graduation

Florence M. Bynum, Williamson High ’44.

Wilson Daily Times, 12 April 2018.

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  • Florence Marie Bynum

In the 1930 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Robert Bynum, 49; wife Charlotte, 30; and children William Henry, 15, Alice, 13, Ernest, 11, Irene, 10, Earlie, 9, Florence, 5, Rovenia, 3, James Robert, 2, and Samuel Leroy, 1.

In the 1940 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: widow Charlotte Bynum, 44; children Florence, 15, C. Rovenal, 13, James R., 12, and Sam L., 11; stepchildren Ernest, 20, Irene, 19, and Early, 18.

Rocky Mount Telegram, 24 October 2007.

The sixth anniversary of the Wilson Graded School.

This amazing document is the program for the sixth commencement exercises of the Wilson Colored Graded School, which took place May 21-23, 1889. The ceremonies took place in Odd Fellows Hall — the apparent predecessor to the three-story brick Odd Fellows Building Samuel H. Vick built in 1894. (Was it on East Nash Street, too?)

Teachers Susie Harrison and Lucy Robinson led exercises for the first, second, and third grade students; Braswell R. Winstead for the fourth and fifth graders; and Principal S.H. Vick, the sixth and seventh graders. J.P. Murphey, W.H. Vick, J.E. Hocutt, R.D. Dew, and J.H. Edwards served as ushers. 

The main feature was the sixth and grade exercises. On May 23, Presbyterian minister H.H. Boone of Tarboro delivered the Annual Oration between performances of “Come Again With Singing” and “Soldier’s Chorus.” Sixth grade students Ella Johnson, J.E. Hocutt, Sarah Barnes, Turner Williamson, Howard Edwards, Sarah L. Rountree, Amanda Battle, Ida Rountree, and Augustus S. Clark declaimed, sang, or orated, as did seventh graders J.P. Murphrey, Celia Hill, Adelia Battle, Sarah T. Rountree, Charlotte Jordan, W.H. Vick, Annie M. Washington, and W.H. Clark.

Howard Law degree conferred.

Fresh off his successful decades-long campaign to strip African-Americans of basic rights in his home state of North Carolina, Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels delivered the commencement speech at Howard University’s 1916 graduation. No doubt without irony, Daniels spoke of “progress made by the colored race.”

Who received his juris doctor degree that day? Glenn S. McBrayer, who passed the North Carolina bar the following spring and hung his attorney shingle in Wilson around 1920. He hit the ground running, hosting the first annual convention of the Negro State Bar Association  and getting elected that organization’s corresponding secretary in December 1921. McBrayer practiced in Wilson through 1929.

…

The Washington Herald, 8 June 1916.

Darden ’49 celebrates!

Darden High School’s Class of 1949 celebrated its 50th anniversary with a jam-packed program staged at Tom Woodard‘s Center east of Wilson. I found this program among my late father’s papers and, to my astonishment, I am listed on the program under “Discussions.” I can assure you, had I actually been invited, I’d have been there, and it pains me that I was an apparent no-show for what sounds like an epic event. It’s nice to know, though, that as far back as 1999 I was considered to have something to say worth hearing about Wilson’s African-American history.

Tucked into the night’s agenda was this priceless copy of the 1949 commencement program.

Father Robert J. Johnson gave the invocation; Charles E. Howell delivered the class address; Saint Augustine’s College president Dr. Harold L. Trigg was the featured speaker; and Gloria Haskins performed “Morning” (a poem?)

We’ve met some members of this class before, including Jacobia L. Bullock, Ray J. Dancy, Earl L. Zachary, Lorena Davis, Minnie Doris Ellis, Marie Everett, Levolyre Farmer (who’s still representing!), Elroy Jones, and Margaret Reid,

And look at these prizes and awards — all (except the first three) sponsored by African-American organizations and individuals. (Beauticians Local No. 12? I need to look into that.)

Darden High School Class of 1950.

Wilson Daily Times, 9 June 1950.

The Class of  1950 included Alice Cooper, Lorraine Woodard, Katoria Dew, Doris Hyman, Bessie McCowan, Bernice Purdie, Mildred Darden, Mildred Harris, Jannie Stokes, Mae Berta Hargrove, Ethel Anderson, Elizabeth Dew, Geraldine Williams, Irene Pender, Hilda Battle, Elise Moore, Alice Foster, Marie Warren, Mildred Cobb, Hildegarde Melton, Esther Williams, Margaret Barnes, Edna Gray Mitchell, Jessie L. Reeves, Vivian Hill, Rosetta Parker, Georgia McNeil, Alfonza Watson, Willia Dean Edwards, Ruby Ward, Gloria Haskins, Laverda May, Gerlean Farmer, Georgia Moore, James Pender, Clyde Speight, Paul Bryant, Theodore Jackson, William E. Carter, Lonnie Barnes, Altheneus Dew, Joseph Knight, Queen Sauls, James Dew, Rudolph Boykin, Eddie Hilliard, Leander McKeithan, Milton Barnes, Robert Dixon, Roosevelt Wright, Joseph Gay, Marvin Weaver, John Cotton, Clarence McPhail, Woody Farmer, Joe Howard, Leonard Barnes, Thomas Stokes, James Delaney, Offie Clark, Jesse McPhail, John Cotton, Willie Carr, and Lee Williams.

High school seniors hear Rev. Sommerville.

Wilson Daily Times, 25 May 1936.

Wilson Colored High School (whose name was soon to change to C.H. Darden High School) invited Rev. W.C. Sommerville to deliver a baccalaureate sermon to the Class of 1936. Rev. Sommerville’s sermon, “The Battle of Life,” drew from I Timothy 6:12. Virginia State College president Dr. John M. Gandy addressed the commencement address.

Nurse Ellis speaks at graded school graduation.

In 1949, nurse Mable W. Ellis delivered a graduation speech to the 7th grade class of Lucama School.

Wilson Daily Times, 26 May 1949.

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  • Sadie Vick Singletary — in the 1950 census of Beulah township, Johnston County: in the “section known as Macedonia,” widower John Singletary, 59, farmer, children Christine, 34, day laborer, Fannie, 31, farm helper, Sadie, 24, 4th grade public school teacher; and granddaughter Edna E. Lucas, 9.
  • Janice Edwards — in the 1950 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Jacob Edwards, 48; wife Alice P., 38; children Janice L., 16, Robert A., 15, Adell G., 14, Ray C., 9, and Ellen G., 6; and mother-in-law Melvina Thompson, 82, widow.
  • Margaret Richardson — in the 1940 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Frank Richardson, 51; wife James, 16, Tobey W., 14, Roosevelt, 12, Odell, 10, Udell, 8, Haselwood, 6, Marvin, 4, Dorthy, 2, and Emlydelous, 11 months.
  • Mary L. Webb — in the 1950 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Ernest Sauls, 37; wife Ester, 39, farm helper; sons Wilbert, 17, and Bobby A., 7; widower Cornelus Cheeks, 85; and niece Mary L. Webb, 15.
  • Alice Mae Daniel — in the 1940 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: school janitor Benajah Daniel, 49; wife Aldonia, 34; and children Cecil R., 18, James I., 16, Bennie L., 13, Beulah, 11, Myrtle Lee, 8, Alice Mae and Allie Gray, 6, Eula Rebecca, 5, and Joseph Lee, 2.
  • Martha L. Simms — in the 1950 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Johnny Simms, 57; wife Bessie, 42; son James, 18, and daughter Martha Lee, 15.
  • Dorothy Baines — in the 1940 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: Maggie Bains, 21, and children Dorthy M., 5, Virgina, 4, and Lillie M., 5 months.
  • Adell Edwards — see above.
  • Dewese Williamson
  • Allie Gray Daniel — see above.
  • Grady Sutton Jr. — in the 1950 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Grady Sutton, 37; wife Prevella, 37; and children Grady Jr., 13, Oliva, 12, Kellon, 10, Helen, 9, Jimmy, 12, Willie G., 7, Joseph, 5, Clophes, 3, and Margret, 1.
  • Robert Edwards — see above.
  • Udell Richardson — see above.
  • William Swinson — perhaps, in the 1940 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Willie Swinson, 47; wife Lonnie, 36; and children Ethel Mae, 17, Julia E., 15, Addie O., 13, Daniel G., 12, Lonnie R., 10, Virginia, 8, Willie L., 7, William D.H., 5, and Charles S., 2.
  • L.E. Barfield

Graduation exercises at Saint Alphonsus.

Closing exercises at Saint Alphonsus Catholic School were elaborate affairs, with a decorated setting, orations, singing, and band performances.

Wilson Daily Times, 31 May 1947.

Wilson Daily Times, 9 June 1948.

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When Saint Alphonsus closed in 1968, the diocese rented its Carroll Street building to the African-American collective Concerned Parents of Wilson, which opened a kindergarten in the space. I graduated in Kiddie Kollege of Knowledge’s second class, and our graduation continued the ornate legacy of Saint Alphonsus.

I’m at right, marching out with my Bachelor of Rhymes degree.