Houston Chronicle, 26 February 1984.
Boston Herald, 26 February 1984.
Chattanooga News-Free Press, 27 February 1984.
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centenarian
Funeral Program Friday: Elnora Cotton Dawson (1914-2015).
Funeral Program Friday: William Henry Coleman (1905-2007).
Happy 104th birthday, Mother Battle!
Wilson Daily Times, 25 April 2024.
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In the 1930 census of Oak Level township, Nash County, North Carolina: farmer William Gray, 68; wife Georgeanna, 48; sons Bennie, 19, and Stephen, 13, and grandchildren Robert, 12, Walter, 9, Boney, 8, and Ellen Gray, 10, and Loneva Battle, 5.
On 4 June 1937, Elroy Battle, 21, of Wilson County, son of Alfred and Exie Battle, married Ellen Gray, 18, of Wilson County, daughter of William and Georgeanna Gray, in Goldsboro, Wayne County, North Carolina. Witnesses to the ceremony included Eva Gray of Black Creek and Alice Artis of Wilson.
In 1940, Elroy Battle registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 15 August 1918 in Wilson County; lived on R.F.D. 3, Wilson; his contact was wife Ellen Battle; and he was self-employed.
In the 1940 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Elroy Battle, 21; wife Ellen, 20; sister Daisy, 19; brother-in-law Barney Gray, 18; and brother Lonnie Battle, 13.
In the 1950 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Elroy Battle, 31, farmer; wife Ellen, 30; son Richard Ray, 4; and cousin Walter Gray, 29.
“I’m spiritually fed, and I have lovely friends”: centenarian Rosa Arrington looks back.
Rosa Farmer Arrington‘s 1984 interview with the Daily Times shortly before her 102nd birthday is a joy to read! (Where are her photographs now??)
Wilson Daily Times, 31 December 1984.
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In the 1900 census of the Town of Wilson, Wilson County: day laborer James Farmer, 22, and his siblings Rosa, 17, Freeda, 10, Robert, 7, Richard, 5, Mark, 2, and Erickers, 7 months, plus boarder Tobias Farmer, 47, a barber.
On 19 September 1900, Warren Crank, 21, of Wilson, married Rosa Farmer, 18, of Wilson, daughter of Tobias Farmer and Chunnie Farmer, at Rosa Farmer’s house in Wilson. P.H. Leach applied for the license; Rev. William Baker performed the ceremony; and R.H.W. Wilkerson, Joe Edwards, and G.A. Martin were witnesses.
In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: oil mill laborer Warren Crank, 30; wife Rosie, 27, laundress; brother-in-law Mark Farmer, 12; and boarder Mute Land, 31, oil mill laborer.
Tobias Farmer died in Wilson on 17 May 1914. Per his death certificate, he was born 5 January 1854 in North Carolina to Elija Farmer and Rosa Barnes; was a widower; and worked as a barber. Rosa Crank was informant.
Warren Crank died 2 June 1917 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 8 December 1880 in Lynchburg, Virginia, to Thomas Crank; worked in a tobacco factory; and was married. Rosa Crank was informant. Crank was buried in Wilson, N.C. (which likely meant Vick or Odd Fellows Cemeteries.)
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 646 Green Street, house carpenter Levi Arrington, 33; wife Rosa, 33; and daughter Zelma, 7.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 208 Reid Street, carpenter Levi Arrington, 38, wife Rosa, 40, daughter Zelma, 16, and lodger Nelly Sharp, 20, a cook.
In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Arrington Zelma (c) student 208 N Reid
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 208 Reid Street, construction carpenter Levi Arrington, 53, born in Nash County; wife Rosa, 57, tobacco stemmer, born in Enfield; daughter Zelma, 28, born in Wilson, beauty parlor operator; and roomer Mary Johnson, 22, born in Winston-Salem, public school teacher.
On 25 February 1948, Hector Henry McPhail, 44, of Wilson, son of R.J. and Laura McPhail, married Zelma Mae Arrington, 35, of Wilson, son of Levi and Rosa Arrington, in Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina.
Zelma Arrington McPhail died 27 December 1948 at her home at 208 North Reid Street, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 1 April 1912 in Wilson to Levi Arrington and Rosa Farmer; was married to Hector McPhail; worked as a beautician; and was buried in “Wilson/Roundtree” cemetery.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 208 Reid Street, carpenter Levi Arrington, 62; wife Rosa, 67, beauty parlor proprietor; and foster daughter Margaret Kenny, 9.
Robert Farmer died 23 March 1957 at his home at 803 South Railroad Street, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 26 March 1890 in Wilson County to Tobe Farmer and Eunice Hunter; was a laborer; and was a widower. Rosa Arrington was informant.
Levi Arrington died 11 June 1964 at his home at 208 North Reid Street, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 2 May 1887 in Nash County to Amie Salvage; was married to Rosa Arrington; and was a carpenter.
Howard Farmer turns 102!
Wilson Daily Times, 6 February 1980.
Howard Farmer passed away later that year. For more about his fascinating life, see here.
The death of Aunt Mary, centenarian.
Wilson Daily Times, 8 July 1919.
I have not been able to match a death certificate to the “Aunt Mary” described in this torn news clipping.
The death of Emily Jones, age 105.
Wilson Daily Times, 10 April 1917.
Proclaimed centenarians were seldom actually as old as claimed. Census evidence suggests that Emily Jones really was perhaps 80-90 years old when she died.
Samuel Jones, who arrived in Wilson before 1889, was a long-time employee of tobacconist Ula H. Cozart Sr., co-founder of Centre Brick tobacco warehouse.
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On 30 August 1866, Duke Jones and Emily Pinnell registered their marriage with a Warren County, North Carolina, justice of the peace. They had cohabited since 1 January 1857.
In the 1870 census of Township 7, Warren County: Daniel Jones, 44, farmer; wife Emily, 33; and children Samuel, 13, Jane, 12, Blake, 7, Joseph, 6, and Edward, 2.
In the 1880 census of Shocco township, Warren County: Duke Jones, 55, farmer; wife Emely, 55; and children Benjamin, 18, John, 16, and Ellick, 14.
On 24 December 1889, Sam Jones, 28, was issued a license to marry Julia Ann Boykin, 19, in Wilson County. They did not return the license.
In the 1900 census of Warrenton, Warren County: Duke Jones, 70, farmer, and wife Emily, 60.
In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: tobacco grader Samuel Jones, 45; wife Julia A., 29, tobacco grader; and children Nannie E., 7, William G., 3, Irena R., 5 months, and Maggie, 2.
In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: odd jobs laborer Sam Jones, 45; wife Julia, 39; and children Nannie, 17, cook, Willie, 13, grocery store delivery boy, Irene, 10, Sam, 9, Isar, 5, Magilena, 3, and May A., 1.
Emily Jones died 20 February 1917 in Warrenton, Warren County, North Carolina. Per her death certificate, she was born about 1813 in Raleigh, N.C.; was widowed; and was buried in Snow Hill Cemetery, Warren County. Informant was J.J. Jones, 701-19th Street, Washington, D.C.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 645 Green Street, laborer Sam Jones, 65, widower; children Rosa L., 7, Isier, 16, laborer, Maggie, 13, and Mary A., 10; daughter Mamie Garner, 25, and her sons Albert, 7, and Dick, 5; daughter Irean Lee, 19, and son-in-law Milton Lee, 23, house carpenter.
Sam Jones Sr. died 1 February 1926 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 72 years old; was born in Warren County, N.C., to Duke Jones and Emlie Jones; was a widower; lived at 407 Carroll Street; worked as a night watchman for Planters Warehouse; and was buried in Rountrees Cemetery [likely, Vick.] Samuel Jones Jr. was informant.
The passing of John Clarence Artis, age 100.
John Clarence Artis, 16 October 1922-13 June 2023.
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John Clarence Artis was born 16 October 1922 in Wilson County to John Columbus Artis and Nancy Pearsall [Pender?]
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1113 Queen Street, widow Mary Pender, 45, laundress; daughter Nancy Artist, 23, laundress; grandsons John C., 7, and Willie, 5; son William H. Pender, 25, auto mechanic at garage; and lodger Maggie Edwards, 21, cook.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farmer Simon Pope, 37; wife Nancy, 33; stepson John Artis, 17; lodger David Ward, 16; nephew James Harris, 10; and mother-in-law Mary Jane Pender, 56, widow.
In 1942, John Clarence Artis registered for the World War II draft in Portsmouth, Virginia. Per his registration card, he was born 16 October 1922 in Wilson; he lived at 1029 London Street, Portsmouth; his contact was Mary Pender, 206 Manchester Street, Wilson; and he worked at the Naval Hospital, Portsmouth.
On 19 July 1957, John C. Artis Jr., 34, of 641 Cemetery Street, Wilson, son of John C. Artis and Nancy Pender Artis, married Margie Dunston, 26, of Lucama, daughter of Aaron and Lenatha Thompson, in Wilson.
Photo courtesy of http://www.carronsfuneralhome.com.
The passing of Rev. Dr. Beauregard Ward, 102.
Rev. Dr. Beauregard “B.G.” Ward, 6 August 1920-11 June 2023.
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In the 1930 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer James Ward, 50; wife Addie, 39; children Maggie, 19, Oz, 17, Ida, 16, Joseph, 15, Ora, 12, Bourgard, 11, Charlie, 8, Leland, 5, Minnie L., 3, and Annie M., 0; and mother Sarah, 72, widow.
On 11 May 1939, Boiggard Ward, 21, of Wilson County, son of Jim and Annie Ward, married Bertha Dupree, 19, of Snow Hill, N.C., daughter Preston and Ada Dupree, in Snow Hill, Greene County.
In the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: on Highway No. 264, farmer James Ward, 58; wife Addie, 46; and children Ida, 24, Charles, 18, Leland, 14, Minnie, 13, Annie, 10, Molena, 5, and Beauregard, 20; daughter-in-law Bertha Lee, 20; and grandson James Lee Barnes, 9.
In the 1950 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: proceeding east on Stantonsburg Black Creek Rd., farmer Beauregard Ward, 26; wife Bertha Lee, 26; children Boyd Lee, 9, Milton, 7, Gene Aubry, 5, Earnest, 4, Elnora, 3, Willie Gray, 2, and Linda Fay, born in August [1949]; and hired hand John L. Williams, 15.
Wilson Daily Times, 16 February 2009.