Annie Bell Jacobs Gay (1896-1981), circa 1940s.
The back of the photo is stamped GGG Photo Studio, 272 Lenox Avenue, New York. (Gasp!) That was James Van Der Zee‘s studio!
Van Der Zee’s photograph of his studio in the 1940s, around the time Annie Bell Gay sat for her portrait.
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In the 1900 census of Dudley, Brogden township, Wayne County: farmer Jessey Jacobs, 42; wife Sarah D., 28; and children Aner S., 17, Redis J., 15, Carie, 13, Docter, 8, Hatie, 6, and Anie B., 3. [Sarah D. Henderson Jacobs was Jesse Jacobs’ second wife and stepmother to his children James Daniel, Anna, Reddick, Carrie, Doctor, and Annie Bell. Their mother, Sallie Bridges Jacobs died shortly after Annie Bell was born. Hattie was Sarah’s child by a previous relationship.]
In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Jesse Jacob, 53, deliveryman for stable; wife Sarah, 35; daughter Annie Belle, 15; and boarders Jesse Henderson, 17, Herbert Jones, 23, both stable laborers, and Nina Fasin, 32, a housemaid.
On 20 February 1913, Albert S. Gay, 23, of Wilson, son of Samuel and Alice Gay, married Annie B. Jacobs, 18, of Wilson, daughter of Jesse and Sarah Jacobs, in Pasquotank County, North Carolina. Rev. N.D. King performed the ceremony at his residence at 38 Bunnell Avenue, Elizabeth City. Witnesses included Albert’s sister, Mrs. Mamie R. King.
In 1917, Albert Gay registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 29 August 1889 in Wilson; lived at 620 East Green; had a dependent wife and child; and was a self-employed carpenter.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: widow Alice Gay, 45; daughter Beatrice, 26; grandson Jerome Wood, 11; granddaughter Gereddine, 10; son Albert, 30; daughter-in-law Anabell, 24; grandsons Albert Jr., 4, and Jesse, 2; son-in-law Fredrick Bolling, 35; daughter Lillie, 23; and grandchildren Delma, 4, and Fredrick, 2.
Wilson N.C., city directory, 1928.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 623 Green, Annie B. Gay, 30, a laundress; husband Albert, 40, a bellboy; mother-in-law Alic, 73; and children Albert Jr., 14, Jessie, 11, Hal, 8, Samual, 6, Mirrian, 4, and Ralph, 2. The house was valued at $8000.
Albert Gay Sr. died 4 October 1932 at Moore-Herring Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 29 August 1889 in Wilson to Samuel Gay and Louisa Bryant; was married to Annie Bell Gay; worked for 25 years as a hotel bellman at Cherry Hotel; and was buried in Wilson [probably, Vick Cemetery.] Beatrice Holden was informant.
In 1940, Albert Sylvester Gay registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 5 December 1915 in Wilson; lived at 623 East Green; his contact was Annie Bell Gay, same address; and he worked for J.W. Thomas, Thomas-Yelverton.
Wilson Daily Times, 27 March 1981.