The obituary of Charlie W. Harper.

Petersburg Progress Index, 19 July 1967.

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In 1942, Charlie Wesley Harper registered for the World War II draft in Petersburg, Virginia. Per his registration card, he was born 30 January 1896 in Robinson [sic] County, North Carolina; lived at 469 Byrne Street, Petersburg; his contact was Mary Harper, same address; and he worked for Boyle Russell Wise Contracting Company, Richmond, Virginia.

In the 1950 census of Petersburg, Virginia: at 300 Gill Street, Charlie Harper, 54, widower, born in North Carolina, wholesale tobacco factory laborer.

Charlie Wesley Harper died 18 July 1967 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Durham, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born 17 April 1896 in Cumberland County, N.C.; was a widower; worked in construction; and lived at 508 New Bern Street, Wilson.

Albert Finch’s patriotic utterances.

Wilson Daily Times, 29 August 1918.

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On 27 October 1909, William A. Finch, 27, of Nash County, son of Z.D. Finch and Minnie Ann Finch, married Lougene Finch, 20, of Cross Roads township, daughter of Billie and Mattie Finch, in Wilson.

In the 1910 census of Dry Wells township, Nash County, North Carolina: farmer Albert Finch, 25, and wife Lula, 20.

In 1918, William Albert Finch registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 3 December 1881; lived at R.F.D. #3, Lucama, Wilson County; farmed for W.J. Newsome; and his nearest relative was Lugenia Finch.

In the 1920 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Albert Finch, 33, and wife Lugenia, 31.

Lougenia Finch died 30 August 1923 in Cross Roads township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, her birthdate was unknown; she was born in Wilson County to William and Flossie Finch; was married to Albert Finch; and was buried in the Zid Finch Cemetery in Middlesex [Nash County].

In the 1930 census of Dry Wells township, Nash County, North Carolina: Zid D. Finch, 78; wife Minnie A., 68; son Albert, 51; daughter Mamie, 24; and grandchildren Joseph W., 14, Clois E., 10, James T., 8, and Warnealy Ward, 6.

In the 1940 census of Dry Wells township, Nash County, North Carolina: Albert Finch, 58; son Thomas, 19; and daughter Junita, 16.

William Albert Finch died 26 May 1962 in Rocky Mount, Nash County. Per his death certificate, he was born 3 December 1881 in Wilson to Zid and Men Finch; was the widower of Lugenia Finch; lived in Middlesex, Nash County; and was buried in Finch Cemetery, Nash County.

Sissieretta Jones, the best known singer of her race, plays Wilson.

Trailblazing singer and entertainer M. Sissieretta Jones, known (to her discomfort and displeasure) as The Black Patti, brought her Troubadours to Wilson’s Lyceum Theatre in March 1911.

Wilson Times, 28 February 1911.

Wilson Times, 3 March 1911.

Wilson Times, 7 March 1911.

Learn about the incomparable M. Sissieretta Jones here.

Poster, “The Black Patti: Mme. M. Sissieretta Jones,” color lithograph, 1899, Prints and Photographs Division, United States Library of Congress.

A tribute to an ally and friend.

Wilson Daily Times, 31 October 1938.

South Carolina-born Russell L. Owings was a student at Duke University studying music and speech. He was only 23 when he died in a car crash. I can find no evidence that he ever lived in Wilson and am not sure what path led him to volunteer as a choral director  and voice coach at Saint John.

The obituary of Herman Taylor of New York City.

Wilson Daily Times, 12 October 1949.

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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on East Nash Street, widow Lila Spicer, 50; daughter Mamie Taylor, 30, tobacco factory laborer; and grandchildren Ida, 13, Mildred, 11, James H., 9, Lila C., 7, Hermon, 5, and Bruce Taylor, 3; and roomer Henry Bullock, 25.

In the 1940 census of Manhattan borough, New York, New York: hat factory porter Herman Taylor, 24, lodger in the household of William Mitchell at 240 West 134th Street.

Herman Spicer Taylor registered for the World War II draft in 1940. Per his registration card, he was born 16 November 1915 in Wilson; lived in New York City; his contact was mother Mamie Taylor, 809 East Nash Street, Wilson; and he worked for Luther Smith.