Davis

Cook confesses to aiding jail break.

Chicago Defender, 30 July 1938.

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Perhaps, in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 116 Pender Street, Clara Davis, 19, tobacco factory stemmer; Charles Davis, 22, cook at Bill’s Quick Lunch; Jack Ellis, 36, tobacco factory redryer; Beulah Ellis, 21, cook; and Ollie M. Ferguson, 33, tobacco factory grader. [All were relatively recent arrivals to Wilson from towns across eastern North Carolina and from Tennessee.]

Studio shots, no. 241: the young Rev. Fred M. Davis.

A couple of weeks ago, a photo collector reached out to me concerning this priceless image. His research had identified the man as Rev. Fred M. Davis, the most prominent African-American Baptist minister in Wilson in the first half of the twentieth century, and he wanted to reconnect the portrait with Rev. Davis’ descendants. They are cherished family friends, and I was delighted to help.

Yesterday, after a meet-up in North Carolina, Rev. Davis’ portrait went home.

Diana Davis Myers gazes at a portrait of her grandfather, Rev. Fred M. Davis.

Thank you, G.G., for the diligent search that ultimately led you to Black Wide-Awake and the return of this family treasure. Photo courtesy of Michelle Myers Young.

The last will and testament of Rev. Fred M. Davis Sr.

Rev. Fred M. Davis‘ will was … particular.

With five adult children and a second wife who was the mother of none of them, Rev. Davis  set out to delineate with startling exactitude the division of his property.

First, he gave his children — Bertha E. Davis Bullock, Ruth E. Davis Potter, Addie L. Davis Butterfield, William B. Davis, and Fred M. Davis Jr. — one-sixth each of the value of the “homeplace” at 621 East Green.

Second, he provided his wife Minnie J. Davis a life estate in “her bed room (The one that we lived in during my life time)” and the right to use the kitchen to prepare her meals and to sit in the dining room to eat. The other heirs could also use the kitchen and dining room — “in their turns, each day, as they did during my lifetime.” “Also, I give her the privelege to to use the Toilet when ever needed, and a Fourth part of the garden, to use for her convenience.”

Third, if Minnie Davis were to remarry, her inheritance would pass to Rev. Davis’ children. (as it would upon her death.)

Fourth, the children received the right to live anywhere in the house except “the one that Minnie J. Davis, my Widow, occupies, on the front, South West corner.” Again, they could use the kitchen and dining room. And also the toilet and three-quarters of the garden.

Fifth, to daughter Ruth Potter, the hall hat rack and the furniture in “Grand Ma Judy’s Room.” (Grandma Judy was Rev. Davis’ mother, Judy Davis.)

Sixth, to son William Davis, half Rev. Davis’ books and the furniture in William’s room.

Seventh, to daughter Addie Butterfield, his Coble piano, parlor furniture, and pictures.

Eighth, to daughter Bertha Bulluck, all the furniture in “Mamma Dinah’s Bed Room,” the dining room table, and one-fourth of Rev. Davis’ books. (Mamma Dinah was Rev. Davis’ first wife, Dinah Dunston Davis, who died in 1917.)

Ninth, to daughter Eva Bland, the dining room side board.

Tenth, to Fred Davis Jr., the desk in Grandma’s room, a quarter of Rev. Davis’ books, and his Ford sedan.

Hugh Shepherd, a white real estate dealer, was named executor.

Will of Fred M. Davis Sr. (1937), North Carolina, U.S. Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998, http://www.ancestry.com.