United States Army

Corporal Judge Fleming Jr., sent to England.

——

In the 1920 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: on Stantonsburg Road, farmer Judge Fleming, 49; wife Molly, 40; and children Lizzie, 18, Arron, 16, Sarah, 12, Lula, 10, Addie, 8, Jordan, 5, and John, 3.

In the 1930 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Judge Fleming, 57; wife Mollie, 47; and children Arron, 25, Sarah J., 21, Lula, 20, Judge, 15, Johnie, 14, and Mary L., 6.

In the 1940 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Mollie Flemming, 56, widow, farmer; sons Aaron, 36, and Judge Jr., 25; grandchildren Louisa, 17, Delma, 5, Aaron Jr., 3, and Melba G., 1; daughter-in-law Mahalia Flemming, 26; and lodger Jessie Smith, 14.

In 1940, Judge Junior Fleming registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 1 July 1915 in Wilson; lived on Route 4, Wilson; his contact was mother Mollie Sutton Fleming; and he worked at Imperial Tobacco Company, Barnes and Lodge Streets.

In the 1950 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: Judge Flemming, 34, “planting corn”; wife Grace, 23, “picking plant bed”; and children Alfonsa, 3, and Gwenelyn, 2; and lodger Johnnie Sharp, 45, “planting corn.”

Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library.

Corporal William Batts, stationed at Camp Swift, Texas.

——

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 628 Warren Street, farm laborer Willie Batts, 28, wife Olivia, 29, and children Ernest, 8, Claria, 5, Elizabeth, 3, and twins Jodie and Josephine, 6 months.

In the 1920 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Willie Batts, 39, wife Olivia, 39, and children Ernest, 17, Clara, 16, Elizabeth, 13, Josephine, 10, William, 7, E. George, 5, and M. Mary, 1 1/2.

In the 1930 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Will Batts, 50, wife Olivia, 50, and children Ernest, 25, William, 16, Georgiana, 14, Magdelene, 11, Rosa L., 10, and Henry, 8.

On 1 April 1938, Wm. Batts, 23, of Taylors township, Wilson County, son of Will and Olivia Batts, married Bessie Lee Williams, 18, of Wilson, daughter of Isaac and Lucy Williams, in Wilson. Elder Abram Hill performed the ceremony. 

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 303 Finch Street, brick laborer William Batts, 25; wife Bessie, 20, tobacco factory laborer; children Thelma, 2, and Lucille, 9 months; and sister Dollie Williams, 17.

In 1940, William Batts registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County:

Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library.

Private First Class Richard T. Baker, stationed at Fort Benning.

——

In the 1930 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Haywood W. Baker, 52; wife Mollie, 43; and children Charles, 17, Hildarene, 16, Jasper, 14, Harold, 13, Mary P., 11, Richard T., 7, and Carlton Baker, 5.

In the 1940 census of Farmville township, Pitt County: farmer Haywood W. Baker, 62, and children Jasper, 22, Tensley James, 26, Richard Thomas, 16, and Carlton Baker, 14, and Mary Joyner, 20. All reported living in Greene County in 1935 except Tensley, who had lived in Goldsboro, Wayne County.

In 1942, Richard Thomas Baker registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 24 August 1923 in Stantonsburg; resided at 719 East Green Street, Wilson; his contact was Haywood Baker of the same address; and he worked at G.H.T.M. in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library.

Pfc. Elijah Ward Jr., stationed in the South Pacific.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 12 August 1944.

——

In the 1920 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: on Wilson & Moyeton Road, tenant farmer Elijah Ward, 34; wife Florance, 26; Hillary Wooten, 26, and Robert Speight, 35, servants; brother James Ward, 19, and Sarah Ward, 16.

In the 1940 census of Bullhead township, Greene County, N.C.: farmer Elijah Ward, 48; wife Geneva, 42; children Emma M., 19, Elijah, 18, William J., 16, Ida M., 14, Calvin, 13, and Teaser, 12; and grandchildren Archy L., 3, and Lillian, 1.

Staff Sergeant James Henry Whitehead, stationed in Kentucky.

In the 1920 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Saratoga Road, Henry Whitehead, 48; wife Victoria, 32; and children Willie, 27, Della Mae, 13, Catherine, 9, Odell, 7, James, 5, Grace, 2, and Rosalie, 1.

In the 1930 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Highway 91, owned and valued at $2500, oil mill contractor Henry Whitehead, 53; wife Victoria, 43, seamstress; and children Katherine, 19, Odell, 17, James, 15, Grace, 13, Rosalyn, 11, Herbert, 9, Gertrude, 6, Mable, 4, and Victoria, 2.

In the 1940 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: widow Victoria Whitehead, 52, sewing; children James, 25, apprentice carpenter; Rosaline, 21; Herbert, 20, tobacco company floor hand; Gertrude, 16, Mabel, 14, and Victoria E., 12; and nieces Elizabeth Brodie, 32, public school teacher, and [actually, granddaughter] Joan Bynum, 6.

James Henry Whitehead registered for the World War II draft in 1940.

Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library.

Corporal Haddie Sutton, somewhere in Corsica.

In the 1920 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: on Stantonsburg Road, farmer John Sutton, 47; wife Peniza, 35; and children Kirby, 19, Sanka, 15, Jenetta, 13, Effie, 11, Oscar, 10, Walter, 8, Primas, 7, Augustus, 5, Jessie, 3, Mary, 2, and Hady, 2 months.

In the 1930 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer John Sutton, 53; wife Panisco, 44; and children Effie, 21, Arthur, 20, Water, 19, Primas, 17, Gustas, 14, Jesse, 12, May, 11, Haddie, 9, Jay B., 7, Bessie, 6, and Rena, 4.

In the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer John Sutton, 60; wife Lizzie, 45; children Hadie, 30, J.B., 17, Bessie, 16, and Rena, 14; stepchildren Addie, 18, Willie, 16, and Eugene Suggs, 14; stepdaughter Fannie Edwards, 25, widow, and her children Shirley L., 3, and Julie L., 8 months.

In 1941, Haddie Sutton registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 4 January 1920 in Wilson County; resided on Route 1, Walstonburg, Wilson County; worked as a farmer for Earl Lane; and his contact was Lizzie Sutton.

Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library.

Corporal Johnnie Swinney, sent overseas.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 602 Viola Street, Samuel Sweny, 53, painter, and children Neoma, 17, Laney, 15, Easter, 13, Gracy, 12, John H., 10, and George P., 7.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 602 Viola Street, Samuel Swinney, 76, painter, daughters Ester, 22, a tobacco stemmer, and Gracie, 22, superintendent at NYA project, and sons Johnnie R., 18, “in CCC camp,” and George, 17.

In 1942, Johnnie Richard Swinney registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 602 Viola Street, Sidney Thompson, 37, cook; wife Lanie, 34, cook; son Alton, 11; and brothers-in-law George, 26, grocery store manager and Johnnie Swinney, 25, painter. 

Johnnie R. Swinney died 30 September 1986 in Wilson.

Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library.