United States Army

Howell and Crawford serve as recreational hostesses.

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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  • Ethel G. Howell
  • Vertist Crawford

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.

In memoriam: Sgt. Anthony M. Hopkins.

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 and Catherine Bryant Hopkins Brown

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.

  • James Ward and Addie Tart Ward

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.

Sgt. Sutton goes to Japan.

Wilson Daily Times, 2 September 1949.

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In the 1930 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farm laborer John Sutton, 30; wife Jane, 31; and children Haywood, 14, Mittie, 11, John, 9, and David L., 6.

In the 1940 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer John Sutton, 41; wife Jane, 40; children Mittie, 21, John H., 19, David Lee, 16, Henry G., 6, and Nina Bee, 2.

In 1942, David Sutton registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County, North Carolina. Per his registration card, he was b0rn 1 July 1924 in Wilson County, North Carolina; lived at R.F.D. 3, Wilson; his contact was John Sutton; and he worked for John Sutton.

On 7 November 1946, David Sutton, 22, of Wilson, son of John Clarence Sutton and Jane Sutton, married Jessie Gray Newsome, 17, of Wilson, daughter of Richard L. Sutton and Mable Newsome, in Snow Hall, Greene County, North Carolina.

Jessie Gray Sutton died 30 July 1947 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was one day old; was born in Wilson County to David Sutton and Jessie Gray Newsome; and was buried in Rest Haven cemetery.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 211 South Vick Street (front), Redmond Barnes, 30; wife Mittie, 31, maid; children Jessie L., 8, Bernice, 6, and Redmond Jr., born in August; and in-laws John, 52, Jane, 53, and Nina B. Sutton, 12; and, in “back trailer,” Jessie G. Sutton, 22, and son David Jr., 1, born in Washington, D.C.

Simms men serve.

Wilson Daily Times, 28 July 1944.

There seems to be a bit of confusion in this account of father and sons serving in World War II. The father was Sargent Ashley Simms, often called Ashley Simms. His sons were Sargent Simms Jr. and Solomon Simms.

U.S. World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, http://www.ancestry.com.

The death of T/5 Thomas Jones, Jr.

Wilson Daily Times, 5 March 1945.

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In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Tom Jones, 54, laborer, born in Ohio; wife Jannie, 39, born in Georgia; children Luburta, 22, Winsor, 18, Willie, 16, Oscar, 14, Annie, 11, Tom Jr., 5, and Acy B., 1; and grandson James Moore, 6.

In 1942, Thomas Jones Jr. registered for the World War II draft. Per his registration card, he was born 25 December 1923 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at Baily Road, Dorchester, Massachusetts, then 215 Pine Street, Cambridge, Mass., then 426 Pine Street, Cambridge, then care of John S. Isaacs, Ellendale, Delaware; his contact was Henrietta Whitlock, 211 Pine Street, Cambridge; and he worked for E.T. Webb, Janesville, Virginia.

On 16 October 1950, H.M. Fitts applied for a military headstone for Thomas Jones Jr. Per the application, Jones’ rank was Technician 5 and he served in the 810th Amphibious Truck Company. He was born 25 December 1923 and died 5 March 1944 and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery.