Bombing & Explosions in Craven County, North Carolina (Fear & Intimidation)

     I posted an article (below) of a bombing that occurred at a church in Vanceboro, NC.  My ancestors and family have resided in New Bern, NC which is 21 miles away from Vanceboro, but both cities are in the boundaries of Craven County.  

Seattle Daily Times November 1, 1965

     A regular reader of my Blog raised the questions: What relevance does this have to your family research and What family of yours was left in New Bern in 1965?  They also felt I was putting out information that was negative and that it seemed as though I am showing a division between the races by not going in further detail.

     My great grandfather Ambrose Cully migrated to Worcester, MA from North Carolina in the late 1880’s, Leaving siblings, parents and many cousins with other surnames. Some resided in other areas of Craven County and at least by 1930 there were no direct line Cully’s on record based on my knowledge residing in New Bern, NC  except for some Willoughby, Carter, Whittington, Godette, Collins, Foreman relatives.

     Regardless of geographical isolation or non-isolation of Havelock, Harlowe, and Carteret, North Carolina our families were affected by the racism and acts of violence that had occurred throughout the state and states.  (Do I need to prove this in order to say that this has any historical meaning to my family?)  Well, much of my family originated and/or lived in North Carolina and still do and they lived in the times of the race struggles, so I say no I don’t have to prove, and yes it most definitely is relative to my ancestors and those still living in those days.  Apparently it was news worthy to be published in a Seattle Newspaper.   The civil rights movement and the things that occurred during this time were not isolated in just a few areas of the South.  This type of fear and intimidation tactics occurred throughout the U.S. So I say again, yes, racism and discrimination did affect my families.

     As a family historian, I believe that it is not only important to know the local history of our ancestors but also to look at other County, City, State and National News that might have relevance to their lives.  When I do my posts, I may not go into great detail as to how the information relates my family, as sometimes in research I may just take note and use the info in a greater context at a later date.

     The article below is one that occurred in New Bern before the bombing of the church in the above article. So, without doing any other research happening in North Carolina, I believe that the *Negro population as a whole were living in the shadow of intimidation and fear.  These bombings most likely were racially motivated.

Seattle Daily Times January 25, 1965

 Then looking through Ancestry online newspapers I find in the Tucson Daily Citizen reporting the same incident with more detail and other bombings in the South

Tucson Daily Citizen January 25, 1965 Courtesy of Ancestry.com

    History is History, be it tragic or triumphant. We all know that racism in America was present and it was blatant. I am not one to be in denial, and I know that the *Negro in America had many advocates of the European Race. This was a struggle for all freedoms and for all of us to live equally with equal access to quality education, housing, medical care, and live with the pursuit of happiness.  “We cannot be free until They are free.” The Fire Next Time-James Baldwin

     All of this is relative to me as my Uncle was a National CORE Vice President and trained those going to the South as Freedom Riders.  My father served as President of the NAACP, San Diego Branch, and was a Social Activist during the Civil Rights Movement.  When my father served the NAACP, he received calls threatening his life and of his family.  “May we live through the struggle, and may we all be triumphant.” ~ypm

*We were Negroes in the 60’s.

***Update My Cousin Michaud Robinson informed me that the founders of oscar’s mortuary were Oscar and Grace Becton Dove and not Oscar Godette as was stated in the newspaper articles.  Also Michaud informed me that Oscar is a distant cousin of his. (Thank you Michaud for the info!)


     The history of the Mortuary on the website:  Oscars Mortuary Website

Oscar’s Mortuary, Inc. was founded January 16, 1960 by Oscar Roosevelt Dove and wife, Grace Becton Dove. They founded and operated the business to provide quality service in the field of funeral service to the families served. In the early 60’s Oscar’s involvement in the Civil Rights movement resulted in the Mortuary being targeted by the Klu Klux Klan; crosses were burned and the building was bombed.

His death in 1975 and the Grace’s death in 2010 will not stop their work for it lives on in their children and grandchildren who have followed in their footsteps. The staff has been active in Civil Rights, Voting Drives, Mental Health Association, Senior Citizens Programs, Craven County Hospice, Craven County Planning and Zoning Board, Craven County Outreach Organization, YMCA Board, Chamber of Commerce, Cancer Fundraising Drives, MS Bike Tour and Planning Committee, Habitat for Humanity Board, Meals on Wheels, RCS Board, and hold memberships in the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Neuse-Pamlico Sound Women’s Coalition, Inc., the Funeral Directors and Morticians Association of North Carolina, Inc. and North Carolina Funeral Directors Association, NAACP, Knights of Columbus, Jazz Preservation Society of New Bern, George B. Willis Masonic Lodge, and Zeno Temple Elks Lodge.

Sympathy Saturday: In Loving Memory of Zara Frances (Cully) Brown

Zara Frances Cully (Copyright Protected, Not to be used without permission)

I was asked recently if I had a younger picture of Zara Cully Brown.  So I have decided to post a few of her pictures.  I am pretty sure Zara’s Great Grandson has some pictures of her, and will make a request and post at a later date.

Zara F. Cully was my Grandmother’s, Agnes Cully Peters oldest sister.  Aunt Zara was born February 26, 1892 in Worcester, Massachusetts.  Her parents were Nora Ann Gilliam and Ambrose E. Cully, who were born and raised in New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina, and in 1890 relocated to Worcester, MA.  Zara’s mother gave birth to numerous children.  The number has been told through the years to be about 21 children, but as of date, I am only able to document twelve, as some of her children died in childbirth, through miscarriage or at a very young age.  Aunt Zara died February 28, 1978.

Aunt Zara and my Aunt Hannah both married a set of  Brown brothers.  Zara married James M. Brown, Sr (Daddy J) and with their union they had four children, and one died in childbirth.  Their children were: James M., Jr., Mary Gale (Polly), and Emerson, whom are all deceased.

Here are the other two Photo’s in my Collection:

Aunt Zara’s Press Photo Copyright Protected, Not to be used without permission.

Aunt Zara with my Dad’s mother Helen (Bunn) Porter Thompson in my parent’s living room. Copyright Protected, Not to used without permission.

I remember Aunt Zara very well, even though I was ten years old when she died.  I remember how my mom would get excited when she would call us on the phone. My mother would put me on the phone to talk to her, and Aunt Zara would always ask me how I was doing in school, and if I was enjoying my extra-curricular activities.  She would let me go after she told me she loved me.

I attended Aunt Zara’s funeral, (I was 10yrs old) and I was amazed by the many people that came to her funeral.  The cast from the “Jefferson’s” were in attendance, and I had the opportunity to meet them during the Repast.  My favorite cast member at that time was Harry Bentley (Paul Benedict).  He kept me and all my little cousins running around laughing.

I will always remember my Aunt Zara as a wonderful woman.  She was very kind to me and our family.  Let me tell you one thing that might be a little trivia…My Aunt Zara on the “Jefferson’s” loved Bloody-Mary’s….Well in real life she really did!  That was her drink of choice!  So, I know that Zara has her Bloody-Mary in heaven while my mother is drinking her Martini’s.