In August 1933, Bishop John A. Means, a “prophet” of the Church of the Living God, was sentenced to jail in Baltimore, Maryland, for trafficking children across state lines to make them sing and beg in the streets. One of the children, eight year-old Mary Gibson of Wilson, had been taken without consent of State Aid and Charity office.
Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 5 August 1933.
Wilson Daily Times, 26 April 1940.
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M. Stanley Gilliam Jr. was principal of Williamson School.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: filling station attendant Herman Gilliam, 20; his widowed mother Annie, 48, a cook in a private home; and brothers Charles, 28, a waiter at Cherry Hotel, Stanley, 26, a teacher, and George, 22, a janitor at Carolina Theatre.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: tobacco factory laborer Jake Edwards, 45, widower, and children Mattie, 17, Golden, 22, oil mill laborer, and Eugene, 20, public service laborer.
Mamie Gibson died 3 April 1940 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 12 February 1908 in Wilson County to Phillip Cooper and Florence Ruffin, both born in Wayne County, N.C.; was married to Willie Gibson; lived at 1204 Atlantic Street; worked as a teacher; and was buried in Rocky Branch Cemetery. Her cause of death: “multiple fractures of pelvis; fracture left clavicle due to automobile accident” (“was 2-3 months pregnant.”) Frederick Cooper was informant.
I did not know her, but these snapshots of Mattie Gibson Shelley are windows onto the landscape of my childhood.
Mattie Shelley, three girls, and boy, out in the country. A tiny cemetery; a fresh grave. Corn fields; a young sweetgum tree.
Mattie Shelley with cat eye glasses and a slight smile, in town. A classic metal porch chair. (Ubiquitous, yet so uncomfortable. There’s a glider on the porch across the street.) Puffy white cloud, a young tree.
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In the 1910 census of Cartersville township, Florence County, South Carolina: Walie Gibson, 36; wife Mary, 39; and children Cora, 15, Ada, 13, Julius, 9, Walter, 7, Joseph, 5, Mattie, 3, and Annie, 10 months.
In the 1920 census of Cartersville township, Florence County, South Carolina: Wallie Gibson, 46; wife Ella, 26; and children Walter, 18, Joseph, 15, Mattie, 12, Annie, 10, Eva, 7, and Willie, 5.
In the 1940 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer Roy Shelley, 44; wife Mattie, 31; and children Marthy Lee, 11, Walter, 9, Lee Roy, 7, William, 4, and Willie, 1.
In the 1950 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Roy Shelley, 53; wife Mattie, 42; children Martha, 21, Walter, 19, Leroy, 17, William, 14, Willie, 11, Dorthy, 7, Bearnice, 5, and James, 3; and granddaughter Bobbie Hardin, 2.
Mattie Gibson Shelley died 1 October 1973 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 13 December 1907 in South Carolina to Wallie Gibson and Mary Anthony; was a widow; lived at 925 Poplar Street; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery. Martha Chestnut, 501 Lane Street, was informant.
Photo courtesy of Ancestry user T’Keyah Fleming. Thank you!
Wilson Daily Times, 1 July 1943.
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In the 1910 census of Cartersville township, Florence County, South Carolina: Walie Gibson, 36; wife Mary, 39; and children Cora, 15, Ada, 13, Julius, 9, Walter, 7, Joseph, 5, Mattie, 3, and Annie, 10 months.
In the 1920 census of Cartersville township, Florence County, South Carolina: Wallie Gibson, 46; wife Ella, 26; and children Walter, 18, Joseph, 15, Mattie, 12, Annie, 10, Eva, 7, and Willie, 5.
On 8 January 1927, Joe Gibson, 21, of Black Creek township, married Seretha Brockington, 21, of Wilson township, in Wilson. John Brockington was a witness to the marriage.
In the 1930 census of Crossroads township, Wilson County: Joseph Gibson, 24, farmer, and wife Surether, 22.
In the 1940 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Joe Gibson, 37; wife Suretha, 32; and children Joseph, 9, and Lara, 2.
In 1942, Joseph Gibson registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 5 May 1902 in Florence, South Carolina; lived at Route 1, Fremont, Wilson County; his contact was May Broughton [Brockington]; and he worked at A.P. Farm.
In the 1950 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Joe Gibson, 40; wife Suretha, 40; and children Joe Jr., 18, Lora, 12, Vernera, 8, and Joyce, 2.
Joseph Gibson died 8 August 1958 in Fremont township, Wayne County. Per his death certificate, he was born 5 May 1903 in Florence, South Carolina, to Walker Gibson; worked as a farmer; was married; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery, Wilson. Suretha Gibson was informant.
[Sidenote: Minshew School.]