Peacock

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!

The obituary of Mary Etta Fain Reavis.

Wilson Daily Times, 25 May 1937.

——

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Woodard Street, widow Etta Reavis, 45, tobacco factory worker; children Louise, 18, and James, 6; brother-in-law Fred Reavis, 26, carpenter; his wife Cornelia, 19, and son Ralph, 4. Louise and Cornelia worked as tobacco factory laborers.

On 4 October 1923, Levi H. Peacock Jr., 22, of Wilson, son of Levi and Hannah Peacock, married Elouise Reavis, 20, of Wilson, daughter of Joseph and Etta Reavis, on 4 October 1922 in Wilson. W.A. Mitchner applied for the license, and Presbyterian minister A.H. George performed the ceremony in the presence of John D. Henry, Henrietta Foster and John H. Parris.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 204 Vick Street, hotel bellboy Levi Peacock, 30; wife Elouise, 28, a public school teacher; children Jewel D., 4, and Thomas L., 14; and mother-in-law Etta Reaves, 50, post office maid. [This entry contains errors. Jual D. Peacock was a daughter, rather than son, of Levi and Eloise Peacock, and Thomas was in fact just over a year old in 1930.]

Mary Etta Reavis died 22 May 1937 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 59 years old; was born in Vance County, N.C., to Thomas Fain and Clara Thomas; was a widow; lived at 418 Reid Street; worked as a charwoman in government service; and was buried in Wilson [probably, Vick Cemetery.] Eloise Peacock was informant.

Elouise R. Peacock died 15 June 1951 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 4 July 1906 in Wilson to Etta Fain; was a public school teacher; was married; and resided at 414 North Reid Street. Informant was Jeuetta Anderson.

144 Ash Street.

The two hundredth in a series of posts highlighting buildings in East Wilson Historic District, a national historic district located in Wilson, North Carolina. As originally approved, the district encompasses 858 contributing buildings and two contributing structures in a historically African-American section of Wilson. (A significant number have since been lost.) The district was developed between about 1890 to 1940 and includes notable examples of Queen Anne, Bungalow/American Craftsman, and Shotgun-style architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

This house was demolished between 2012 and 2019. The photo above, courtesy of Google Maps Streetview, was taken in April 2008. The address of this house has vacillated wildly. It has been known as 141, 138, 144, and 218 Ash Street as lot lines shifted and houses were densely packed into Ash Street’s short stretch. Current tax records describe the now-vacant lot as 144 Ash Street. (And Ash is often spelled “Ashe.”)

The inventory list of the nomination form for East Wilson Historic District, prepared in 1987, is confusing. #144 is described as a vacant lot. #138 is a “shotgun with shed-roofed porch,” which obviously is not this house. It appears that #142, “ca. 1908; 1 story; two-room central-hall house with turned post porch,” is the house above, though it does not now have turned posts on its porch.

The last Google Maps image of the house, June 2012.

Ash Street was once part of the Oswald and Sallie Lipscomb farm. On 8 April 1890, Maria Peacock purchased a one-quarter acre lot from the Lipscombs for $37.50. Per the deed, Peacock, who already lived in the lot, received a life interest in the property with the remainder to Levi H. Peacock and his heirs.

Description of 144 Ashe Street from Deed Book 2391, page 143, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.

The 1908 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson, N.C., shows the house as 141 Jane Street, as Ash was very briefly known.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Ash Street, post office clerk Levi Peacock, 40; wife Hannah, 38; children Oliva V., 15, Hannah, 13, Levi, 11, Susan, 6, Rubie, 4, and Vivian, 1; and mother-in-law Susan Pryett, 55, laundress.

Detail from 1922 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson, N.C.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 141 Ash Street, post office clerk Livia H. Peacock, 60; wife Annie, 31; children Olvia, 23, Annie L., 21, Livia H. Jr.; Sudie, 14, Rubie, 12, Vivian, 9, Bennie, 5, and John, 3; boarders Mary S. Roberson, 32, and Mary Brodie, 20; plus widow Susan Byatt, 62.

In the 1922 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Peacock Hannah (c) tchr h 138 Ashe; Peacock Hannah L (c) hair dresser h 138 Ashe; Peacock Levi H (c) clk P O 138 Ashe

Detail from 1922 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson, N.C.

In the 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Peacock Levi H (c) clk P O 138 Ashe [But Hannah, Ruby, Susan and Vivian Peacock at 140 Ashe.]

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Peacock Levi H (c; Hannah) h 218 Ashe [But Peacock Hannah H (c) tchr Wilson Graded Sch r 138 Ashe]

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Peacock Levi H (c; Hannah H) bellmn Hotel Cherry h 218 Ashe; Peacock Rubie E (c) sch tchr h 218 Ashe; Peacock Susan M (c) student h 218 Ashe; Peacock Vivian (c) lndrs h 218 Ashe

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 218 Ash, Levi Peacock, 62; wife Hanna, 64;  Susan, 28, Elizabeth L., 26, John H., 24, and Benjamin, 23; Hanna Luke, 80; Susan Piatt, 34; and Ruby Piatt, 15. [There are numerous errors in names and ages in this entry.]

Detail from 1930 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson, N.C. The house is labeled (138) 218 Ash.

Levi Henry Peacock died 16 August 1934 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 72 years old; was born in Alabama to James Peacock and Marie Peacock, both of Wilson County; was married; lived at 218 Ash Street; was an “ex-P.O. clerk”; and was buried in Wilson [Masonic? Odd Fellows? Vick Cemetery?]

Hannah H. Peacock died 29 March 1935 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 50 years old; was born in Edgecombe County to Booker Pyatt of Petersburg, Virginia, and Susan Hines of Edgecombe County; resided at 218 Ash Street; was a school teacher; was the widow of Levi Peacock; and was buried in Wilson [Masonic? Odd Fellows? Vick Cemetery?]

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Hana Peacock, 32; her grandmother Susie Pyatt, 84; and brothers John, 22, and Benjamin Peacock, 24.

In 1942, Levi Harry Peacock registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 6 May 1898 in Wilson; lived at 418 North Reid Street, Wilson; his contact was Hannah Peacock, 138 Ashe Street, Wilson; and he worked for W.E. Barnes at Cherry Hotel, Wilson.

Susan H. Pyatt died 14 January 1944 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born in 1874 in Edgecombe County to Louis Hargrove and Hannah Lewis Hines; was widowed; and resided at 218 Ashe. Hannah Peacock was informant.

In 1944, John Hines Peacock registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 16 October 1915 in Wilson County; lived at 218 Ashe; his contact was sister Hannah L. Peacock, 218 Ashe; and he was “unemployed, except working around his home.”

1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory

Hannah Lee Peacock died 1 May 1969 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 12 September 1924 [sic] to Henry Levi Peacock and Hannah Hines; lived at 144 Ash Street; was a retired teacher; and was single. Vivian Peacock Smith, 144 Ash, was informant.

Wilson Daily Times, 22 April 1989.

Doris Smith Herrell sold the Peacock family’s Ash Street properties, including 144, in 2009, ending nearly 120 years of ownership by this family.

A post office that is a credit to the town.

The Morning Post (Raleigh, N.C.), 4 January 1902.

Samuel H. Vick‘s post office was located on the ground floor of the newly built Seabrook Hotel. We met Vick’s assistants Braswell R. Winstead and Levy H. Peacock here.

News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 8 April 1902.

The 1903 Sanborn map of Wilson describes the Seabrook as a boarding house and shows the post office on the right side of the building’s ground floor. The site is now a parking lot.

Sanborn fire insurance map, page 4, Wilson, N.C., 1903.

Rev. A.H. Prince honored.

Pittsburgh Courier, 5 July 1941.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Ash Street, post office clerk Levi Peacock, 40; wife Hannah, 38; children Oliva V., 15, Hannah, 13, Levi, 11, Susan, 6, Rubie, 4, and Vivian, 1; and mother-in-law Susan Pryett, 55, laundress.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: post office clerk Livia H. Peacock, 60; wife Annie, 31; children Olvia, 23, Annie L., 21, Livia H. Jr.; Sudie 14, Rubie, 12, Vivian, 9, Bennie, 5, and John, 3; boarders Mary S. Roberson, 32, and Mary Brodie, 20; plus widow Susan Byatt, 62.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: laborer Levi Peacock, 62; wife Hanna, 64; children Susan, 28, a teacher, Elizabeth L., 26, a hospital nurse, John H., 24, and Benjamin, 23; mother-in-law Hanna Luke, 80; and lodgers Susan Piatt, 34, and Ruby Piatt, 15. [This entry seems to contain several errors. Susan Piatt, not Hanna Luke, was Levi Peacock’s mother-in-law, and she was close to 80, not 34 years old. Also, Ruby was Levi and Hannah Peacock’s daughter.]

In the 1940 census of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, N.C.: Abraham Prince, 38, Presbyterian Church field representative; wife Susan, 32, rural school teacher; and daughters Dorothy, 8, and Susan, 6.

The Peacock-Applewhite-Yelverton house, again.

A sign hanging at the driveway entrance reads Maywood Manor, Est. 1850, and the large, four-columned portico plays into stereotypes of plantation Big House. In fact, per Stantonsburg Historical Society’s A History of Stantonsburg Circa 1780 to 1980 (1981), though slaveholder James Peacock built this house on the northwestern outskirts of Stantonsburg about 1860, the fancy entrance was not added until 1914. Here’s the house with its original exterior. (Also — “Maywood Manor”???)

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, March 2024.