Woodard

Figuring this family tree thing out.

Lane Street Project has enriched my life in many ways, among them introduction to wonderful people I would not otherwise have gotten to know. Portia Newman is one. Though we are both graduates of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and, it turns out, both among the unnumbered thousands of Adam T. Artis‘ descendants, more than two decades separate our paths through Wilson. Nonetheless, we share an unshakeable sense of family and place and a deep commitment to paying forward our gratitude for both. I was not surprised, then, to see this morning that Portia was giving us gifts on her birthday.

Here, in four parts and a dope video, are Portia Newman’s reflections on the importance of documenting family history and her plan for doing so. All of us can be, must be, preservationists. Save your stories.

And, here, listen to Portia’s grandfather, Donald Lee Woodard Sr. talk about his life in the Red Hill area near Stantonsburg. “You just got to live your life. By being 98*, I have seen a lot and been through a lot.” (Be sure to watch to the very end!)

Happy birthday, Portia!

Rest in peace, Willie Woodard Sr.

Willie Woodard Sr. celebrated his 100th birthday in September surrounded by generations of family and friends. This past Saturday, after a brief illness, he passed from labor to reward. As his son Eric Woodard shared, “He was active and vibrant for most of his 100 years of life. He cared deeply for family and friends, and he was full of good humor and had a surprisingly quick wit. He loved singing songs of praise and worship to the Lord, playing his guitar and harmonica, and most of all, praying for and sharing his faith with others.”

Rest in perfect peace, Mr. Woodard. My deepest condolences to all he loved.

Photographs courtesy of Eric M. Woodard.

The obituary of Fred Woodard.

Wilson Daily Times, 18 November 1950.

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On 29 September 1934, Fred Woodard, 45, of Wilson, son of Bettie Woodard, married Lucy Bynum, 27, of Wilson, daughter of Cooper and Willie Ann Bynum, in Wilson. Rev. M.T. Lewis performed the ceremony.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 111 East Street, Fred Woodard, 46, and wife Lucy, 33, both tobacco warehouse laborers.

Isaac Woodard of Smithfield, North Carolina.

The Johnsenior (1926), yearbook of Johnston County Training School, Smithfield, N.C.

Undertaker Isaac Woodard of Smithfield, Johnston County, N.C., was a Wilson County native.

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In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm laborer Isaac Woodard, 32; wife Anner, 26; and children Fannie, 12, Nellie, 10, James, 9, Frank, 6, Isaac, 3, and Sis, 1.

In the 1900 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Frank Farmer, 22; wife Fannie, 23; son John H., 4; nephew George, 18; and boarder Isaac Woodard, 20.

In the  1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: house mover John Boykin, 50; wife Dicy, 44, cooking; and children Sallie, 19, cooking, James, 18, day laborer, Dotia, 14, Susia, 14, Lillie, 10, and Eliza, 7.

On 26 November 1905, Isaac Woodard, 23, of Wilson, son of Isaac and Susan Woodard (he, living in Arkansas), married Sudie Boykin, 19, of Wilson, daughter of Jno. and Eliza Boykin, in Wilson township, Wilson County. Missionary Baptist minister W.H. Woodard performed the ceremony in the presence of C.L. Darden, Thomas Barnes, and J.J. Langley.

In the 1908 Rocky Mount, NC., city directory: Woodard Isaac (c) blksmith h 907 Beal

In the 1910 census of Rocky Mount, Nash County, N.C.: Isaac Woodard, 25; wife Sudie, 24; children Pauline, 3, and Russell, 18 months; and grandmother Edith Woodard, 65.

In 1918, Isaac Woodard registered for the World War I draft in Johnston County. Per his registration card, he was born 4 July 1882; lived on Market in Smithfield; worked for himself as a horseshoer and undertaker; and his contact was Sudie Woodard.

In the 1920 census of Smithfield, Johnston County: blacksmith Isaac Woodard, 35; wife Sudie, 33; and children Pauline, 13, and Russell, 11; and grandmother Edith Woodard, 83.

Edith Woodard died 16 October 1920 in Smithfield, Johnston County. Per her death certificate, she was 86 years old; was born in Wilson to Ester (no surname given); was a widow; and was buried in Wilson County by Isaac Woodard. Sudie Woodard was informant.

In 1926, Russell Woodard was one of four boys in the Johnston County Training School’s junior class. From the The Johnsenior.

In the 1930 census of Smithfield, Johnston County: on Market Street, Isic Woodard, 43, undertaker; wife Sudie, 40, public school teacher; children Pauline, 23, Russell, 21, Isic Jr., 4, and Hattie, 11 (adopted); and boarder St. Julian Walker, 25, high school teacher.

In the 1940 census of Smithfield, Johnston County: funeral director/undertaker Isaac W. Woodard, 48; wife Suda, 46, public school teacher; and son Isaac Jr., 14.

In 1943, Isaac Woodard Jr. registered for the World War II draft in Smithfield, Johnston County. Per his registration card, he was born 15 November 1925 in Smithfield; lived at 811 East Market Street; his contact was Isaac Woodard Sr.; and he was a student at A.&T.

The Washington Star, 19 November 1978.

The incorporation of the Eureka Social Club.

29184
(Non-Stock)
Certificate of Incorporation
of
The Eureka Social Club, Incorporated

This is to Certify that we, the undersigned, do hereby associate ourselves into a non-stock corporation under and by virtue of the laws of the State of North Carolina as contained in Chapter 22 of the Consolidated Statutes, entitled “Corporations,” and the several amendments thereto, and to that end do hereby set forth:

1. The name of this Corporation is the Eureka Social Club, Incorporated.

2. The location of the principal office of the corporation in this state is at No. 417 East Nash Street, in the Town of Wilson, County of Wilson.

3. The objects for which this corporation is formed are as follows:

(a) To conduct and maintain a social club for the amusement and recreation of its members, to promote social intercourse among the members of the Eureka Social Club, Incorporated, and to provide rooms in which they can meet for recreation, amusement and social intercourse.

And in order properly to prosecute the objects and purposes above set forth, the Corporation shall have full power and authority to purchase, lease and otherwise acquire, hold, mortgage, convey and otherwise dispose of all kinds of property, both real and personal, located both in the state and in all other states, territories and dependencies of the United States, and generally to perform all acts which may be deemed necessary for the proper and successful prosecution of the objects and purposes for which the Corporation is created.

4. The Corporation is to have no capital stock.

5. The names and post office addresses of the incorporators are as follows:

O.N. Freeman — Wilson, N.C.
Charlie Woodard — Wilson, N.C.
Harry Brown — Wilson, N.C.

6. The period of existence of this corporation is limited to sixty years.

7. Members may be admitted after organization under the following terms: By ballot of the Board of Governors as set forth in the by-laws, and by paying an initiation fee prescribed by the by-laws.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and affixed our seals, this the 25 day of February, A.D. 1927.

O.N. Freeman (Seal)
Chas. Woodard (Seal)
Harry Brown (Seal)

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Eureka Social Club shared an address, 417 East Nash Street, with Lincoln Theatre and presumably rented space upstairs.

On 28 November 1908, Charlie Woodard, 22, son of Phoebe Woodard, married Georgia Clayton, 19, daughter of Sarah Clayton, at Sarah Clayton’s in Wilson. Baptist minister Fred M. Davis performed the ceremony in the presence of Luther Barbour, L.A. Moore, and James Taylor.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 528 Nash Street, May Akin, 40; Delma Branch, 24, dressmaker; Charlie Branch, 25, laborer; Mildred, 10, Helen, 7, Jessie L., 4, and Harry Branch, 2; laborer Charlie Woodard, 34; wife Georgia, 28; and sons Herbert, 4, and Charles Jr., 1; and laborers John Barnes, 22, Dave Barnes, 20, and Harry Carter, 34.

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Woodard Chas (c; Georgia) barber 421 E Nash h 1000 Lincoln

  • Harry Brown

In the 1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Brown Harry (c; meatctr) h 132 Suggs

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Harry Brown, 35, and wife Mary, 22, both laborers.

On 26 July 1913, Harry Brown, 32, of Wilson, son of Jim and Viana Brown, married Loucina Spence, 20, of Wilson, daughter of John and Nancy Spence, at John Spence’s home in Wilson. Free Will Baptist minister B.F. Loftin performed the ceremony in the presence of E.F. Killette, T.S. Smith, and John Spence.

In 1917, William Harrison Brown registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 25 September 1888 in Summerton, South Carolina; lived at 413 Stantonsburg, Wilson; and worked as a painter.

Corporations Book 3, page 171, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.

Happy 100th birthday, Willie Woodard!

Willie Woodard celebrating with family and friends!

Black Wide-Awake honors Willie Woodard on his 100th birthday and wishes him so many more!

Mr. Woodard has deep Wilson County roots, tracing his paternal lineage to an enslaved woman named Priscilla Woodard born about 1795. Priscilla Woodard’s son James Woodard married Caroline Farmer about 1861. The couple registered their cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace in 1866, and their six children included Mintus Woodard, born about 1867. Mintus Woodard married Sarah Hayes on Christmas Eve 1901, and Mintus Woodard Jr. was second among their 13 children. Mintus Woodard Jr. married Mary Lillie Ward in 1922, and Willie Woodard arrived 21 September 1925.

Photo courtesy of Eric Woodard.

Signal Boost: South Benbow Road Historic District celebration.

Kudos to Wilson County’s own Eric Woodard, winner of Greensboro History Museum’s 2024 Voices of a City Award, for his vision and drive to garner recognition of Greensboro, North Carolina’s South Benbow Road neighborhood as a National Historic District. The district is significant for its Mid-Century Modern architecture, many designed by architects trained at NC A&T State University and as the home of leaders of and participants in Greensboro’s Civil Rights Movement. South Benbow Road District will be Greensboro’s first historically African American neighborhood to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Join Woodard and others celebrating this milestone on February 15 in Greensboro!

London Woodard’s bed.

Elder London Woodard‘s estate file contains this glimpse of the creature comforts he enjoyed, however briefly. On 4 October 1870, just over a month before he died, Woodard bought an eight-dollar mattress from R.R. Cotten & Company. He paid five dollars cash on November 5, and his executor paid off the bill the following January.

Wilson, North Carolina, Probate Estate Files 1854-1959, http://www.familysearch.org.

Happy 97th birthday, Donald Lee Woodard Sr.!

Today we celebrate the 97th birthday of Donald Lee Woodard Sr.!

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In the 1930 census of Eureka township, Wayne County: farm laborer Marcelius Woodard, 36; wide Adlonia, 26, farm laborer; sons Andrew, 6, Roscoe, 5, Donie L., 3, and Kelvin [Calvin], 1; and boarders Leslie Malone, 30, farm laborer, and Nannie Hastings, 48.

In the 1940 census of Faison township, Duplin County, N.C.: farmer Marcellus Woodard, 46; wife Adlonia, 35; and children Andrew 17, Rosker, 15, Donie, 13, Calvin, 11, Rosevelt, 9, Mary, 7, Margree, 4, and Jessie James, 5 months.

In 1944, Donald Lee Woodard registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County.

On 28 December 1949, Donald Lee Woodard, 22, of Walstonsburg, married Hazel Artis, 20, of Stantonsburg in Wilson, Wilson County.

In the 1950 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: hired farm laborer Clinton Artis, 50; wife Mattie, 45; children Charles E., 19, lumber company laborer, Appie Louise, 17, cook, Constance B., 15, maid, William H., 13, Cleveland O., 10, Harley M., 7, Douglas, 5, Lois Jean, 3, and Carolyn E., 2; daughter Mary Hazel Woodard, 21; son-in-law Donald Woodard, 23, lumber company employee; and granddaughter Brenda Joyce Woodard, 1.

Many thanks to Portia Newman for sharing this joyful photo of her grandfather. We wish him so many more fantastic birthdays!

Brooks School scholars.

This priceless photograph depicts the students of Black Creek township’s Brooks School in 1914. Ada Harris Sharpe Reid stands second from left on the front row. Teacher Louvenia Woodard clutches a large book or ledger at right.

Photo courtesy of Ada H. Reid via George K. Butterfield Jr.