migration from Georgia

The obituary of Lillie Mae Wallace McNair, 104.

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Lillie Mae Wallace McNair, 22 January 1913-14 May 2017.

“Ms. Lillie Mae Wallace McNair, age 104, resident of Avante’ Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Wilson entered into her eternal rest on Saturday, May 14, 2017.

“Funeral services will be held 2 PM Saturday, May 20, 2017 at Piney Grove Free Will Baptist Church, 309 Vick Street, Wilson, NC. Interment will follow in Rest Haven Cemetery.  Bishop Robert J. Smith will officiate.  A viewing will be held on Friday, May 19, 2017 from 5 PM to 8:30 PM with the family receiving friends from 7 PM to 8 PM at Carrons Funeral Home.

“Lillie Mae leaves to cherish her loving memories to her daughter, Sandra Watson of Baltimore, MD; two granddaughters, Wanda MacDonald of Fayetteville, NC and Karen Smith of Randallston, MD; six great grandchildren; nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends.”

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In the 1920 census of 364th Militia District, Dodge County, Georgia: farm manager Ben Wallace, 56; wife Hendie, 49; children Susie, 16, Kisom, 12, Lillie Mae, 6, and James, 3; stepdaughter Hattie Burch, 22, widow, and her children Corine, 4, and Lizzie, 8 months; and stepdaughter Alice Roberson, 30, widow.

In the 1930 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farm laborer Ben Wallace, 55; wife Endie, 50, laundress; and children Alice R., 39, laundress, Isham, 18, farm laborer, Lillie M., 15, servant, and James, 12.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 716 Viola, India Wallace, 69, widow; son-in-law Willie Thomas, 26, city utilities laborer; daughter Linnie B. Thomas, 27, tobacco factory hanger; daughter Lillie M. Wallace, 21, servant; and grandson Albert Applewhite, 20, tobacco factory laborer.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 627 Viola, James McNeil [sic], 44, farm implement company mechanic; wife Lillie Mae, 30, servant; mother India Wallace, 67; and niece Sandra Wallace, 9.

Endia Wallace died 6 October 1957 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 6 May 1882 in Georgia to Isham and Emily Dandy; was a widow; and lived at 627 Viola Street. Lillie Mae McNair was informant.

The obituary of Samuel Leonard.

Wilson Daily Times, 15 September 1938.

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In the 1922 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Leonard Saml (c) lab h 617 Darden al

In the 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Leonard Saml (c) porter h 617 Darden al

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Leonard Saml D (c) porter The Market Store h 512 Church

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Leonard Saml D (c; Annie) driver The Market Store h 512 Church

Samuel David Leonard died 13 September 1938 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 12 February 1872 in Columbus, Georgia, to Hiram and Margarett Leonard; was married; worked as a laborer; and was buried in Wilson [likely, Vick Cemetery.] Informant was Annie Leonard.

70 years of wedded bliss.

This charming piece celebrates the life and seven-decade love of Aaron and Mamie Ricks Dantley, whom we first met here. Dantley was born in Georgia, but moved to Elm City as a boy. There he met his future wife on the playground of their four-room school. He migrated to Washington, D.C., first. She followed, and they married in a funeral home on 30 June 1930.

The New Mexican (Santa Fe, N.M.), 27 February 2000.

The Dantleys celebrated one more anniversary together. Mamie Ricks Dantley died 13 May 2001, and Aaron Dantley, 18 June 2003.

The obituary of Annie P. Williams.

Wilson Daily Times, 11 March 1950.

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In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 317 North Hackney Street, Annie Sauls, 30, laundress; father Will Odom, 50; and lodger Flora Terry, 30, and her son Rudolph Terry, newborn.

Annie Pearl Williams died 9 March 1950 at her home at 110 Ash Street, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 23 December 1910 in Georgia to Will Odom and Martha Bullock; was married; and was a factory worker. Roosevelt Williams was informant.

The obituary of Noble Wade.

Wilson Daily Times, 29 May 1948.

In the 1900 census of Liberty County, Georgia: Alex Waide, 52; wife Grace, 40; children Pinky, 16, Jno., 13, Joe, 12, Alex, 11, and Rabbit, 10; and grandchildren Letty, 8, Walter, 6, Noble, 3, and Bob, 5.

In 1917, Nobles Wade registered for the World War I draft in Dodge County. Per his registration card, he was born “don’t know 1895” in Hawkinsville, Georgia; lived in Chester, Georgia; worked as a laborer; and was married.

In the 1920 census of Chester, Dodge County, Georgia: Noble Wade, 25, railroad section laborer, and wife Josiebell, 27.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Deborah Swindell, 40, beautician; daughter Deborah, 16; and lodger Noble Wade, 38, cook for railroad crew, born in Georgia.

Noble Wade died 23 May 1948 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 15 May 1896 in Georgia; was married to Ethel Wade; lived at 505 Lane Street; and worked as a laborer.

The return of T/5 John B. Whitehead, killed in India.

 

Wilson Daily Times, 26 May 1948.

Wilson Daily Times, 27 May 1948.

Nearly four years after his death in India while serving in the United States Army, the remains of Tec 5 John Baptist Whitehead were returned to his family for burial. 

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In the 1920 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: John Whitehead, 37; wife Nellie, 36; and children E.K., 16, William H., 13; Anna V.O., 7; Anna Nula, 5; J.B., 4; and “grate-uncle” Josh, 19.

In the 1930 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Highway 91, [no first name given] Whitehead, 47, express laborer; wife Ella, 45; and children Ella V., 17, Nora, 16, John, 14, and William, 24, carpenter on public building. All were born in Georgia except Ella, who was born in North Carolina. 

In the 1940 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: widow Nellie Whitehead, 56; son J.B., 24, truck driver for a contractor; daughter Anna Hagans, 27, tobacco company stemmer; son-in-law Henry Hagans, 32, town garbage remover; and daughter Elnora Whitehead, 26.

John Baptist Whitehead registered for the World War II draft in 1940 in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 25 December 1915 in Chester, Georgia; lived at Route 4, Box 39, Wilson; his contact was mother Nellie Whitehead; and he worked for Imperial Tobacco Company, Barnes Street.

The obituary of Sherman Hunter.

Wilson Daily Times, 15 May 1942.

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In the 1920 census of Dodge County, Georgia: farmer Will Hunter, 50; wife Callie, 32; and children Albert, 15, Lillie M., 14, Talmage, 9, Shermon, 5, Wilbert, 3, and Missie, 3 months.

In the 1930 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: widow Callie Hunter, 45, odd jobs farm laborer and children Talmer, 18, filling station laborer, Sherman, 15, Wilbert, 13, Detorist, 10, and Carrie, 8; plus, boarders Lula M. Drinks, 21, cook, and her children Eavans, 5, and Minnie, 8. All were born in Georgia except Eavans, who was born in North Carolina.

In the 1940 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: widow Callie Hunter, 53, wash woman, and children Sherman, 25, farm laborer, Wibur, 23, laborer for livestock dealer, and Bertha, 16.

In 1942, Sherman Hunter registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 1 November 1914 in Chester, Georgia; lived on Route 2, Elm City (care of Governor Winstead); his contact was Governor Winstead “(colored)”; and was not employed (“last work for N.C. Peele, Elm City.” The card bears a later inscription: “Cancelled — Dead — May 11, 1942.”)

Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.

Georgia Burke is a Broadway star.

Wilson Daily Times, 23 May 1944.

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Georgia Burke was not, of course, a “girl.” She was close to 50 years old in 1944. Burke was one of eleven African-American teachers who resigned to protest the slapping of  teacher Mary C. Euell by school superintendent Charles L. Coon and the disrespect shown them by Colored Graded School principal J.D. Reid. With the others, Burke resumed teaching at the privately funded Wilson Normal and Industrial Institute, the institution referred to above as Wilson Training School for Negroes, and later was appointed principal. For more about Burke, see here and here, and about the Normal and Industrial school, see here. For more about the talented Hartford C. Bess, see here.

Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.

Spo’ty Odie.

Wilson Daily Times, 16 October 1914.

Fresh off serving thirty days on a chain gang for being homeless, 16 year-old Odie Williams showed up in court on larceny charges in his dandy finest — knee pants, black silk stockings, white slippers with rubber bottoms (sneakers?) — received his one-year sentence … and escaped.

Beyond his clothes, Williams’ description is poetic — “slick and neat,” white teeth, “medium dark ginger cake complexion,” and “mouth shaped like the rim of a jug” (whatever that may be.) I don’t know if he was ever caught. I sincerely hope he wasn’t.

Rosa Craddock McCoy, centenarian, loved to give orders.

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Wilson Daily Times, 20 March 2009.

In the 1910 census of Minish township, Jackson township, Georgia: farmer Ed Craddock, 32; wife Elizabeth, 27; and children Fred, 8, Besy, 6, Rosalee, 4, May L., 2, and Patt, 10 months.

In the 1920 census of Harrisburg township, Jackson County, Georgia: farmer Edward Craddock, 42; wife Eltha E., 38; and children Frederick, 18, Bessie, 16, Rosa L., 14, Mary L,, 12, Patrick, 10, Ruby, 8, John A. and Allie, 6, Christine, 3, and Eddie, 1.

John McKoy, 27, of Red Springs, married Rosa Craddock, 18, of Red Springs, on 18 December 1923 in Hoke County, North Carolina.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: John McCoy, 29, guano company laborer; wife Rosa, 25, laundress; and children James, 5, Dorris, 3, and Pearl Mae, 1; and sister Sarah, 31. Rosa reported that she was born in Georgia.

In the 1940 census of Faison township, Duplin County: farmer John McKoy, 40; wife Rosie, 36; and children James, 15, Dorothy, 13, Pearlie Mae, 12, Sarah Lee, 11; Horlina, 8; Bettie and Barbara, 6, Geraldine, 2, and B.C., 2 months.

Rosa Craddock McCoy died 29 November 2012 in Middlesex, Nash County.