in memoriam

Remembering my father today.

Four years. It seems simultaneously as if he’s been gone forever and just left yesterday. A couple of weeks ago, I was going through a file and found a note I’d scribbled about my dad:

All of us had to be somewhere. The whole family. And we couldn’t be late, so it dismayed me. I was the first one in the shower, and the water was rising around my ankles, and I thought, “Damn.” I heard my mother in the hallway, asking — water was backing up in her bathroom, too.

Let me back up. I was not really first in the shower. My father was. Hours ago. Long before the rest of us even turned over good, and he was out the house, in the yard, probably raking. Breathing the air before everybody else breathed it, as he liked to say.

I was concerned by what’s happening with the drain, but I soldiered on because I was shampooed to the hilt, and when I finally rinsed everything out of all this hair, I cut the water and heard: the plumber.

Before I could even step on the bathmat, the plumber was at the house, with a crew, waiting. The main drain pipe was clogged, but they made quick work of that and were gone. Thirty minutes, tops, from crisis to resolution. Even my mother, who had seen much of this kind of thing over decades of marriage, was amazed: “Red, where’d you find that plumber so quick?” (And on a Saturday.)

“Wait,” he said. “I’m your husband. I ain’t no joke.”

And then: “I can get stuff done. That’s why you married me, girl!”

(A few hours later, when she remarked on the house being a little humid, he said, “You want me to get somebody to get the muggy out, too?,” and they both laughed.)

If you knew my father, you know he had a saying for every circumstance. This fell under:

“You gotta get up. You get up, you can get something done. And you gotta know somebody. I know folk. I been here all my life….”

Rederick Caswell Henderson was born in Wilson, and he died in Wilson, four years ago today. I miss my father bone-deep, but the day seldom passes that I don’t grin ear to ear and give a nod of thanks as one of his aphorisms pops into my head. Rest in power, Daddy.

In memoriam: Oazie Jones Mitchell (1942-2025).

Oazie Jones Mitchell was among the two dozen or so seniors I interviewed last year about their memories of Wilson County’s Rosenwald schools. Her precise recollections of Williamson Graded and High Schools, the rigors of tenant farming, Mary Grove Missionary Baptist church, her father’s involvement with the NAACP, home remedies, and other aspects of her childhood helped me better understand the community in the part of Wilson County with which I’m least personally familiar.

I learned just today that Mrs. Mitchell passed away on the closing day of last year. My sincere condolences to her family, especially daughter Tondra Mitchell-Talley and sister Edith Jones Garnett. I will not forget Mrs. Mitchell’s warmth and generosity, and I wish you comfort in memories of happy times with her.

 

Christmas reflection.

Miss Edie Bell. Aunt Pet. Aunt Minnie. Aunt Alice. Aunt Nora Lee. Aunt Lula Mae. Holiday dinners in my childhood were often spent at tables prepared by these amazing women, the grandmother and great-aunts of my cousins Monica Ellis Barnes and Tracey Ellis Leon. 

I cherish warm memories of these generous women and the delicious meals they prepared — and of me, my sister, and cousins, safe and loved and well-fed.

Christmas brings joy, but also floods of memories of those we can no longer hug or break bread with. I held quiet space yesterday for memories of my grandmother and father and uncle and the Barnes sisters, and all who no longer sit with us in Wilson or wherever we once shared a table. I hope you were able to find joy and beauty in Christmas this year, and I pray for a better 2026 for all of us.

In memoriam: Sgt. Anthony M. Hopkins.

A spur-of-the-moment search of The New York Times yielded the obituary of Wilson native Anthony M. Hopkins, a decorated war veteran. He was one of the more than 200,000 Americans to die of COVID in the first seven months of the pandemic. The Times featured Hopkins’ death in its “Those We’ve Lost” series, which profiled more than 500 people, both famous and ordinary, who succumbed to the disease.

Anthony Hopkins’ paternal grandparents, Jason and Catherine Bryant Hopkins, arrived in Wilson County in the early 1920s from Pitt County by way of Greene County. They settled in Gardners township and worked as sharecroppers or tenant farmers. His maternal grandparents, James and Addie Tart Ward, had deep roots in the area of the Wilson and Greene County border between present-day Saratoga, Stantonsburg, and Walstonburg.

  • Jason Hopkins and Catherine Bryant Hopkins Brown

Jason Hopkins died 25 March 1929 in Wilson [Mercy] Hospital. Per his death certificate, he was 41 years old; was born in Pitt County to Luke and Dollie Hopkins; was married to Catherine Hopkins; was a preacher; and was buried in Jones Field, Wilson County.

In the 1930 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Kathrine Hopkins, 37; children James C., 12, Irena, 10, Octavia, 9, Jason Jr., 8, Etter C., 7, and Mattie, 3; and roomer [illegible] Bryant, 26.

In the 1940 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Becton Brown, 47; wife Katherine, 47; his children George, 22, Edrine, 20, Millie, 18, May E., 16, B.K., 15, Collie, 13, and Wittonia Brown, 11; and step-children Irene, 21, Octavia, 20, Jason, 19, Ophelia, 17, and Mattie Hopkins, 14.

In 1942, Jason Hopkins registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 29 April 1921 in Greene County; lived at R.F.D. #3, Gardners township; his contact was mother Cassie Brown; and he worked for Pattie W. Uzzell in Wilson.

On 6 March 1946, Jason Hopkins, 24, son of Jason Hopkins and Catherine Bryant Hopkins, married Minnie Lou Ward, 19, daughter of James and Addie Tart Ward, in Wilson County.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 522 Hadley Street, Jason Hopkins, 28, serviceman at auto sales/service; wife Minnie, 23; and children Jason III, 3, Thomas L., 1, and Anthony M., born the previous September.

Jason Hopkins Jr. died 31 May 1969 in Norfolk, Virginia. Per his death certificate, he was born 29 April 1921 in Wilson, N.C., to Jason Hopkins Sr. and Catherine Bryant; was married to Minnie Lea Hopkins; worked as a laborer; and was a World War II veteran.

Minnie Lee W. Hopkins, 716 Hooks Street, Wilson, applied for a military headstone for her husband Jason Hopkins. Per the application, he was born 29 April 1921 and died 31 May 1969 and served from 10 October 1942 to 14 December 1945 in the 647th Port Company.

Minnie Lea Hopkins died 28 February 2013.

  • James Ward and Addie Tart Ward

On __ January 1899, James Ward, 18, of Greene County, son of Larance Ward and Sarah [Ward] Artis, married Mit Ellis, 21, of Greene County, daughter of Jacob Ellis, in Greene County, N.C.

In the 1900 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County: James Ward, 20, day laborer; wife Mitt, 20; and son Nathan, 1. Two households down: widow Sarah Ward, 43, and children Walter, 14, Bessie, 12, and Etta, 9, all day laborers.

On 13 June 1909, James Wood [sic; Ward], 28, of Stantonsburg, married Addie Ward [sic; Tart], 19, of Saratoga, in Saratoga township, Wilson County.

In the 1910 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: on Stantonsburg Road, farmer James Ward, 29; wife Addie, 20; and children Jim, 9, Sarah, 8, Tiny, 5, Mary E., 4, and Maggie, newborn.

In 1918, James Ward registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 15 October 1879; lived at Route 2, Stantonsburg; farmed for Charlie Whitley; and his nearest relative was Addie Ward.

In the 1920 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer James Ward, 40; wife Addie, 29; and children Maliza, 14, Maggie, 10, Ozee, 8, Ida, 6, Joseph, 4, and Ora, 4.

In the 1930 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer James Ward, 50; wife Addie, 39; children Maggie, 19, Oz, 17, Ida, 16, Joseph, 15, Ora, 12, Bourgard, 11, Charlie, 8, Leland, 5, Minnie L., 3, and Annie M., 0; and mother Sarah Ward, 72, widow.

In the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer James Ward, 58; wife Addie, 46; children Ida, 24, Charles, 18, Leland, 14, Minnie, 13, Annie, 10, Molena, 5, and Beauregard, 20; daughter-in-law Bertha Lee, 20; and grandson John Lewis Barnes, 9.

Addie Ward died 21 July 1943 in Saratoga township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 2 January 1893 in Greene County to Gray Tart and Mittie Ward, both of Greene County; was married to James Ward; and was buried in Community Cemetery, Greene County.

James Ward Sr. died 11 November 1944 in Saratoga township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 12 October 1882 in Wilson County to Lawrence Ward and Sarah Artis; was the widower of Addie Ward; was a farmer; and was buried Saint Delight cemetery, Greene County, N.C.

In memoriam: Dr. Thomas Levi Peacock.

Dr. Thomas Levi Peacock, age 96, of Sarasota, Florida, passed away on January 29, 2025, at 8:00 PM in Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Peacock was born in Wilson, N.C., to Eloise and Levi Peacock on December 6, 1928. He went to high school at Darden High in the City of Wilson and graduated in 1947 and entered into Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Peacock pledged Alpha Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., in 1948 and graduated from Howard in 1951. He entered the Air Force after graduation and in 1952 he graduated from USAF Officer Candidate School as a 2nd Lieutenant. After his service in the Air Force, he went on to Meharry Medical School, graduated in 1958 earning a Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree (DDS), and was licensed to practice dentistry in the state of North Carolina. Within a few years, Dr. Peacock opened his own practice in Jamaica, Queens, New York, where he rose to prominence in professional circles among his peers. In August 1964, he was named one of the most eligible bachelors in Ebony Magazine. After his professional success, Dr. Peacock retired to Wilson, N.C., for a short time then moved to Sarasota, FL in the year 2000 where he resided until his transition.

Dr. Peacock is survived by his sister, Winifred Gail Peacock of Sarasota, Florida; brother, Vincent Gerard Peacock of Sarasota, Florida; and sister-in-law, LaWanda Roche Peacock of Sarasota, Florida. He is also survived by nieces Brittany Vene Miles of Seattle, Washington, and Lauren White of New York, New York. Additionally, he is survived by nephews Eddie White of New York, New York, and Stuart Penn of New Jersey.

Adapted from obituary at Dignity Memorial, which was adapted from Black Wide-Awake. Rest well, Tom Peacock!

Lubert Thompson departed this life.

Wilson Daily Times, 14 May 1940.

I have not found a North Carolina death certificate for Lubert Thompson.

——

  • Rena Saunders

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: widow Lula Sanders, 39, farm laborer, and children Rosa, 22, Rena, 19, Odessa, 13, James, 11, and Rubby, 4.

 

In remembrance.

Except for his time in the Air Force and college, my father lived his entire life in Wilson. Three years ago tonight, he passed away here, at home, surrounded by his wife and daughters and granddaughter. He loved Wilson, and his stories were my early gateway to what would become Black Wide-Awake. I wish he’d had more time to understand and enjoy my posts and to know how deeply he continues to guide and influence me. Rest in power, Rederick C. Henderson.