Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 6 May 1944.
Over the course of a year, Jesse F. Barnes‘ family went from elation to despair to rejoicing when his return home to recuperate from the wounds that earned him four Purple Hearts.
Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 25 November 1944.
Rocky Mount Telegram, 21 April 1945.
Wilson Daily Times, 12 January 1945.
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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on West Walnut Street, barber Henry Tabron, 27; wife Mattie, 28; and children Elma, 8, William, 5, Edmonia, 3, and John, 6 months.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: barber Henry Tabron, 37; wife Mattie, 29, laundress; and children William, 15, shoe shop laborer, Edmonia, 14, Bill L., 11, Berkley, 9, and Donald, 7.
On 21 April 1939, William Tabron, 24, of Wilson, N.C., janitor, son of Henry Tabron and Mattie Smith, married Myrtie Jones, 19, of Wilson, N.C., daughter of Butler Jones and Myrtie Johnson, in Emporia, Greensville County, Virginia.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1011 East Nash, Butler Jones, 59, painter; wife Myrtie, 51; sons Joseph, 25, Willard, 20, and John, 19, all painters; and William Tabron, 26, janitor at Carolina Theatre, wife Myrtie Tabron, 21, and daughter Patsy, 3 months.
In 1940, William Lemon Tabron registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 29 September 1914 in Wilson; lived at 1011 East Nash Street; his contact was wife Mytie Ruth Tabron; and he worked for Lumberton Tobacco Company, Lumberton, N.C.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Butler Jones, 69, painting houses for building construction company; wife Myrtie, 67; son John H., 27, painting houses; his wife Lizzie M., 28, domestic servant; son-in-law William L. Tabron, 30, painting houses; daughter Myrtie, 30, babysitting; and their daughters Patsy, 10, and Julia, 9.
William Lemon Tabron died 19 December 1966 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Per his death certificate, he was born 29 September 1914 in Wilson, N.C., to Mattie Belle Smith and Thomas Henry Tabron; lived in Camden, New Jersey; was married to Myrtie Tabron; worked as a painter; was a World War II veteran; and was buried in New Camden Cemetery.
Not quite two weeks after he died, Myrtie Tabron applied for a military headstone for her husband. (To be received by Darden Memorial Funeral Home, which suggests he was actually buried in Wilson.) The application noted that William L. Tabron had served in Company C, 614th Tank Destroyer Battalion, and received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. Third Platoon, Company C of the 614th was the first African-American unit to receive a Distinguished Unit Citation in World War II and saw action in the Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe campaigns.
Twenty year-old Marine Archie Lee Cooper died in action in Trung Tin, Quang Nam province, Vietnam, on 7 September 1967. Cooper was the son of Annie Marie Cooper and grandson of James W. and Amanda Alberta Artis Cooper. and a graduate of Darden High School, where he had been a honor roll student and sports standout.
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In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 110 – 4th Street, James Cooper, 61, machinist helper at tobacco factory; wife Amanda A., 50; children George C., 18, Alberta, 15, Chester, 13, Lillie B., 11; and grandsons Gary L., 7, Floyd J., 5, and Archie L., 3.
Wilson Daily Times, 23 March 1966.
Greensboro Daily News, 19 September 1967.
Wilson Daily Times, 21 September 1967.
Application for military headstone for Archie Lee Cooper.
Wilson Daily Times, 2 November 1967.
U.S. Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1861-1985, http://www.ancestry.com.
Ned Radcliff Barnes was one of the Daily Times employees who received his war medals on Army Day.
Wilson Daily Times, 7 April 1948.
