The New Jersey State Republican Committee commissioned E.H. McGhee of Trenton to create a hand-lettered resolution in tribute to Dr. Frank S. Hargrave upon his death on 11 March 1942.
Below, detail of one of the illustrated letters, bright with faux gilt, that decorated each page.
Many thanks to Vicki Cowan for sharing this beautiful document.
On 21 January 2025, Doris Lula Henderson Ward passed peacefully at her home in Wilson. She was 94 years old. Cousin Doris was the last surviving child of Jack Henderson and Pauline Artis Henderson.
In this photograph taken at my uncle Jesse A. Henderson‘s funeral in August 2005, Cousin Doris is fourth from right. With her passing, only the bookends remain. Rest in peace, Cousin Doris.
Cousins Hattie Henderson Ellis, Rederick C. Henderson, James Beasley, Mildred Henderson Hall, Doris Holt Beasley, Doris Henderson Ward, Louise Holt Tisdale, Margaret Holt Brown, Barbara Hall Jones.
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In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 309 Pender Street, Alice Artis, 56; daughter Pauline Henderson, 39, household servant; granddaughters Bessie L., 23, hotel elevator girl, Alice, 20, household servant, Joyce, 18, household servant, Mildred, 16, and Doris, 10; and grandson Robert, 4.
Around 1945, Doris Henderson married Thomas Person Ward, who would go on to become a legendary gospel music disc jockey, promoter, and recording artist, as well as general manager of Wilson’s AM radio station WGTM.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 707 East Vance, Thomas Ward, 25, shoeshine boy at barbershop; wife Doris, 21; and children Doris Lee, 5, Merl, 4, and Purline, 1.
Doris H. Ward is survived by her children Doris Lee Ward Wilkins, Mary Lee Ward Miller, Thomas P. Ward Jr., James F. Ward, and Ray A. Ward, and many, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her husband and daughter Pearline Ward Hardy are deceased.
Top photo borrowed from obituary; bottom photo in collection of Lisa Y. Henderson.
From the Jackson Chapel First Baptist Church’s 85th anniversary booklet:
On 17 April 1913, Walter Foster, 38, married Rosa Parker, 23, in Wilson. Rev. M.A. Talley performed the rites in the presence of L.A. Moore, A.F. Broadie, and E.H. Thomas.
In 1918, Walter Macklin Foster registered for the World War I draft. He reported that he was born 13 May 1874, that he resided on East Vance Street, worked as a fireman for Hackney Wagon, and his nearest relative was wife Rosa Foster.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 707 Vance Street, Walter Foster, 46, fireman at wagon company; wife Rosa, 34; children Heneretta, 18, Carl, 6, and Naomi, 4; and sister-in-law Etta Parker, 32, a school teacher.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 808 East Vance, owned and valued at $2000, widow Rosa Foster, 42, public school teacher; her children Carter, 16, Daily Times newsboy, and Naomi, 14; and roomers Alice Jones, 36, and Mamie Key, 20, public school teachers.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County, at 808 East Vance, Rosa P. Foster was operating her house at 808 East Vance Street as a teacherage. Her household included teachers Alice H. Jones, 46 (and her son James R., 23); Floreta J. Walson, 31; W. Arlene Gilmore, 30; Mary G. Harris, 33; and Mamie E. Whitehead, 33.
Rosa Foster died 7 October 1954 at her home at 808 East Vance Street. Per her death certificate, she was born 24 March 1888 in Nash County, N.C., to Allison Parker and Mary [maiden name not stated]; was a retired school teacher; and was widowed. Carter Foster was informant.
In the 1910 census of Dry Wells township, Nash County: lumber mill grader William Ellis, 33; wife Sarah, 31, laundress; children Willie Lee, 9, James C., 4, and Walter M., 8 months; and boarder Shaw Ellis, 22.
In the 1920 census of Dry Wells township, Nash County: farmer William C. Ellis, 42; wife Sarah C., 40; and children James, 13, Marion, 10, Wilborn W., 7, and Mabel, 5.
Minnie Woodard, 22, of Wilson County, [daughter of James and Jennie Farmer Woodard,] married James Ellis, 22, of Wilson County, [son of William and Sarah Barnes Ellis,] on 22 March 1928 in Wilson County. Missionary Baptist minister Geo. Cooper performed the ceremony.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: auto garage mechanic James Ellis, 24; wife Minnie, 25; and son James Jr., 2 months.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: garage mechanic James Ellis, 33; wife Minnie, 33, tobacco factory stemmer; and children James Jr., 10, and Minnie D., 8.
In 1940, James Cornell Ellis registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 1 August 1906 in Wilson County; lived at 705 East Green Street; his contact was wife Minnie Virginia Ellis; and he worked for Raines Motor Company.
James Cornell Ellis died 31 December 1956 at his home at 721 East Green Street. Per his death certificate, he was born 1 August 1906 in Wilson County to William Ellis and Sarah Barnes; and worked as a railway porter.
On 12 July 1905, Willie Hunter, 22, of Elm City, son of Hilliard and Mary J. Hunter, married Mary Whitehead, 20, of Elm City, daughter of Ben and Frances Whitehead, at Ben Drake‘s house in Elm City. T.H. Nicholson applied for the license, and he, William Short, and W.A. Whitfield were official witnesses.
In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Smith Street, oil mill laborer Will Hunter, 25, and wife Mary, 23, shared a home with Henry Whitehead, 34, brickyard laborer; his wife Victory, 23; their children Della M., 3, and Lucile, 1; and Willie Whitehead, 18, hotel waiter.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: laborer Will Hunter, 30; wife Mary, 32; daughters Dorothy, 6, and Doris, 5; and laborers Arthur, 37, and David Hagans, 27.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 204 East Street, owned and valued at $2000, oil mill laborer Will J. Hunter, 46; wife Mary, 42, tobacco factory stemmer; and daughters Dorotha, 17, and Doris, 15.
Mary Hunter died 1 July 1930 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 44 years old; was born in Nash County to Benjamin Whitehead and Frances [no maiden name]; was married to Willie Hunter; lived at 204 South East Street; and was buried in Wilson [probably, Vick Cemetery.] Willie Whitehead was informant.
Thank you, Dr. Michael Barnes!
“William ‘Bill’ Brodie — civil rights hero, math teacher — remembered in Tallahassee”
by Alaijah Brown, Tallahassee Democrat, 13 December 2024.
William “Bill” Brodie, a retired Florida A&M University math professor and civil rights activist, died in his sleep Saturday, Nov. 30, at a hospital in Celebration after respiratory failure.
The death was confirmed by his family. He was 90.
Brodie, active in many causes in Tallahassee but who shunned center stage, was known as a quiet hero to many. A strong advocate for protecting civil and human rights, he once shared an Atlanta jail cell with civil rights icon the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1960, following an arrest after a protest.
The Tallahassee Branch NAACP will honor his work and commitment with a celebration of life service at 12 p.m. on Dec. 20 at its headquarters at 719 W. Brevard St. Brodie served for 27 years as the treasurer for the Tallahassee NAACP branch.
“His legacy was one of commitment and it was clear that he was committed because of the impact that segregation and racism had on his life. He was able to be successful in spite of those things that he faced,” Tallahassee NAACP President Mutaqee Akbar told the Tallahassee Democrat.
Brodie remembered for dedication to causes
“I think my dad lived out loud, and he lived his truth out loud, and he was a champion for social justice,” his daughter Michelle Vereen of Marietta, Georgia, told the Tallahassee Democrat Wednesday. “He was really dedicated to education. He was a lifelong educator, even in death.”
Vereen told the Tallahassee Democrat that her father arranged to have his body donated to the University of Florida for research purposes.
Brodie, who also served several terms as treasurer for the board at the Bond Community Health Center over a span of 20 years, is fondly remembered for his dutiful dedication to its mission.
“He was instrumental in assuring that Bond remained fiscally sound. He will be hard to replace and sorely missed. It was my pleasure working with him,” Bond CEO Dr. Temple Robinson said.
In March, Brodie was honored at the 2024 Southeastern Conference for the Mathematical Association of America at the University of Tennessee after it was uncovered that he was one of four men who were turned away from the association’s 1960 conference’s host hotel in Columbia, South Carolina, because they were Black.
Brodie never had a ‘chip on his shoulder’
Brodie was a 27-year-old graduate student at Atlanta University (now Clark-Atlanta University) studying mathematics at the time. Instead of rerouting to a “colored” hotel in the city, the group decided to head back to Atlanta.
Sixty-four years later, he was honored by the prestigious association and issued a formal apology for the injustice committed against him.
In an interview in March ahead of the recognition, Brodie remained reflective.
“I was surprised and pleasantly so,” he said of the invitation. “I had no idea how they found me and that what I did then would come out now.”
That response is characteristic of Brodie’s demeanor, Akbar said: “It’s important to know that he continued to fight for social justice without having a chip on his shoulder.”
A passion for learning, encouraging
Brodie earned his undergraduate degree in mathematics at Saint Augustine’s College in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1958 [sic; 1955]. He graduated from Atlanta University with his master’s degree in mathematics in 1969. He then went on to study at the University of Georgia, Vanderbilt University and Indiana University, but never earned a doctorate degree, though he said that was never his goal.
He simply wanted to attend class and learn.
The mathematician landed in Tallahassee in 1979 and began teaching calculus at FAMU where he was a mentor to many. He retired in 2006, but remained active on campus in roles of advising students and tutoring scholarship recipients so they could stay on track to graduate.
In addition to Vereen, who lives in Marrietta, Georgia, Brodie is survived by his two other adult children, Lisa Norwood, who lives in Augusta, Georgia, and Brian Bynum who lives in Virginia, and five grandchildren.
“He was an unconventional parent but had high standards for his children and he supported us in meeting those high standards and expectations,” Norwood said.
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In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Henry Taborn, “dead”; wife Mattie, 45, cleaner; sons Bill, 21, Donnell, 17, and Berkley, 19; daughter Elmer Brodie, 27, cook; and her sons George, 8, Henry, 7, Robert, 3, and William Brodie, 5.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 909 East Green Street, Elma Brodie, 38; sons William, 16, and Robert, 13; and lodger Sam Ines [Ennis], 53, widower.
The Falcon (1955), yearbook of Saint Augustine’s College, Raleigh, N.C.
Wilson Daily Times, 14 November 1933.
On 9 October 1895, Saml. Barnes, 26, married Ida Hinton, 22, at Ida Hinton’s in Wilson. L.B. Williams, A.M.E. minister, performed the service in the presence of Nannie Brinkley, Braswell R. Winstead and Alex Hinton.
In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: drayman Sam Barnes, 26, wife Idda, 25, a washerwoman, and daughter Tinnie, 2.
In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: widow Francis Barnes, 63; son Sam, 40, oil wagon driver; daughter-in-law Ida, 38, laundress; granddaughter Liu[intelligible], 11; and daughters Annie, 23, housemaid, and Nannie, 21, cook.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 615 Viola Street, public drayman Samuel Barnes, 50; sister Fannie, 27, a public cook; wife Ida, 45; and daughter Lurean, 21, public school teacher.
Nunnie Barnes died on 26 August 1921 in Wilson, leaving a sizable estate. Her siblings Sarah Joyner, Annie Alexander, and Sam Barnes were her heirs, and her estate was estimated as a one-quarter interest in a house and lot at 604 Viola Street (worth about $500) and other property totaling about $2400.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 604 Viola, drayman Sam Barnes, 56, wife Ida, 52, and daughter Lorine, 29, a school teacher.
Wilson Daily Times, 15 November 1933.
I’ve spoken of the database I am developing of likely burials in Vick, Odd Fellows, and Rountree Cemeteries. My spreadsheet draws upon death certificates, obituaries, and other sources — most distressingly imprecise. The term “Rountree Cemetery” on these documents may refer to Vick, Odd Fellows, or Rountree. Some documents broadly refer only to burial in Wilson. However, in the absence of official burial records for any of the cemeteries, we make do.
This series honors the men, women, and children who never had grave markers, or whose stones have been lost or stolen or destroyed. Graves believed to be in Vick Cemetery, which the City of Wilson stripped of remaining markers in 1996, will be identified with a Vick Cemetery logo.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Pet Acock, 41, grocery store drayman; wife Mattie, 33; and children Ruth, 17, tobacco factory worker, Pet Jr., 15, Clarence, 7, and Amanda, 5.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 414 South Lodge, tobacco factory laborer Mattie H. Acock, 45, widow; son Clarence, 18; daughter Mandy, 16; grandson Alphonsa, 4; roomer Ruth Newsome, 24, widow; and her children Lyda M., 5, and Edna, 2.
In 1940, Clarence Robert Aycock registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 10 December 1913 in Wilson; lived at 305 Reid Street; his contact was sister Mandy Aycock; and he was unemployed.
Clarence Aycock died 20 January 1945 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 10 December 1912 in Wilson County to Pat Aycock and Mattie Lamb; was single; lived at 404 Lodge Street; worked as a laborer; and was buried in Rountree Cemetery. Ruth Baker was informant.
My father had a brief career as a journalist his sophomore year in high school covering Darden football games for the Wilson Daily Times under the byline “Skip Henderson.” By his senior year, he was editor of Darden’s yearbook. His writing career ended there, but he spent the rest of his educational life in sports, as a player, coach, and mentor.
Rederick C. Henderson would have turned 90 today. I miss him to my core and not a day passes that I don’t think of him and give thanks for all poured into those he loved.
Wilson Daily Times, 29 September 1950.
Wilson Daily Times, 27 October 1950.
Editor-in-chief R.C. Henderson, front, with some of the annual staff. From “The Trojan,” the yearbook of C.H. Darden High School, 1952.
Rederick C. Henderson, about 1951.
I was talking to a friend a few days ago, and she said, laughing, “I never once spoke with your dad, but I swear I can hear him.” I don’t recall exactly what I said, but it was some pithy aphorism or another, and Rederick C. Henderson was the king of same, so she paid me the ultimate compliment.
I miss this man mightily and can hardly believe today marks two years since he left. Not a day goes by that I don’t feel him with me, and I am grateful for all he was in life and beyond.
The New York Age, 2 April 1932.
The family of Charles H. Darden marked the first anniversary of his passing with this notice in The New York Age.
