burial society

Trinity Burial Society celebrates its anniversary.

Wilson Daily Times, 15 May 1945.

Burial societies are mutual aid organizations that provide funeral expenses and support for members, funded by voluntary subscriptions. Membership in a burial society, with small dues often paid weekly, ensured affordable, dignified burials, especially for families whose incomes were stretched. 

Trinity A.M.E. Zion‘s burial society was founded in 1918, when Vick Cemetery was the primary African-American burial ground in Wilson.

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Celebration goes left.

Wilson Times, 29 July 1921.

General affrays happened. What intrigues me here is the mention of “a burial society celebration.” Which burial society? What were they celebrating?

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  • Sylvester (not Alvestus) Rodgers — on 12 October 1918, Sylvester Rodgers, 20, son of Nathan and Rilla Rodgers, married Minnie Stanley, 18, daughter of D.W. and Nancy Stanley, in Wilson County.
  • Bud Grice — in the 1940 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Bud Grice, 46; wife Lyde, 43; and son Jessie, 12.
  • Bud Spell
  • John Hinnant — probably, in the 1920 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: John Hinnant, 31; wife Alice, 30; and children Henrietta, 12, Leslie, 10, Coy, 8, Malissa, 5, Zelma, 4, Ruth, 2, and John, 4 months.
  • Joe Grice — in the 1920 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Joseph Grice, 46, widower; sister Mary, 50; and cousin Hattie, 21.
  • Lemm Rodgers — on 14 December 1918, Lem Rodgers, 22, of Black Creek, married Diana Tomlin, 24, of Black Creek, at “Diana’s house.” Free Will Baptist minister Sidney Harriss performed the ceremony.
  • Buddie Tomlin
  • John Brooks — in the 1920 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Molly Brooks, 40, and children John, 19, Winnie, 18, Lillie, 16, Mamie, 7, Lizzie, 6, Daisy, 4, Mary, 2, and David, 11 months.
  • Galvin Woodard — probably, in the 1920 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Calvin Woodard, 28; wife Fanny, 31; and children Floyd, 8, Fanny, 5, and Mary, 18 months.
  • Buck Johnson — in the 1940 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer John Hardy, 41; wife Cora, 21; lodger, Buck Johnson, 39; niece Emma Lee Hardy, 14; and nephew Lee Roy Hardy, 7.