death notice

The death of Sister Sarah Artis.

The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 20 February 1928.

The John Marshall Harlan Relief Association [a benevolent society?] announced the death of Sarah Artis in February 1928. Her body was returned to Wilson for burial.

——

In 1918, Jesse James Artis registered for the World War I draft in Washington, D.C. Per his registration card, he was born 18 April 1877; lived at 2219 – 13th Street, N.W.; worked as a laborer for Murray Brothers at Commercial National Bank Building; and his nearest relative was Sarah Jane Artis.

In the 1920 census of Washington, District of Columbia: at 2219 – 13th Street, Jesse Artis, 42, city express driver, born in North Carolina; wife Sarah, 37, born in North Carolina; son Robert J., 2, born in Washington, D.C.; and cousin Lottie Wilson, 22, hotel waitress, born in North Carolina.

In 1940, Robert James Artis registered for the World War II draft in Washington, D.C. Per his registration card, he was born 16 November 1917 in Washington, D.C.; lived at 1822 – 13th Street, N.W.; his contact was father Jesse James Artis; and he was a student at Miner Teachers College [now University of the District of Columbia], Washington, D.C.

The death of George Hines.

Wilson Daily Times, 14 August 1911.

——

On 20 February 1890, George Hines, 28, married Luvenia Lipscomb, 24, in Wilson township. Missionary Baptist minister J.T. Clark in the presence of Frank Lipscomb, John Blunt, and Nestus Bagley.

In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Georgie Hines, 35; Lue, 34; and Howard, 9, Herbert, 7, Mary L., 5, and Joseph, 1; and mother Mariah, 62.

In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Tillmans Road, farm laborer George Hines, 53; wife Liew, 48; children Howard, 19, Hubbard, 17, May Lillie, 12, Joseph, 10, Nora, 8, Robert, 5, William, 4, and Charlie, 2; mother-in-law Maria Lipscombe, 72, widow.

Herbert Hines died 3 June 1942 in New Bern, North Carolina. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1895 in Wilson to George Hines and Lue Lipkins [Lipscomb]; was married to Minnie Hines; worked as a laborer; lived near Wilson; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery.

 

The death of Lottie Best.

Wilson Daily Times, 6 June 1911.

——

In the 1880 census of Saint Marys township, Wake County, N.C.: Patsy Dunston, 50, and daughters Lottie, 17, and Minerva, 7.

On 27 April 1882, Daniel Best, 23, married Lottie Dunston, 20, in Wilson County.

In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: tobacco stemmer Daniel Best, 40; laundry woman Lottie, 35; and children Henry, 17, Sarah, 16, both tobacco stemmers, Daizell, 13, nurse, John, 11, tobacco stemmer, and Griffin, 7.

In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: odd jobs laborer Dave Best, 54; wife Lottie, 45, laundress; and children Henry, 26, Sarah, 18, Dezell, 16, James, 15, Griffin, 10, and Harry, 4 months.

Lottie Best died 5 June 1911 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 45 years old; was born in Wilson County to Joe and Winnie Best; was widowed; worked as a cook; lived on Pender Street; and was buried in Wilson. John Best was informant.

The death of Etna Woodard Daniel.

Wilson Daily Times, 8 April 1916.

A brief article reporting the mysterious death of Etna Daniel is chock-full of detail, not all of it accurate. Ben Woodard was a well-known root doctor in Wilson County. Daniel was his step-daughter though, not his daughter. By 1916, wealthy agribusinessman Graham Woodard lived in his town, but his farm was on or near ancestral Woodard land in the White Oak Swamp area. “Darden’s shop” was Charles H. Darden‘s undertaking business.

——

In the 1870 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farm laborer Benj’n Woodard, 32, wife Harriet, 31, and children Edna, 13, Frederick, 9, and Venah, 6.

On 17 August 1876, Harry Daniels, 27, married Etna Woodard, 20, at B. Woodard’s, Wilson County.

In the 1880 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Harry Daniel, 30, and wife Etna, 22.

In the 1900 census of Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas: railroad laborer Harry Daniels, 50; wife Edna, 35; and boarder James Bynum, 21, grocery clerk. [Is this the same couple? If so, when did they, or just Etna, return to Wilson County?]

Per her death certificate, Eatna Daniel died 7 or 8 April 1916 in Wilson. She was 60 years old; was born in Wilson to Isaac Barnes and Harrett Aycock; “fell dead on country road — cause unknown”; and buried in Black Creek. Ben Woodard was informant. [Per the information Woodard supplied, Etna Daniel was not his daughter by his first wife, rather she was his step-daughter.]

The death of Sam Allen.

Wilson Daily Times, 23 December 1930.

We read here of the terrible injury Samuel Allen suffered to his foot in 1894.

Allen was a child during the antebellum era, so it’s not entirely clear what McFarland’s “compliment” meant.

“The colored Methodist church” was likely Saint John A.M.E. Zion, and “the cemetery” was most likely either Vick or Rountree Cemetery.

The death of Mildred Lassiter Sherrod.

Mildred Sherrod and son Earnest, circa 1942.

Wilson Daily Times, 5 February 1943.

——

Mildred Sherrod was only 20 years old at her death. She was buried in Rountree Cemetery.

[Note: her surname was spelled two different ways in this death notice — Sherard and Shearard — and the family now uses the spelling “Sherrod.”]

Photo courtesy of Angelia M. Sherrod.

 

Three deaths announced.

Wilson Daily Times, 22 January 1941.

——

  • Rev. Walter Thorpe

On 16 November 1921, Walter Thorp, 44, of Wilson, son of Anderson and Lucinda Thorp, married Rebecca Kent, 28, of Wilson, daughter of Elbert and Lissie Kent, in Wilson. A.M.E. Zion minister Bryant P. Coward performed the ceremony in the presence of W.F Edwards, G.E. Lyles, and S.B. Thomas.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1111 Washington Street, owned and valued at $2000, carpenter Walter Thorpe, 63; wife Rebecca, 46, sewing; and boarder Jane Boyd, 37, county home demonstration agent.

Walter T. Thorpe died 21 January 1941 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 30 November 1886 in Granville County, N.C., to Anderson Thorpe and Lucy Thorpe; was married to Rebecca Thorpe; lived at 1111 Washington Street; and was a minister.

  • Buddie Hagans — William Lawrence Hagans, Jr.

In the 1900 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Larnce Haggan, 49, wife Etha, 44, and children Joe, 21, Augustus, 19, Oscar, 18, Charlie, 16, Annie, 13, Connie, 10, Lena, 8, Mollie, 7, William L., 4, Minnie, 3, and Pattie, 1, and Lawrence’s widowed mother Alice Hagans, 70.

In the 1910 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: on Plank Road, farmer Lawrence Haggans, 60; wife Mary, 56; and children Mollie, 17, Lawrence Jr., 16, Minnie, 14, and Pattie, 12.

On 30 December 1914, Laurence Hagans, 20, of Gardners township, son of Laurence and Mary Hagans, married Mary Thomas, 16, of Gardners township, daughter of Alfred and Lou Thomas, at Alfred Thomas‘.

In the 1920 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Lawrence Haggans, 24; wife Mary, 22; daughter D. Ermie, 4; and cousin Jordan Thomas, 13.

In the 1940 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farm laborer W.L. Hagans, 46; wife Mary, 41; and daughter Erma Dean, 25.

William F. [sic] Hagans died 19 January 1941 in Gardners township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was 47 years old; was born in Wilson County to Larence Hagans and Mary Pender; was married to Mary Hagans; and worked as a farmer.

  • Rev. G.S. Bobbitt

In the 1900 census of Long Acre township, Beaufort County, North Carolina: odd jobs laborer Sidney G. Bobbitt, 38; wife Millie, 33; and children Walter L., 12, Ernest, 10, Viola, 4, and Lillie, 1.

In the 1930 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County, North Carolina: farmer Sidney Bobbitt, 54; wife Millie, 52; children Agnes, 18, and Ellen, 14, ;and granddaughter Anna Lee, 5.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Nathaniel Winstead, 27; wife Ellen, 25; and son Nathaniel Jr., 3; plus lodger Sidney Bobbitt, 65.

Giles Stanley Bobbitt died 21 January 1941 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 65 years old; was born in Granville County to Elex Bobbitt; was the widower of Millie Bobbitt; was engaged in preaching; and was buried in Rountree [probably Vick] cemetery. Walter Lee Bobbitt was informant.

Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.