This feature does not depict African-American worshippers in Wilson, but it illuminates the Daily Times‘ view of even sacred activity as fodder for scorn and cheap laughs.
Wilson Daily Times, 2 June 1937.
revival meeting
H.T. Bowers, known for his sinful life, gets saved.
Wilson Daily Times, 3 February 1922.
Alfred L.E. Weeks was pastor of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, then located on Hadley Street.
Though he may have been “chief among the gamblers,” H.T. Bowers [not Bowser] did not leave much record in Wilson. He and Bertha Knight were married 30 January 1922 by Rev. Weeks. Per their marriage license, Bowers, 33, was the son of H.T. and Manda Bowers of Wilson County, and Knight, 31, was the daughter of Mahala Knight of Wilson County. The ceremony took place in the presence of F.F. Battle, Mack Bullock and David C. Weeks.
Bowers repented just in time, as he died of typhoid fever on 23 January 1923, a week shy of a year after his marriage. Per his death certificate, he was about 40 years old; was born in Texas; lived at 306 South Street; and was married to Bertha Bowers. Daisy McClain, 306 South, was the informant.