World War II

The obituary of Charles B. Lassiter, A. & T. grad and Army veteran.

Wilson Daily Times, 9 March 1946.

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Charles Bryant Lassiter registered for the World War II draft in Richmond, Virginia, in 1940. Per his registration card, he was born 8 November 1917 in Smithfield, North Carolina; resided at 303 East Clay Street, Richmond; his contact was mother Mamie Lassiter, 710 Viola Street, Wilson; and he worked at the Hotel John Marshall in Richmond.

Charles B. Lassiter died 8 March 1946 at the Veterans Administration hospital in Kecoughtan, Virginia. Per his death certificate, he was born 8 November 1917 to John M. Lassiter and Mamie Sanders; lived at 710 East Viola Street, Wilson; was single; was a World War II veteran; and worked as an insurance agent.

“You people have the chance to make more.”

Wilson Daily Times, 12 September 1944.

Wartime “work or fight” ordinances required Black men found “unfit” for military duty to work for whomever was offering jobs at whatever the wages. Those who refused or, as here, left low-paying jobs to seek higher-paying work, could be arrested as “vagrants” and sentenced to “the roads,” i.e. hard labor doing road repair.

In September 1944, six men were sentenced under the law:

  • Charlie Roberson
  • Willie Lucas

Perhaps, in 1944, Willie Lucas registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County.

  • Julius Finch

In 1942, Julius Finch registered for the World War II draft in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

  • Eddie McCoy 

In the 1940 census 0f Wilson township, Wilson County: Eddie McCoy, 23, farmer; wife Evella, 21; and children Devella, 2, and Jimmie, 1.

McCoy registered for the World War II draft in 1940.

  • Lem Davis 

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Georgia-born Lem Davis, 53, fertilizer plant laborer; wife Mary, 33; and son Jasper, 6, born in Tennessee; plus sister-in-law Annie Allen, 24, tobacco factory laborer, and her children Hilda, 7, Mildred, 6, Helen, 4, and Willie, 1.

Davis was a World War I veteran.

  • Lee Walker

In the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farm laborer John Farmer, 36, and wife Cora, 35; stepson Lee Walker, 24; stepdaughter Rosa M. Farmer, 8; granddaughter Cora L. Mitchell, 6; and lodger Pauline Currie, 22.

Walker registered for the World War II draft in 1940.

The passing of John Clarence Artis, age 100.

John Clarence Artis, 16 October 1922-13 June 2023.

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John Clarence Artis was born 16 October 1922 in Wilson County to John Columbus Artis and Nancy Pearsall [Pender?]

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1113 Queen Street, widow Mary Pender, 45, laundress; daughter Nancy Artist, 23, laundress; grandsons John C., 7, and Willie, 5; son William H. Pender, 25, auto mechanic at garage; and lodger Maggie Edwards, 21, cook.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farmer Simon Pope, 37; wife Nancy, 33; stepson John Artis, 17; lodger David Ward, 16; nephew James Harris, 10; and mother-in-law Mary Jane Pender, 56, widow.

In 1942, John Clarence Artis registered for the World War II draft in Portsmouth, Virginia. Per his registration card, he was born 16 October 1922 in Wilson; he lived at 1029 London Street, Portsmouth; his contact was Mary Pender, 206 Manchester Street, Wilson; and he worked at the Naval Hospital, Portsmouth.

On 19 July 1957, John C. Artis Jr., 34, of 641 Cemetery Street, Wilson, son of John C. Artis and Nancy Pender Artis, married Margie Dunston, 26, of Lucama, daughter of Aaron and Lenatha Thompson, in Wilson.

Photo courtesy of http://www.carronsfuneralhome.com.

Fitch reelected commander of Henry Ellis Post 17.

Wilson Daily Times, 10 June 1949.

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  • Milton F. Fitch Sr. 

In the 1930 census of New Haven, Connecticut: at 67 Charles Street, mail carrier Collins Fitch, 47; wife Lulu, 45; and children Collins, 25, theatre porter, William, 19, drugstore porter, Harrison, 17, Leroy, 15, George, 12, Milton, 9, Jerome, 7, and Althea, 4.

In the 1940 census of New Haven, Connecticut: Collins Fitch, 56; wife Lula, 54; and children Harrison, 35, club janitor, Leroy, 23, insurance company messenger, George, 21, ring boxer, Milton, 19, new worker, Jerome, 17, janitor in retail clothing store, and Althea, 14.

In 1941, Milton Frederick Fitch registered for the World War II draft in New Haven. Connecticut. Per his registration card, he was born 25 June 1920 in New Haven; lived at 183 Dixwell Avenue, New Haven; his contact was Mrs. Collins L. Fitch; and he worked as a porter at the Winchester Club House, New Haven. 

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 516 Lodge, letter carrier Milton Fitch, 30; wife Cora, 31; children Jerome, 7, Milton, 3, Patricia, 2, and Ernestine and Christine, born the previous December; father-in-law Walter Whitted, 58; and mother-in-law Helen Whitted, 56, 6th grade school teacher. 

Priv. Telfor to be discharged from the Army.

Wilson Daily Times, 15 June 1946.

In the 1940 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: widow Carrie Telfor, 56, and grandchildren Gretude, 26, William, 21, Winfield, 19, Fredrick, 3, Lenwood, 7, and Joyce, 5. [Despite the census designation, it appears that the first three were Carrie’s children, and the latter her grandchildren.]

In 1942, Winfield Telfor registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Carrie Telfare, 50 (described as separated); son Winfield, 25, sawmill hand; daughter Susie Bullock, 23, and son-in-law Edd Bullock, 25.

Winfield Telfor died in Greenville, North Carolina, in 22 June 2001.

The obituary of Pfc. James F. Ward.

Wilson Daily Times, 9 February 1949.

Pfc. James F. Ward died while on active duty in the Pacific in October 1945. Three-and-a-half years later, his body was brought home for burial in Bethel A.M.E. Zion’s cemetery just south of Stantonsburg.

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In the 1930 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Frank Ward, 46, lumber piler at lumber factory; wife Pearl, 40, washerwoman; and children Viola and Virginia, 14, James F., 10, Mandy, 8, and Tom P., 4.

In the 1940 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Frank Ward, 56, sawmill laborer; wife Dora, 39, washerwoman; and children Virginia, 24, James F., 10, Amanda, 18, Thomas P., 15, Arleine, 4, and Leaonia, 1.