Coward

Darden senior preaches first sermon.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 1 October 1938.

Though Leroy Foster did not make his career in the pulpit, he remained a lifelong A.M.E. Zion lay leader.

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  • Leroy Foster

In the 1920 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: tenant farmer Claud Foster, 37; wife Cora, 37; and children Mammie, 16, Booker T., 12, Maggie, 9, Claud Jr., 7, Carry, 6, Leroy, 5, Sammie, 1, and Estell, 1 month.

In the 1930 census of Jackson township, Nash County, N.C.: farmer Claud Foster, 48; children Claud Jr., 16, Carrie Lee, 14, Leroy, 13, Samuel, 11, Cora, 10, Douglas, 8, and Marie, 6; and grandson Jimmie, 7.

In 1940, Leroy Foster registered for the World War II draft. Per his registration card, he was born 10 January 1917 in Wilson; lived at 303 North Vick Street; his contact was sister Carrie Highsmith, 1910 North 21st Street, Philadelphia; and he was a student at Livingstone College, Salisbury, N.C.

On 4 October 1944, Leroy Foster, 27, of Wilson, son of Claude and Cora Foster, married Lula Margaret Moore, 26, of Wilson, daughter of Louis Arrington and Lula Moore, in Wilson. A.M.E. Zion minister W.A. Hilliard performed the ceremony in the presence of Arthur Lee Battle, Viola McPhail, and Mary Elizabeth Thomas.

Leroy Foster interrupted his college education to serve in the United States Army from 1942 to 1946.

The Livingstonian yearbook (1947), Livingstone College.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 925 Washington Street, science teacher Leroy Foster, 33; wife Lula M., 32; and aunt Delphia V. Battle, 57, presser.

Leroy Darden died 10 March 1978 in Greenville, North Carolina.

Wilson Daily Times, 12 March 1978.

Rev. Bryant P. Coward, 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.

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Rev. Bryant P. Coward (1864-1940), A.M.E. Zion minister and presiding elder.

The double funeral of Sarah Coward and Raiford McPhail.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 19 October 1946.

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  • Sarah Coward

In the 1900 census of Township 1, Craven County: farmer Bryan Coward, 36, wife Sarah, 33, son Arthur D., 8, and niece Malissa Jenkins, 13.

In the 1910 census of New Bern, Craven County, at 2 Green Street: pastor Bryan Coward, 45, wife Sarah, 43, son Arthur D., 18, and adopted daughter Malissa Jenkins, 22.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County, at 122 Pender Street: minister of the gospel Bryant Coward, 53, wife Sarah A., 49, and roomers Joe Ward (who worked as a cook at Hotel Briggs), 30, and Sophia Ward, 29. [Rev. Coward was a prominent Saint John pastor, but did not found the church.]

In the 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Coward Sarah A (c) dom h 1013 Atlanta

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Coward Bryant Rev (c; Sarah A) h 1013 Atlanta

In the 1940 census of Wilson, North Carolina: at 1013 Atlantic, owned and valued at $6000, Sarah A. Coward, 69, widow; son Willie Carr, 30; his wife Sandyne[?], 25; sons Bobbie, 2, and Willie, 6; roomer Clara Chamber, 20.

Sarah Addie Coward died 6 September 1946 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born in Greene County, N.C., to Quilla Brown and Mary Margaret Wilson, both of Craven County, N.C.; was 87 years old; and lived at 1013 Atlantic Street.

  • Raiford McPhail

In the 1870 census of Flea Hill township, Cumberland County, N.C.: farm laborer Arnold McPhail, 25; wife Milly, 21; children Raiford, 6, Elizabeth, 4, and Hector, 1; and farm laborer Isaac, 16.

In the 1880 census of Flea Hill township, Cumberland County, N.C.: farmer Arnel McPhail, 37, and children Raford, 14, Eliza, 12, Hector, 10, Joe, 8, Martha J., 6, William, 4, and Sarah, 1.

On 28 February 1889, R.J. McPhaill, 24, of Cumberland County, son of Arnold and Millie McPhail and, married Laura Waddell, 20, of Cumberland County, daughter of Wash and Delia McPhail, in Flea Hill township, Cumberland County.

In the 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: McPhail Raiford J (c) janitor Fidelity Mutual Bldg h 212 S Vick

John Albert McPhail died 27 October 1919 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 19 February 1894 to Raiford McPhail and Laura Wadell, both of Cumberland County; worked as a clothes cleaner at a pressing club; lived at 212 Vick Street extended; and was buried in Wilson [likely, Vick Cemetery.]

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Raford McPhail, 50; wife Laura, 47; and children David, 22, Hector, 21, Bessie, 19, and Mary, 14.

Mary McPhail died 10 September 1924 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 4 March 1904 in Wilson to Raiford J. McPhail and Laura Wardell, both of Cumberland County; was single; was a schoolgirl; and was buried in Wilson [probably, Vick Cemetery.]

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: McPhail Raiford (c; Laura) janitor h 208 S Vick

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 208 South Vick, Fidelity Building janitor Raiford McPhail, 75, widower, and lodgers Robert Sherdan, 50, carpenter, and laundress, Lela Hines, 45, widow.

Raiford McPhail died 8 September 1945 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 15 February 1865 in Cumberland County to Arnold McPhail; was a widower; lived at 208 South Vick Street; and was buried in Rountree Cemetery [probably, Vick Cemetery.] Informant was Bessie Compton, Greensboro.

A.D. Coward, member of the third year class.

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The catalogue for the 1911-12 school year at North Carolina State Colored Normal School at Fayetteville, later Fayetteville State University, listed one student from Wilson, A.D. Coward.

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Arthur D. Coward and his family were newly arrived in Wilson, where his father, the Rev. Bryant P. Coward, had assumed the pulpit at Saint John A.M.E. Zion Church.

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In the 1900 census of Township 1, Craven County: farmer Bryan Coward, 36, wife Sarah, 33, son Arthur D., 8, and niece Malissa Jenkins, 13.

In the 1910 census of New Bern, Craven County, at 2 Green Street: pastor Bryan Coward, 45, wife Sarah, 43, son Arthur D., 18, and adopted daughter Malissa Jenkins, 22.

Arthur D. Coward died 21 July 1913 in Wilson of typhoid fever. Per his death certificate, he was born 17 October 1891 in Vanceboro, North Carolina, to B.P. Coward of Hookerton and S.A. Brown of Fountain Hill; lived at 122 Pender Street, Wilson; was attending school; and was buried in Vanceboro.

Catalogue digitized by North Carolina Digital History Center, http://www.digitalnc.org.

 

Moore-Mitchell marriage.

2 23 1920.png

Wilson Daily Times, 23 February 1919.

  • Ernest Moore

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: merchant Lee Moore, 36, wife Louisa, 32, and son Ernest, 12.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Nash Street, life insurance agent Lee Moore, 40; wife Mary, 36; and son Earnest, 19.

In 1917, Ernest Andrew Moore registered for the World War I draft in New York, New York. Per his registration card, he was born 8 March 1888 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at 257 West 111th Street; worked as an elevator operator for Frank Mull, 257 West 111th; and was single.

Ernest Moore, 31, of Wilson married Esther Mitchell, 21, of Wilson on 18 July 1919 in Wilson. A.M.E. Zion minister B.P. Coward performed the ceremony, and Dudley Bynum and Oleonia Bynum witnessed.

On 17 November 1927, Louise and Thelma Moore, children of Ernest and Ethel Mitchell Moore, were baptized at Riverside Hospital. Louise was born 28 October 1924, and Thelma, 15 July 1926. New York, Episcopal Diocese of New York Church Records, 1767-1970, [database on-line], http://www.ancestry.com.

  • Ethel Mitchell — actually, Esther Mitchell.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Atlantic Street, barber Douglas [Dudley] Bynum, 29; wife Ora, 28; and roomer Ester Mitchell, 21.

The Negro ministers were well received.

pc 3 12 1938

Pittsburgh Courier, 12 March 1938.

  • Richard A.G. Foster — As shown here, Rev. Foster was a steadfast and enthusiastic proponent of civil rights.
  • E.O. Saunders — South Carolina native Otto Eugene Sanders was newly arrived from Charlotte, North Carolina.
  • Bryant P. Coward