

First Lieutenant Jesse F. Barnes’ ordeal.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 6 May 1944.

Over the course of a year, Jesse F. Barnes‘ family went from elation to despair to rejoicing when his return home to recuperate from the wounds that earned him four Purple Hearts.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 25 November 1944.

Rocky Mount Telegram, 21 April 1945.

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

Pierce searches for her son.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 19 March 1938.

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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 515 Warren, barber Andrew Pierce, 35; wife Loss, 35; and children Alice, 15, Mayzie [Boisy], 11, Hellen, 7, Benford, 5, and Ruby, 3.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1212 East Nash, Andrew Pierce, 44, barber; wife Lossie, 43, nurse; and children Boisy, 22, Hester, 17, Benford, 16, Ruby, 13, and Louise, 3.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 707 Vance, Andrew Pierce, 55, nurse at home (“usually barber”); wife Lossie, 55, in hospital; daughters Alice, 35, and Hester, 27; sons Boise, 29, cafe [cook?], and Binford, 24; daughter Ruby, 19, “cook school;” and grandchildren Randolph, 9, and Montheal Foster, 7, and Mickey Pierce, 1.

In 1941, Benford Pierce registered for the World War II draft in Washington, D.C [specifically, the D.C. Reformatory in Lorton, Virginia]. Per his registration card, he was born 31 March 1915 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at 1231 W Street, N.W., Washington; his contact was mother Lossie Pierce, 538 East Nash Street, Wilson; and had no listed employment.

Benford Pierce died 14 May 1955 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Per his death certificate, he was 40 years old; husband birthplace and parents were unknown to the informant; he he lived at 2221 North Chadwick Street, Philadelphia; and worked as a porter. His body was turned over to the city’s Anatomical Board.