In the 1940 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Cleveland Artis, 46; wife Jack Ann, 42; sons Cleveland Jr., 19, golf club laborer, William, 22, daughter-in-law Mildred, 17; daughter Adeline, 17; and son-in-law George, 22.
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.
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.
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.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Wainwright, butler Luther Locus, 27, wife Eula, 23, and son Robert, 6.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1108 Wainwright, cook Luther Locus, 37, wife Eula, 37, also a cook, and son Robert, 16.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1108 Wainwright, owned and valued at $2000, cook Luther Locus, 47, salesman at own filling station, wife Eula, 46, tobacco factory laborer, and son Robert, 26, filling station laborer.
In 1940, Robert Locus registered for the World War II draft in Washington, D.C.:
The 13 July 1943 issues of the Evening Star reported that Robert Locus and Brownie Gibson had been issued a marriage license in Rockville, Maryland.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1108 Wainwright, Eula Locus, 56, widow; son Robert, 37, proprietor/automobile mechanic; daughter-in-law Brownie G., 31; grandson Robert Jr., born in March; and cousin Niecy Evenson, 73.
On 31 December 1959, Robert Locus, 46, married Agnes Angeline Harris, 28, in Nash County, N.C.
Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library.
Washington (D.C.) Afro-American, 29 September 1945.
Recreational hostesses were civilian women who served with the American Red Cross or the United States Army’s Special Services to provide entertainment and wholesome companionship for soldiers. Nicknamed “Donut Dollies,” they often traveled military bases in mobile units delivering coffee, doughnuts, music, and conversation.
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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 617 Green, carpenter Short W. Barnes, 60; wife Francis, 62; son-in-law Clarence A. Crawford, 28, brickmason; daughter Maggie L., 26; and grandchildren Verest A., 2, and Clarence A., Jr., 9 months.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: carpenter Short W. Barnes, 70, wife Francis, 71, daughter Maggie Crawford, 36, son-in-law Clarance Crawford, 39, and their children Verda, 13, Clarance, 10, and Annie, 8.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 617 Green, carpenter Short W. Barnes, 80; daughter Maggie Crawford, 46, and grandchildren Vertist, 22, truck driver Clarance, 20, and Annie F., 18.
On 29 May 1952, the list of outbound passengers aboard the USNS General Alexander M. Patch included:
U.S. Departing Passenger and Crew Lists 1914-1966, http://www.ancestry.com.
A spur-of-the-moment search of The New York Times yielded the obituary of Wilson native Anthony M. Hopkins, a decorated war veteran. He was one of the more than 200,000 Americans to die of COVID in the first seven months of the pandemic. The Times featured Hopkins’ death in its “Those We’ve Lost” series, which profiled more than 500 people, both famous and ordinary, who succumbed to the disease.
Anthony Hopkins’ paternal grandparents, Jason and Catherine Bryant Hopkins, arrived in Wilson County in the early 1920s from Pitt County by way of Greene County. They settled in Gardners township and worked as sharecroppers or tenant farmers. His maternal grandparents, James and Addie Tart Ward, had deep roots in the area of the Wilson and Greene County border between present-day Saratoga, Stantonsburg, and Walstonburg.
Jason Hopkins died 25 March 1929 in Wilson [Mercy] Hospital. Per his death certificate, he was 41 years old; was born in Pitt County to Luke and Dollie Hopkins; was married to Catherine Hopkins; was a preacher; and was buried in Jones Field, Wilson County.
In the 1930 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Kathrine Hopkins, 37; children James C., 12, Irena, 10, Octavia, 9, Jason Jr., 8, Etter C., 7, and Mattie, 3; and roomer [illegible] Bryant, 26.
In the 1940 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Becton Brown, 47; wife Katherine, 47; his children George, 22, Edrine, 20, Millie, 18, May E., 16, B.K., 15, Collie, 13, and Wittonia Brown, 11; and step-children Irene, 21, Octavia, 20, Jason, 19, Ophelia, 17, and Mattie Hopkins, 14.
In 1942, Jason Hopkins registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 29 April 1921 in Greene County; lived at R.F.D. #3, Gardners township; his contact was mother Cassie Brown; and he worked for Pattie W. Uzzell in Wilson.
On 6 March 1946, Jason Hopkins, 24, son of Jason Hopkins and Catherine Bryant Hopkins, married Minnie Lou Ward, 19, daughter of James and Addie Tart Ward, in Wilson County.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 522 Hadley Street, Jason Hopkins, 28, serviceman at auto sales/service; wife Minnie, 23; and children Jason III, 3, Thomas L., 1, and Anthony M., born the previous September.
Jason Hopkins Jr. died 31 May 1969 in Norfolk, Virginia. Per his death certificate, he was born 29 April 1921 in Wilson, N.C., to Jason Hopkins Sr. and Catherine Bryant; was married to Minnie Lea Hopkins; worked as a laborer; and was a World War II veteran.
Minnie Lee W. Hopkins, 716 Hooks Street, Wilson, applied for a military headstone for her husband Jason Hopkins. Per the application, he was born 29 April 1921 and died 31 May 1969 and served from 10 October 1942 to 14 December 1945 in the 647th Port Company.
Minnie Lea Hopkins died 28 February 2013.
On __ January 1899, James Ward, 18, of Greene County, son of Larance Ward and Sarah [Ward] Artis, married Mit Ellis, 21, of Greene County, daughter of Jacob Ellis, in Greene County, N.C.
In the 1900 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County: James Ward, 20, day laborer; wife Mitt, 20; and son Nathan, 1. Two households down: widow Sarah Ward, 43, and children Walter, 14, Bessie, 12, and Etta, 9, all day laborers.
On 13 June 1909, James Wood [sic; Ward], 28, of Stantonsburg, married Addie Ward [sic; Tart], 19, of Saratoga, in Saratoga township, Wilson County.
In the 1910 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: on Stantonsburg Road, farmer James Ward, 29; wife Addie, 20; and children Jim, 9, Sarah, 8, Tiny, 5, Mary E., 4, and Maggie, newborn.
In 1918, James Ward registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 15 October 1879; lived at Route 2, Stantonsburg; farmed for Charlie Whitley; and his nearest relative was Addie Ward.
In the 1920 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer James Ward, 40; wife Addie, 29; and children Maliza, 14, Maggie, 10, Ozee, 8, Ida, 6, Joseph, 4, and Ora, 4.
In the 1930 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer James Ward, 50; wife Addie, 39; children Maggie, 19, Oz, 17, Ida, 16, Joseph, 15, Ora, 12, Bourgard, 11, Charlie, 8, Leland, 5, Minnie L., 3, and Annie M., 0; and mother Sarah Ward, 72, widow.
In the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer James Ward, 58; wife Addie, 46; children Ida, 24, Charles, 18, Leland, 14, Minnie, 13, Annie, 10, Molena, 5, and Beauregard, 20; daughter-in-law Bertha Lee, 20; and grandson John Lewis Barnes, 9.
Addie Ward died 21 July 1943 in Saratoga township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 2 January 1893 in Greene County to Gray Tart and Mittie Ward, both of Greene County; was married to James Ward; and was buried in Community Cemetery, Greene County.
James Ward Sr. died 11 November 1944 in Saratoga township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 12 October 1882 in Wilson County to Lawrence Ward and Sarah Artis; was the widower of Addie Ward; was a farmer; and was buried Saint Delight cemetery, Greene County, N.C.
Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 17 June 1944.
Stationed “somewhere in Corsica,” Technical Sergeant Kester C. Mitchell wrote the editor of the Journal and Guide to praise the newspaper for keeping him up-to-date and counsel against a “war at home” while the World War raged.
