Work Life

The obituary of Lander Coe.

The obituary of Lander Coe (7 March 1935-19 August 2014) not only memorialized his life, but preserved small details of mid-century East Wilson culture.

Lander Coe, 79, of Wilson succumbed to the silent halls of death Tuesday at his residence with his loving wife, Dorothy Thompson Coe, and family at his side. Mr. Coe was employed with Hamilton Funeral Home for over 60 years. He was the Godfather and first mentor in funeral service to Rev. [Ernie] Haskins. He was named honorary chairman of the board of the Haskins Funeral Home. Mr. Coe was employed with Hamilton Funeral Chapel for over 61 years. Mr. Coe was the husband of Dorothy Thompson Coe whom he loved dearly. Lander was born to the late Lenzie Coe and Rebecca McDonald Coe. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his brother, Richard. Lander Coe  was raised by his aunt, Libby McFadden [McPhatter], who owned Libby’s Restaurant. As fate would have it, the restaurant was located across the street from Hamilton Funeral Home. At the adventurous age of 14, young Lander found his way across the street to the funeral home following Baby Hart, who worked at the funeral home at the time. Lander watched under watchful eyes of Talmon Hunter and Landy Hodges. A vibrant youngster, he was assigned the duties of making removals, working funerals and was the infamous ambulance driver who was also the man on call. Back in those days, the night man stayed at the funeral home overnight. Lander was blessed to work with three generations of the Hamilton family including the founder, the late Levi Hamilton and his wife, Geneva B. Hamilton. Over the years, he has observed changes in the funeral traditions of Wilson and the surrounding counties. He remembers removing door frames and windows in order to place bodies in homes for the custom of “sitting ups.” Some of his most vivid memories are of driving the ambulances while transporting expectant mothers. His comical fear was that they would deliver while en route to the hospital. To facilitate the growth of the business, the funeral home moved to 211 South Pender Street in 1961. Lander made his home on the second floor of the funeral home for more than 15 years. During those formative years, Lander always stood ready to answer the phones and perform any tasks needed. He became known as a fixture at Hamilton Funeral Home. At the height of the funeral home’s business, he remembers having nine funerals in one day. Lander had an uncanny talent for arranging flowers at the funerals and even using the beautiful floral arch. You could easily tell the services that he conducted because he would take extra care and arrange the flowers neatly on the grave. He would often say, “the family would be back to look at the flowers.” In 1980, Hamilton added a cemetery, Hamilton Burial Garden. Lander became the sexton of the cemetery. He would maintain the cemetery in a pristine and dignified manner. If asked, he could locate the grave of a family’s loved one without looking at the map. His dedication to his work was evident, as he often [dug] graves by hands when the back hoe was broken. In June 1968, he met Dorothy Thompson, and on April 6, 1973, they were united in holy matrimony. Dot, as she is affectionately known as, made a home in the funeral home’s upstairs apartment. Dot would accompany him to do removals and also dig graves at various cemeteries. She learned patience as she stood by her “Funeral Home Man.” Lander accepted the Lord as his personal Savior in 2004. For many years he was a member of Calvary Presbyterian Church. He later joined the Union Grove FWB Church. A celebration of his will be held on Sunday, August 24, 2014, 2:00 pm at L.N.Forbes Original Free Will Baptist Tabernacle, 1800 Lane Street Extension, Wilson. Pastor George Dupree will officiate with Reverend Ernie Haskins bringing forth the eulogy. Interment will follow at Hamilton Burial Garden Lane Street Extension, Wilson. Loved by all who was blessed to know him, Lander leaves to cherish his beautiful life with loving memories are; a devoted wife of 41 years, Dorothy Thompson Coe of the home; three stepsons: James Thompson of Wilson, North Carolina, Richard Thompson of Suitland, Maryland, and Anthony of Germany; one Godson, Reverend Ernie Haskins (Miranda) of Goldsboro, North Carolina; two Goddaughters: Tishana Graham of Rocky Mount, North Carolina and Jennifer Bynum of Wilson, North Carolina; five brothers: Lenzie (AG) Coe (Bessie) of Wilson, North Carolina, David Coe (Mary) of Covina, California, Curtis Coe and Lennon Coe both of Parkton, North Carolina and Lynwood Coe of Fayetteville, North Carolina; four sisters: Ealer Mae Coe Shells of Wilson, North Carolina, Louise Coe Muse (Clarence) of Washington, DC, Gloria Coe of Parkton, North Carolina and Carolyn Williams of Fayetteville, North Carolina; stepmother: Lula Coe of Fayeteville, North Carolina; and a host of other relatives and friends. A public viewing will take place on Saturday, August 23, 2014 from 2:00 pm until 8:00 pm with the family present from 7:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Hamilton Funeral Chapel, 726 Tarboro Street SW, Wilson. All other times the family will receive friends at the residence where they will also assmble one hour prior to the funeral service in preparation for the funeral procession.

 

I.P. Thorne’s time with Sherwood’s Youth Band.

When Isaiah Prophet Thorne wrote to the Daily Times in 1941 asking for information about his family, he mentioned that he “was placed, when a small child, in Sherwood’s [Orphans] Schools, and later traveled with a school band.”

Preston and Edna Thorne and their elder children are listed in the 1880 census of Wilson County, and Isaiah was born about 1885. Both parents were reported living in 1890 when their daughter Hattie Thorne married, but may have died soon after, when Isaiah was still a young boy.

By 1893, Isaiah Thorne was the drum major of Sherwood’s band. Contemporary newspaper accounts, even when peppered with the casually cutting racism of the era, single out Thorne’s talent. In May, the band was in New England:

Morning Journal-Courier (New Haven, Conn.), 26 May 1893.

In August 1894, they entertained in the streets of Buffalo, New York:

Buffalo (N.Y.) Commercial, 7 August 1894.

Buffalo (N.Y.) Weekly Express, 9 August 1894.

 

“They’re all working that way down there.”

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Wilson Daily Times, 1 March 1939.

It took me a minute to figure the alleged fraud out.

Southern Tobacco Company required its stemmers to process 25 pounds of tobacco per day. If they struggled to make quota, the company told them to bring in someone to help. (Southern President James I. Miller denied knowing anything, of course. Southern was an affiliate of J.I. Miller Tobacco Company and shared its South Tarboro Street facility.) The “buddy” was not officially employed by Southern, but worked under the actual employee’s name and Social Security number and got a cut of the employee’s pay. Everybody did it, workers insisted. The problem came when the buddies filed for unemployment benefits, claiming they had earned no wages. Moses Hodge had not reported that Theodore Bell had given him half of his paycheck, and the hammer dropped.

Five people were charged and found guilty of defrauding the Unemployment Compensation Commission.

——

  • Mose Hodge — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 315 Finch, owned and valued at $600, tobacco company stemmer Moses Hodge, 27; wife Macy, 20, tobacco company stemmer; children Loula, 7, and Connie Lee, 2; and mother Lula, 71. In 1940, Moses Jack Hodge registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 22 October 1912 in Durham, N.C.; his contact was wife Macy Thompson Hodge; he lived at 315 Finch Street; and he worked for Farmers Oil Company, Barnes Street.
  • William Henry Thomas — in 1940, William Henry Thomas registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 21 August 1918 in Wilson; lived at 524 South Lodge Street; his contact was wife Margaret Obery Thomas; and he worked for Export Tobacco Company.
  • Burley Ford — in the 1930 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Burley Ford, 27, and wife Mary, 28.
  • Lela Hines — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 208 South Vick, owned and valued at $1000, Raiford McPhail, 75, janitor at Fidelity building, widower; lodger Robert Sherdon, 50, carpenter; and lodger Lela Hines, 45, laundress at laundry.
  • Emma Crosland
  • Theodore Bell 
  • William “Tweet” Ellis
  • Cleo Barber — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 6-8 Daniel, rented for $7/month, Sam Clarke, 32, electrician at “town department”; Cleo Barber, 29, lodger, tobacco factory hanger; and “lodger’s son” Maskar Barber, 13.

The apprenticeship of Alonzo Finch, revisited.

On 3 June 1899, a Wilson County Superior Court clerk ordered brothers Alonzo Finch, 14, and Jack Finch, 5, bound as an apprentice to Zealous Howard. The arrangement proved disastrous for the elder boy.

On 2 October 1902, an attorney submitted a petition to the clerk of Superior Court In the Matter of Alonzo Finch, Apprentice. The document asserted that Finch had served Howard faithfully until forced to leave “by threats or other conduct.” Finch claimed Howard had failed to provide him with adequate clothing, that “outside parties” gave him clothes, and that he often had to work at night to earn money to buy clothes. Further, Howard had not educated him as required per the terms of his indenture, such that Finch “did not know the letters of the alphabet and therefore [was] unable to read and write.” Worse, Howard hired Finch out and took the money the boy earned. Because of Howard’s “cruel treatment,” Finch requested that the indenture be annulled and cancelled.

After hearing the evidence, clerk J.D. Bardin found Howard “morally unfit” and released Alonzo Finch from his indenture.

The apprenticeship of Edward and William H. Fields (1910).

On 26 December 1910, a Wilson County Superior Court judge ordered Edward Fields, 14, and John Henry Fields, 13, bound as apprentices to their maternal grandfather Washington Fields until they reached 18 years of age.

——

  • Edward Fields
  • William Henry Fields

In 1918, William Henry Fields registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born in August 1896 in Wilson County; lived in Lucama; his nearest relative was his grandfather Washington Fields, Lucama; and he worked as a tenant farmer for Ira Barnes. 

On 16 November 1918, Wm. H. Fields, 21, of Cross Roads, son of Henry Barnes and Lurindy Fields, married Eliza Woodard, 21, of Cross Roads, daughter of William Woodard, in Wilson County.

In the 1920 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer William H. Fields, 22, and wife Eliza W., 23.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 200 East, William H. Fields, 52, “feeding the belt” at local canal mill; wife Liza, 51; niece Dorothy M. Woodard, 13, and nephew John Woodard Jr., 11.

Eliza O. Fields died 2 June 1950 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 4 July 1900 in Wilson County to William Woodard; was married; lived at 200 North East Street; and worked as a tobacco laborer. William Henry Fields was informant.

William Henry Fields died 13 November 1958 in Bailey, Nash County, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born 1 January 1897 to William Henry Barnes and Marinda Fields; was a widower; and lived at 200 North East Street. Informant was Mattie Newsome, 200 North East Street.

Apprentice 1910, Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

Taylor’s Spring Club news.

Wilson Daily Times, 7 July 1944.

Where was Taylor’s Spring? Presumably, based on the reference to Mitchell School, somewhere west of Elm City.

——

  • Bertha Lee Evans
  • Rosie Lee Evans — probably, in the 1940 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farmer John Evans, 34; wife Rosa, 30; and children Rosa Lee, 12, Effie Pearl, 11, John Evert, 10, Penny Roberta, 8, Annie Doris, 7, Karl Randolph, 4, and Rayfield, 2.
  • Sadie Isom
  • Pearlie Savage — in the 1940 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farmer Henry Locus, 67; wife Ida, 64; daughter Lula, 38; granddaughters Elsie, 18, and Pearley Mae Savage, 13; and grandsons Clinton, 6, and Irelander Armstrong, 4.
  • Viola Scafe — Earnest and Viola Hill Scafe likely were migrants from South Carolina. They settled in Toisnot township in the late 1930s, had at least three children there between 1937 and 1942, and migrated to New Jersey before 1950.
  • Florence McKinnon — in the 1940 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Will McKinnon, 55; wife Elizabeth W., 53; children Ada Belle, 19, Mary E., 16, Florence G., 15, Charlie S., 12, and Benjamin F., 23; daughter-in-law Mary V., 19; grandson Benjamin F. Jr., 1; son James W., 21, and daughter-in-law Cora C., 18.
  • J.A. Boyd