obituary

The obituary of Annie Barnes Taylor.

Wilson Daily Times, 22 October 1946.

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On 30 December 1896, Hilliard Taylor, 21, of Gardners township, married Annie Barnes, 21, of Gardners township, in Wilson County.

In the 1900 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Hilliard Taylor, 25; wife Annie, 23; and sons James, 4, and Albert, 3.

In the 1910 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Hilliard Taylor, 35; wife Annie, 30; sons Albert, 13, and Walter W., 5; and lodger Joe D. Bynum, 20.

In 1918, Hillard Taylor registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born February 1873; lived at R.F.D. #2, Stantonsburg; farmed for J.J. Mattox; and his nearest relative was Annie Taylor.

In the 1920 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Hilliard Taylor, 47; wife Annie, 35; sons Gray, 24, Albert, 22, and Walter, 16; and servant Mary Ward, 23.

In the 1930 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Hilliard Taylor, 53; wife Annie, 48; and sons Walter, 24, and Moses, 14.

In the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farm laborer Walter Taylor, 34; wife Hagar, 27; father Hilliard, 65; mother Annie, 55; aunt Mattie, 60; cousin Lee, 35; and lodgers Jay Vance, 22, and Mary Taylor, 14.

Annie Taylor died 19 October 1946 in Saratoga township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was 67 years old; was born in Wilson County to Short Barnes and Matilda Barnes; was the widow of Hilliard Taylor; worked in farming; and was buried in Rest Haven cemetery. Walter Taylor of Stantonsburg was informant.

The obituary of Alonza Ward.

Wilson Daily Times, 22 July 1944.

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In the 1930 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Powell Street, owned and valued at $1200, Preston Ward, 27, public building plasterer; wife Edna, 26; and children Preston, 10, Elonzy, 8, Johnie, 6, Janie, 5, Virginia, 3, and Sylvester, 8 months.

In the 1940 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Powell Street, widower Preston Ward, 38, building plasterer; sister Annie, 26; and children James P., 20, building plasterer, Alonza, 18, Johnny Lee, 17, Rosa, 14, Virginia, 12, Sylvester, 10, Ruby, 8, Doris, 6, and Golden, 2.

The death of Zebulon M. Johnson, chiropodist.

We first encountered foot doctor Zebulon Myer Johnson in a post about his will. His obituary and a tribute letter yield more details of his singular life. Per Silas Lucas, a former mayor of Wilson, Johnson attended Cornell University and studied chiropody under a practitioner in Nashville, Tennessee. He was licensed to practice in North Carolina and Virginia and traveled a circuit through eastern North Carolina caring for patients’ feet. In 1926, he married Roberta Battle (one of the school boycott teachers) and settled in Wilson.

Wilson Daily Times, 14 July 1934.

Wilson Daily Times, 16 July 1934.

Wilson Daily Times, 16 July 1934.

The obituary of Sargent A. Simms of Salisbury, Maryland.

daily Times salisbury md 10 4 62.png

The Daily Times (Salisbury, Maryland), 4 October 1962.

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In the 1900 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Gemima Simms, 65, farm laborer; mother Mary, 89; and grandchildren Annie, 7, Ashley, 4, and Reubin, 2.

In 1917, Ashley Sims registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his draft registration, he was born 10 January 1896 in Wilson; lived at R.F.D. 4, Wilson; was single; and worked as a farm laborer for W.I. Condon.

On 24 December 1918, Ashley Simms, 22, of Wilson, son of Needham and Jane Simms, married Effie Spell, 18, of Wilson, daughter of Hugh and Patsy Spell, at the bride’s residence in Wilson. Rubin Ellis applied for the license, and Free Will Baptist minister E.S. Hargrove performed the ceremony in the presence of Whit Lewis, Nathan Weaver, and Frank Hodge.

In the 1920 census of Jackson township, Nash County: on Wilson and Stanhope Road, Ashley Sims, 27, farm laborer, and wife Effie, 23.

On 14 September 1935, Sargent Ashley Simms, 35, of Wilson, N.C., divorced, son of Nedim Simms and Elizabeth Ellis, married Elizabeth Bryant, 21, single, of Northampton County, Virginia, daughter of Richard Bryant and Mary Hargrove, in Cheriton, Northampton County, Virginia.

In 1942, Ashley Simms registered for the World War II draft in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. Per his registration card, he was born 10 January 1896 in Wilson County; lived at 1521 Pacific Street, Kings County; his contact was Joe Davis, same address; and he worked for P. Savor[?], Chestnut and Fulton Streets, New York.

In the 1950 census of Salisbury, Wicomico County, Maryland: Sargent Simms, 55, born in Virginia [sic], laborer for building contractor.

The obituaries of Mary Etta Woodard and Calvin Baker.

Wilson Daily Times, 18 March 1944.

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  • Mary Etta Woodard

In the 1930 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: Mintus Woodard, 28; wife Mary L., 26; children Nancy, 6, Johnie L., 5, Willie, 4, James, 3, and Mary E., 1; and brothers Lonnie, 17, and Jim Woodard, 12.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: tenant farmer Bud Woodard, 37; wife Mary, 34; and children Nancy, 16, John Lee, 15, Willie, 12, Mary Ella, 11, Harvey, 8, Sid, 6, and Jone, 4.

Mary Etta Woodard died 15 March 1944 in Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 3 January 1929 in Wilson County to Minter Woodard and Mary Lillie Ward; was a schoolgirl; and was buried in Rountree cemetery. [Lane Street Project has not found a grave marker for her.]

  • Calvin H. Baker

In the 1880 census of Harris township, Franklin County, North Carolina: Osborn Baker, 26; wife Georgeanna, 26; and sons William H., 3, and Calvin H., 2.

In the 1900 census of Dunn township, Franklin County: widow Georgianna Baker, 46; children Calvin H., 21, Anna R., 18, Metta S., 16, Gaivy, 14, Annie B., 12, and Alice, M., 9; and grandchildren Loreca E. Anderson, 3, and Osburn C. Anderson, 2.

On 27 December 1917, Calvin Baker, 36, of Franklin County, son of Osborn and Georgina Baker, married Minnie Williams, 30, daughter of Sal and Helen Williams, in Louisburg, Franklin County.

In the 1920 census of Dunn township, Franklin County: farmer Calvin Baker, 41; wife Minnie, 35; children Eula and Carrie, 8; and boarders Rob’t McCray, 28, and Richard Allen, 19.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on South Lodge Street, rented for $18/month, Calvin Baker, 50, laborer for town; wife Minnie, 40; and children Eula, 18, tobacco factory laborer, Connie, 16, tobacco factory laborer, and Eddie, 9.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 507 East Walnut, William H. Barnes, 29, private cook; wife Eula Belle, 27, school lunchroom cook; father-in-law Calvin H. Baker, 61, widower; lodger Mark Crawford, 30, steam laundry laborer; and James Simon, 35, odd jobs laborer.

In 1942, Cleveland Perry registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 13 February 1899 in Franklin County, Tennessee; lived at 505 East Walnut Street, Wilson; his contact was Calvin Baker, 509 East Walnut; and worked for W.G. Wilford, superintendent of the County Home.

Calvin Hilliard Baker died 13 March 1944 at his home at 511 East Walnut Street, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 51 years old was born in Franklin County, North Carolina, to Osborne Baker and Georgie Anna Jones; and he was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery. Eula Bell Barnes was informant.

The obituary of Rev. Fred M. Davis.

Wilson Daily Times, 6 July 1951.

Eyeballing the records, I estimate that Rev. Fred M. Davis performed more weddings among African-Americans in Wilson in the first half of the twentieth century than any minister of any denomination. He served as pastor of several of the city’s Black Missionary Baptist churches and was recognized among the “who’s who” of African-American Baptist leaders in North Carolina. Rev. Davis’ obituary reveals the breadth of his influence across eastern North Carolina, pastoring churches in Scotland Neck, Mount Olive, Clinton, Dunn, and Goldsboro, as well as several in Wilson and Elm City. The obituary also identifies Rev. Davis as one of the young Wilson freedmen, like Samuel H. Vick, Daniel C. Suggs, and Braswell R. Winstead, who left home to attend Pennsylvania’s Lincoln University.

The obituary of James Woodard.

Wilson Daily Times, 6 January 1950.

  • James Woodard

In the 1900 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farm laborer James Woodard, 21, is listed in the household of farmer John E. Finch, 25.

On 17 December 1903, James Woodard, 24, son of Hilliard Woodard and Rose Copeland, married Annie Batts, 18, daughter of John Batts, at John Batts’ in Wilson County. Primitive Baptist minister Jonah Williams performed the ceremony.

In the 1910 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer James Woodard, 31; Wife Annie, 27; children John, 3, Richard, 2, and Willie, 4 months; and sisters-in-law Minnie, 13, and Martha Batts, 11.

In the 1920 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer James Woodard, 40; wife Annie, 35; and children Johnnie, 13, Richard, 11, L. Willie, 10, Della, 6, Aaron, 5, Walter, 3, and H. William, 1.

In the 1930 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: James Woodard, 51; wife Annie, 47; and children Willie L., 20, Della M., 17, Aron, 15, Walter L., 13, and William H., 11.

In the 1940 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on London Church Road, farmer James Woodard, 61; wife Annie, 55; son Henry, 20; grandson Aaron H., 5; and lodger Fred Coley, 18.

James Woodard died 3 January 1950 at his home at 519 Hadley Street, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 29 January 1879 in Wilson County to Hilliard Woodard and an unknown mother; was married to Annie Woodard; and was a farmer.

In the 1910 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Mack Melton, 60, wife Sarah, 45, and children Lafyette, 14, Lillie, 12, Gilber, 10, and Warren Melton, 8. Both Mack and Sarah reported that this was a second marriage for each. Sarah reported that seven of her nine children were living.

On 24 November 1921, Warren Melton, 20, son of Mack and Sarah Melton, married Rosetta B. Simms, 16, daughter of Isaac and Rosetta Simms, at Isaac Simms’ in Wilson County.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farmer Warren Melton, 28; wife Rosetta, 24; and children Warren Jr., 6, Daisey B., 5, Isaac R., 1, and Willie N., 8 months.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1213 East Nash Street, Warren Melton, 47, tobacco factory storage warehouse worker; wife Hester, 38, presser in laundry; son Thomas Lee, 10; and adopted daughter Lucy Gray, 8.

Elder Warren Melton died 1 January 1973 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 1 May 1902; was married to Hester Jones; was a minister; and lived at 517 South Lodge Street.

The obituary of James Haskins of Washington, D.C.

Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 18 February 1962.

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In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farm laborer Damp Haskins; wife Hester, 43; and children Dora, 24, Martha, 19, Lossie, 18, Robert, 16, William, 15, James, 13, Lesley, 10, John, 9, Norma, 7, Earnest, 4, and Damp, 1.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, WIlson County: on “N&S RR,” farmer Damp Haskins, 60; wife Stella, 52, servant; children Martha, 23, cook, James, 18, wagon factory laborer, Lessie, 16, lumber mill laborer, John, 15, lumber mill laborer, Annie, 8, Earnest, 7, and Damp, 3; plus grandsons Simeon, 15, retail grocery laborer, and Ambrose Hoskins, 7.

In the 1940 census of Washington, D.C.: at 1231 W Street, N.W., barber John Jones, 37, wife Sarah, 37, and daughter Ruby, 13; and hotel waiter Joseph Haskins, 27, mother Martha, 58, and uncle James Haskins, 36, post office department laborer. Both Joseph and Martha reported being divorced, and both had lived in Wilson, North Carolina, five years previously.

In 1942, James Haskins registered for the World War II draft in Washington, D.C. Per his registration card, he was born 10 August 1892 in Wilson; lived at 1323 R Street, N.W.; his contact was “Rev. Melvin,” same address; and he worked at “Post Office, Benj. Franklin, 12th & Pa. Ave. Wash.”