The Coleman farmstead.

Mattie Barnes Robinson recently led me on a tour of her extended family’s current and former lands on Airport Boulevard. Mrs. Robinson attended Barnes School, which was just down the road and across the street from the farmstead on which she grew up. The house is gone, but traces remain on the land.

This tumbled chimney is all that remains of the house.

Remnants of the outbuildings. The pecan was already a mature tree during Mrs. Robinson’s childhood.

The well.

The pump in front of the Barnes School site.

Photos by Lisa Y. Henderson, October 2025.

The Class of 1928, as imagined, pt. 1.

Several years ago, I posted a portrait of the first Wilson [later renamed C.H. Darden] High School class to receive high school diplomas. A few days ago, I received a clearer copy of the Class of ’28 photo from a family member of one of the students.

I wondered how AI might render their images. Beautifully, it turns out.

Jennie Parker (1909-2006), class prophet.

Herman Bess, class valedictorian.

 

Ada Harris (1908-2010), class treasurer.

[N.B. Notwithstanding their beauty, my usual caveat about AI photo restoration stands: I am ambivalent about using artificial intelligence to restore photographs. Or, more specifically, I’m concerned about manipulated photographs supplanting original images and further blurring the line between reality and misinformation.]

Thank you, Niko Dias!

Prince E. Mincey, as imagined.

I am ambivalent about using artificial intelligence to restore photographs. Or, more specifically, I’m concerned about manipulated photographs supplanting original images and further blurring the line between reality and misinformation. However, the allure of AI-enhanced images is strong, as I often contend with blurry, poorly lit photographs in unnatural sepia or black-and-white tones. Photographs whose condition sometimes exacerbates the distance between us and our ancestors.

I have been experimenting with ChatGPT lately, feeding it queries and images to be restored and colorized. The results are somewhat haphazard, with many images weird and off-putting. Other times, the images are breathtakingly sharp and … alive. Black Wide-Awake exists to resurrect forgotten lives, and I believe these images are valuable to help us connect with the men and women we read about in these posts. From time to time, I’ll share the better ones here, clearly marked as AI-generated. Let me know what you think about them.

——

Rev. Prince E. Mincey (1908-??), pastor of Holy Temple Church.

B.W.A. Historical Marker Series, no. 28: East Nash Street Monument Company.

In this series, which will post on occasional Wednesdays, I populate the landscape of Wilson County with imaginary “historical markers” commemorating people, places, and events significant to African-American history or culture.

We been here.

EAST NASH STREET MONUMENT COMPANY

Clarence B. Best began cutting marble and granite headstones in 1914 and in 1946 established his own monument company in his backyard at 1306 East Nash St. Known for his distinctive font, deep cuts, stylized plant motifs, and use of recycled material, thousands of Best’s headstones can be found in Wilson and Surrounding counties.

Wilson Daily Times, 13 October 1945.

 

Simms family sued for nonpayment.

Sometime prior to February 1897, Frank I. Finch contracted with Abbie Simms, Joe Simms, and Lee Simms to make repairs on “a house upon their lot in or near the town of Wilson N.C. adjoining the lands of the colored cemetery lot G.W. Suggs and others ….” Finch claimed he completed the work, but the Simmses refused to pay. Finch placed a lien on the property and filed suit claiming $210 in damages, plus interest.

Finch won, and a judge entered a judgment against the Simmses. The county sheriff auctioned off the property on 7 January 1898; Sidney A. Woodard, who had represented the Simmses in the matter, had the winning bid.

——

  • Abbie Simms

On 24 April 1894, Abbie McMannon conveyed to Lee Simms and his heirs “one lot or parcel near the Town of Wilson, Wilson County and State of North Carolina, adjoining the lands of Geo. Washington Suggs, Abbie McMannon, and others and bounded as follows: Beginning at a ditch near the Colored Cemetery on the old Barefoot road and … containing 1/5 of an acre more or less …” S.A. Smith witnessed McMannon’s execution of the deed. Deed book 36, page 141, Wilson County Register of Deeds, Wilson.

  • Joe Simms

On 25 December 1889, James Caraway, 50, married Rosa Simms, 17, in Wilson township, Wilson County. Minister Crocket Best performed the ceremony in the presence of Henry Peacock, Joe Simms, and Abbie Simms.

  • Lee Simms

On 12 August 1886, Lee Simms, 26, of Wilson County, son of David and Aby Simms, married Mary Harris, 16, of Wilson County, daughter of Sely Harris, in Wilson County.

On 1 June 1894, Lee and Mary Simms mortgaged the property above to secure a $86.32 loan from James W. McCowan. (The money was for materials to build a house on the lot.)

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Wainwright Street, brickmason Lee Simes, 35; wife Marry, 30, washing;  and daughters Bessie, 13, tobacco stemmer, and Maggie, 9.

In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Saratoga Road, Lee Sims, 44; wife Mary, 40, laundress; and daughter Maggie, 18.

In the 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Simms Lee (c) bricklyr h 813 E Nash

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 648 Wainwright, brickmason Lee Sims, 56; wife Mary, 47; daughter Maggie Williams, 25, and son-in-law Sam Williams, 26, presser at pressing club.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 410 Hadley, brickmason Lee Sims, 66, bricklayer; wife Mary, 60, laundress; and adopted son Clarence Woodard, 6.

Robert Lee Sims died 10 October 1939 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 9 April 1864 in Wilson, N.C., to David Simms and Abbie Gay; lived at 205 North Vick; was married to Mary Sims; and was buried in Wilson [probably, Vick Cemetery.] Bessie Woodard was informant.

Civil Action Papers, Wilson County, N.C., Court Records 1895-1896, http://www.familysearch.org

Calvary Presbyterian’s radiant queen mothers!

Calvary Presbyterian Church‘s recent 136th Homecoming celebration brought together these three vibrant nonagenarians!

Wilson County natives Henrietta Hines McIntosh, 98, and Arlean Lindsey Sneed, 99, stand behind Addie Scipio Hagans, 97, who taught English to generations of students at Darden and Fike High Schools.

Photo courtesy of Cassandra Wiggins.