family reunion

Get to know your people; or, it’s reunion season.

Effenus Henderson (left) is an internationally known human resources and diversity thought leader. Wade J. Henderson (right) is, among other things, former president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. About 15 years ago, the two met at National Urban League conference.

“You’re from North Carolina?,” asked Wade. “My father was from Wilson.”

“You need to talk to Lisa,” said Effenus.

Wade did. And in 2016, there we all were, in Dudley, North Carolina — birthplace of our grandparents — at the Henderson Family Reunion.

Wade’s grandfather Jesse “Jack” Henderson and my great-grandmother Bessie Lee Henderson were siblings. Jack came to Wilson around 1908, and my grandmother Hattie Henderson Ricks, Bessie’s orphaned daughter, arrived a few years later. Wade’s father Dempsey Lee Henderson was born in Wilson in 1927, and my father Rederick C. Henderson in 1934.

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Is your Wilson County-based family having a reunion this summer? I’d love to feature it here — and add your reunion flyer or program to my collection!

Photo in collection of Lisa Y. Henderson, 2016.

Pullman porter Reed returns to his roots.

Chicago Defender, 16 June 1951.

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  • Samuel Reed

On 20 November 1877, Shade Reed, 23, married Susan Edwards, 21, in No. 8 township, Edgecombe County, N.C.

In the 1880 census of Sparta township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: farmer Shade Reid, 25; wife Susan, 23; and son Ross, 1.

In the 1910 census of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana: farmer Shed Reed, 55; wife Caroline, 45; and children Sammie, 24, Lossa, 24, and Ossa, 21, all born in North Carolina.

On 27 February 1913, Samuel Reed, 28, married Mary Hamilton, 29, in Chicago, Illinois.

On 22 November 1916, Samuel Reed, 31, married Mary J. Wright, 23, in Chicago.

In 1918, Samuel Reed registered for the World War I draft in Cook County, Illinois. Per his registration card, he was born 22 July 1885; lived at 6204 Ada, Chicago; worked as a Pullman porter for Pullman Company, Chicago & Alton Railroad; and his nearest relative was wife Mary J. Reed.

In the 1920 census of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois:  at 6145 South Ada, railroad porter Samuel Reed, 34, and wife Mary, 25.

In the 1930 census of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois: at 6231 Racine, railroad porter Samuel Reed, 43; wife Birdie, 41; mother[in-law?] Ollie Smith, 65; and Elizabeth Walker, 19, xx.

In the 1940 census of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois: at 6016 May, owned and valued at #3000, Samuel Reed, 54, porter on steam railroad; wife Nancy, 39; and daughters Amelia, 16, and Elizabeth, 17.

In 1942, Samuel Reed registered for the World War II draft in Cook County, Illinois. Per his registration card, he was born 22 July 1885 in Edgecombe County, N.C.; lived at 6016 South May, Chicago; his contact was Louis Baler, 6142 South Ada, Chicago; and he worked for the Pullman County, Chicago.

In the 1950 census of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois: railroad company porter Samuel Reed, 64, and wife Nancy, 49.

  • Peter Randolph

In the 1940 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Dan Randolph, 28, farmer; wife Mary, 26; children Paul G., 2, and Deloise, 1; and uncle Pete Randolph, 67, widower.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 608 Spring, Peter Randolph, 77, and wife Clockie, 67.

Peter Randolph died 4 March 1959 at his home at 510 South Spring, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 4 July 1883 in Edgecombe County, N.C., to Robert Randolph and Julia Johnson; was a widower; and was buried in Elm City Cemetery. Mattie Ruffin was informant.

  • Patsy Feltie
  • Andline Cook

Wishing the Mitchell Family a great reunion!

Family reunion season continues, and I was thrilled when Tondra Mitchell-Talley shared news of the upcoming Mitchell Family Reunion. This Mitchell family descends from Primus Mitchell, born in the early 1840s, and his wives Caroline Mitchell and Ophelia Davis Mitchell. The Mitchells lived in Toisnot township, likely in the Sharpsburg area, which was once part of Edgecombe County. Their largest branch descends from son Lawrence Mitchell Sr., born about 1868, who eventually settled in Cross Roads township in southern Wilson County and married Easter Darden, daughter of Martin and Jane Dew Darden, and later Louisa Dew, daughter of Isaac and Easter Edmundson Dew.

The story of the resurrection of the Mitchell Family Reunion, which had gone dormant more than 20 years ago, is told at the National Family Reunion Institute’s website. It’s an inspiring tale of healing and redemption within a family and the role of reunions in making that possible.

Extra shout out to Tondra’s mother, Oazie Jones Mitchell, who graciously agreed to be interviewed as part of my exploration and documentation of the life in Wilson County before the Civil Rights era. 

Have a great reunion!

Wishing the Artis Family a great reunion!

Today, another branch of my Artis family — descendants of James C. Artis — is gathering in Wilson for their annual reunion.

James Cleveland Artis was the son of Jonah and Fannie Newsome Artis and the grandson of Richard Artis, who was the youngest brother of my great-great-great-grandfather Adam T. Artis. Though primarily based in Greene County, N.C., Richard Artis’ descendants moved back and forth across the Greene-Wilson county line between Stantonsburg and Walstonburg.

I wish my cousins a fantastic reunion and applaud their commitment to keep family ties strong and to maintain traditions.

Many thanks to Sondra Artis for sharing this photo.

[Update: The Artis Family Reunion was a resounding success! Douglas Horne and Sondra Artis share these photos of the J.C. Artis (top) and Jonah Artis Jr. (bottom) branches of the family.

Family reunion season!

I spent last Saturday morning in a Zoom meeting with attendees of the 2025 Freeman-Hagans family reunion. I talked about the “why” of Black Wide-Awake, introduced them to the blog’s format, and, best of all, showed them how to best access its content by visiting several recent posts related to branches of their family. If you’re interested in a similar presentation for your next family gathering, please contact me at blackwideawake@gmail.com. I want all my posts to find their people!

The Artis-Bunch family reunion.

You know I love a good family reunion — and especially one to which I have ties. I’ve blogged about the descendants of Adam Toussaint Artis, a free man of color whose large farm lay just a few miles outside Stantonsburg toward Eureka. Though these Artises are technically a Wayne County family, their multiple Wilson County links more than qualify them for a spotlight here.

This past weekend, the Artis-Bunch family reunion gathered on ancestral land — still in the family — to celebrate each other. This set of Adam Artis’ descendants spring from his son Henry J.B. Artis, to whom I am related via both Artis and Aldridge ancestors. The Bunches have close ties to the Black Creek area of Wilson County, as we’ve seen here and here.

Many thanks to cousin Melissa Walker-Mack for sharing these photos!

Edwards family holds 9th annual reunion in Elm City.

Like clockwork, the Edwards family gathers on the Fourth of July. This past Friday’s reunion was extra-special as the family also celebrated the 100th birthday of Amanda Mitchell Cameron. Mrs. Cameron was present at the very first reunion in 1934 and every reunion since, including this one in 1943:

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 17 July 1943.

Plate sale!

Few traditions reinforce and preserve family history like regular reunions, and I love to see Wilson County families keep them going. The Harris, Lucas, Pope, and Barnes Family Reunion is holding a June 13 fundraiser for their 2025 gathering. Gon on and get you a plate!

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The Harris branch of the Harris, Lucas, Pope, and Barnes Family Reunion descends from James and Charity Harris, whose known children were Sarah, Joseph, Arch, Charles, Amanda, Jane, Lucy, Abraham, and  Henry.

  • James and Charity Harris

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer James Harris, 56; wife Charity, 40; and children Joseph, 18, Arch, 18, Charles, 15, Sarah, 19, Amanda, 15, Jane, 10, Lucy, 6, Abraham, 4, and Henry, 5 months.

Perhaps: on 2 October 1879, John Williams, 51, married Charity Harris, 51, at the Wilson County Court House in Wilson.

In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: James Harris, 28, Dora, 22, and Rosa, 1, with grandmother Cherady Harris, 80.

Charity Harris died 18 January 1915 in Taylor township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was 100 years old; was “single”; and was buried in Wilson. George W. Harris was informant.

A Wilmington newspaper greatly exaggerated her age at death, as was common concerning elderly Black people. Charity was not 111 years old. She was not even 100. Her true age was closer to 90.

Wilmington Morning Star, 22 January 1915. 

  • Sarah Harris

Perhaps: on 2 January 1873, Alfred Stanton, 21, married Sarah Harris, 21, in Wilson County.

  • Joseph Harris
  • Arch Harris

On 19 October 1876, Rose Woodard, 19, married Arch Harris, 23, in Wilson County.

In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Arch Harris, ; wife Rosa, 51; and children James, 3, Martha, 1, and Morrison, 2 months.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farmer Arch Harris, 53; wife Rosa, 45; and children James, 22, Arch, 20, Mary Jane, 18, Nancy, 16, Lucy, 12, Minnie, 11, Maggie, 8, Jessie, 6, and Annie, 3.

On 29 January 1902, Arch Harris, 19, of Wilson County, son of Arch and Rosa Harris, married Chaney Horne, 19, of Wilson County, daughter of Simon and Nancy Horne, at Simon Horne’s residence in Wilson County.

In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Arch Harris, 56, Rosa, 51, and children Jessie, 15, Annie, 12, and James, 12.

In the 1920 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer James Harris, 42; wife Dora, 38; father Arch, 70; mother Rose, 50 [sic]; and children Roscoe, 16, Helen, 14, Beulah, 7, and Eula May, 3.

Jesse Harris died 4 June 1875 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 5 November 1893 to Arc Harris and Rosetta Woodard; was married to Delphia Harris; lived at 919 Poplar Street; and worked as a farmer.

  • Charles Harris
  • Amanda Harris
  • Jane Harris
  • Lucy Harris
  • Abraham Harris

On 5 July 1891, Abram Harriss, 21, of Stantonsburg, son of Charity Harriss, married Mattie Hilliard, 21, of Stantonsburg, daughter of Jack and Sarah Hilliard, in Stantonsburg, Wilson County.

  • Henry Harris