Wilson Daily Times, 10 July 1941.
Wilson Daily Times, 12 July 1941.
The first Catholic services for African-Americans in Wilson were held at Reid Street Community Center in 1941, with construction of a new church — to be known as Saint Alphonsus — soon to get underway.
Wilson Daily Times, 30 March 1942.
“St. Alphonsus Catholic Church met at Reid Street Center in 1938 while the church was being built. The photograph was submitted by James “Casey” Ellis.” Wilson Daily Times, 20 April 1999.
If you can identify any of the parishioners, please let me know.
Wilson Daily Times, 1 August 1941.
The background is remarkable in this photo of the ground-breaking for Saint Alphonsus Catholic Church. In the early 1940s, the northeastern end of Reid Street was at the edge of town. Thus, the buildings seen in the background here are tobacco barns.
Though this image of Sister Antonio Spruill of Oblate Sisters of Providence was taken in the 1950s, just beyond the range of Black Wide Awake, it’s really just too great not to be included here. Barbara Farmer, at far left, identified the other girls as Josephine Collins, Gail Peacock, JoAnn Jenkins and Wilter Davis. (Thank you!)
“Music Class St. Alphonsus School in Wilson, N.C.”
In 1947, per the city directory, Saint Alphonsus Catholic School operated from 600 East Green Street, the large two-story house at the corner of Pender Street built for J.D. and Eleanor Reid. By 1950, the house was a nunnery for the Oblate Sisters.
Founded in 1828, the Oblate Sisters of Providence was the first permanent community of Roman Catholic sisters of African descent in the United States. Though small, the order remains active.
Wilson Daily Times, 25 May 1946.
Wilson Daily Times, 9 September 1948.
Photo courtesy of Pinterest.
Born in Oxford, North Carolina, Bessie Richardson [as she was known, despite her marriages] was brought to Wilson as a housekeeper and cook by Mr. and Mrs. Carl Goerch. After about a year, she went to work for opthalmologist Thomas Blackshear and his wife. “She was with the Blackshears so long until she earned the nickname of Bessie ‘Blackshear’ by many patients, friends and neighbors of the Blackshears.”
Richardson also sewed curtains for homeowners on West Nash Street and cooked [catered?] meals for black businessmen, including Dr. George K. Butterfield, Daniel “Mack” McKeithan and Dr. William M. Mitchner.
She cared for two of her brothers, Wilbur and Leo Taylor, during their last illnesses. Wilbur Taylor worked for many years as a cook at the Ship and Shore Restaurant on West Nash.
Bessie Richardson was a devout Catholic and long-time member of Saint Alphonsus Church. She and her husband, Willie “Skeeter” Bowden, had no children.
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Text adapted from article in and photo courtesy of History of Wilson County, North Carolina (1985).
Pittsburgh Courier, 12 March 1938.
For more about Rev. Richard A.G. Foster, see here and here and here.
Georgia Farmer Mitchell died 18 February 1938 at Mercy Hospital. Per her death certificate, she was a 15 year-old school girl; was born in Wilson to Floyd Mitchell and Lucy Farmer, both of Wilson County; and resided at 409 South Warren Street. She died of acute appendicitis and an intestinal blockage.
Rev. Foster, probably in the late 1930s or early ’40s, perhaps at Yale University, his alma mater.
Photograph courtesy of Sheila Coleman-Castells.
Wilson Daily Times, 2 October 1943.
Southern Cross: Bulletin of the Catholic Laymen’s Association of Georgia, 25 April 1942.
Saint Alphonsus youth group, circa 1942. R.C. Henderson is second left of the priest, Rev. Francis J. Walsh, at top. His sister Hattie Henderson Ellis is shading her eyes on the bottom row. Maggie Barnes Crawford (1893-1971) stands at far left.
Saint Alphonsus today, with the rectory beyond. (What happened to the belfry?)
A brief history of Saint Alphonsus Catholic Church may be found here. The congregation has merged with Saint Therese in Wilson.
Photographs in possession of Lisa Y. Henderson.