In this series, which will post on occasional Wednesdays, I populate the landscape of Wilson County with imaginary “historical markers” commemorating people, places, and events significant to African-American history or culture.
We been here.
Original site of First Missionary Baptist Church. Wilson Chapel formed in 1910; bought frame church here in 1915. Destroyed by fire in 1922, and larger frame church built. Replaced for current brick building in 1958.
Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, July 2025.
Wilson Daily Times, 12 May 1931.
I can only speculate about what happened at Wilson Chapel to prompt publication of this notice … but speculating I am.
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On 14 May 1917, Henry Dilliard, 21, of Wilson, married Susanna Parker, 18, of Wilson, in Wilson. A.M.E. Zion minister B.P. Coward performed the ceremony.
In 1917, Henry Dillard registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 2 October 1896 in Red Springs, N.C.; lived at 121 Manchester Street, Wilson; worked as a laborer at Farmers Oil Mill; and was married.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 207 Reid Street, oil mill laborer Henry Dillard, 24, and wife Sudie, 20.
On 29 May 1933, Henry Dillard, 36, of Ayden, son of Jake and Mary Dillard, married Bessie Brown, 28, of Ayden, daughter of Martha Cobb, in Greenville, Pitt County, N.C.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 719 Viola Street, tobacco factory cooper Henry Dillard, 42; wife Bessie, 36; and children Magdeline, 6, Maybelle, 5, Bessie M., 2, and Henry Jr., 1 month.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 719 Viola, Henry Y. Dillard Sr., 53, meal cook and foreman at fertilizer plant; wife Bessie, 46; and children Maggie Line, 16, Mabel, 14, Bessie Mae, 12, Henry Jr., 10, and Robert Henry, 6.
Henry Younger Dillard died 23 February 1970 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 21 October 1896 to Jake Dillard; was married to Mildred Barnes Dillard; lived at 1501 Washington Street; and worked as a carpenter and minister.
Wilson Daily Times, 10 December 1949.
In December 1949, Rev. L.E. Rasbury of Wilson Chapel Free Will Baptist Church delivered his Advent sermon, “Watchful Waiting,” and Mount Hebron and Pride of Wilson laid the cornerstones for their new building(s?) (This is curious. The cornerstone of Mount Hebron’s lodge hall bears the date 1947. Did the two lodges share a building? Did they really build lodge halls simultaneously? Can any lodge members shed any light on this?)