by Jada Gaskins

Clarence Ruffus Felton was born January 16, 1893 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Rosie and John Felton. He attended public schools as his education.

When he registered for the draft in June 1917, Clarence Felton lived in Newbury, West Virginia and worked as a rail road truck laborer for the B&O Railroad Company, Cumberland division. Before he enlisted, he lived at 832 Landing Street in Norfolk and worked as a cook at Porter Brothers. He enlisted on September 20, 1918. He was not a citizen and could not vote at this time, but Clarence was a Baptist.
 
Clarence wrote that he enlisted  “To fight for my country and to keep away the enemy from this country 
and to keep them from harming any of my people” as his reasoning for serving his country. He served as part of the 155 Brigade artillery. He was discharged from the army on January 14, 1919.

Felton married Emily F. Winston of Blackwater, Virginia on December 20, 1925. The couple lived at 914 Lancaster Street in Norfolk. Clarence was working as a Load Carrier at the Grana Factory and Emily worked as a potato fryer at the potato chip factory in 1930. Clarence was murdered October 26, 1933 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is buried at Philadelphia National Cemetery. Emily Felton died March 26, 1984 and is buried at Riverside Memorial Park, Norfolk.

Sources 
Clarence R Felton (1893-1933) – find a grave… Find a Grave. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2022, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/2541326/clarence-r-felton 

“Find A Grave Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV2S-YMCN : 10 August 2022), Emily W Felton, ; Burial, Norfolk, Norfolk City, Virginia, United States of America, Riverside Memorial Park; citing record ID 53828491, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

“United States Census, 1930,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CHLZ-WMM : accessed 12 December 2022), Emily Felton in household of Clarence Felton, Norfolk, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 2, sheet 25A, line 45, family , NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2469; FHL microfilm 2,342,203.

“United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940,” database, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPJL-L4FT : 3 September 2021), Clarence Ruffus Felton, 14 Jan 1919; citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985), various roll numbers.

“United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918”, database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8Q7-5SM : 24 December 2021), Clarence Felton, 1917-1918.

“Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940”, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRM2-CNK : 29 January 2020), Clarence R. Felton, 1925.

World War I History Commission questionnaires. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2022, from http://image.lva.virginia.gov/WWI/pages/045/0074.html 

by Brian Moreno

Eddie O. Folk was born on June 21st, 1894, in Nansemond, VA to James and Laura Folk were both from the same town of Buckhorn, VA, and moved to Nansemond County upon the birth of their son. Eddie Folk had 3 siblings and the family lived with his grandparents. However, Mr. Folk was raised Baptist. Folk spent most of his life as a member of First Baptist church, where he was a church usher for 40 years.

At the age of 24, Mr. Folk enlisted in the United States Navy Reserves and left his life as a janitor. He enlisted in Norfolk, VA on May 3rd, 1918, in the area of the aviation section of the Naval Reserves. His first assignment was at Hampton Naval Air Station in the state of VA. Folk retired from the naval shipyard after 32 years of service.

Once ending his naval career as an employee at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Eddie Folk received an honorable retirement from officials of the yard. The certificate was awarded from Captain V. A. Powell (USN. Ret.). Upon retiring from the shipyards, Mr. Folk also received a citation from Rear Admiral George Holderness, who conveyed a sense of disappointment to lose such a good and hardworking employee. Eddie Folk did not go to combat because he serves most of his time in the Naval shipyard as a reserve member. Folk married Julia Dodson on June 16, 1926, and they had a daughter named Doreatha in 1930. The family lived at 223 St. Julian Ave., Norfolk. Doreathea married Stewart Alston in 1954.

Folk died on February 28, 1962 of a coronary thrombosis and was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Norfolk.

Sources:

“Church usher 40 years: Funeral for eddie folk will be held on sunday.” (1962, Mar 03). New Journal and Guide (1916-) Retrieved fromhttp://0-search.proquest.com.library.nsu.edu/historical-newspapers/church-usher-40-years/docview/568664325/se-2

“Eddie Folk retires from shipyard after 32 years.” (1957, Jul 20). New Journal and Guide (1916-) Retrieved fromhttp://0-search.proquest.com.library.nsu.edu/historical-newspapers/eddie-folk-retires-shipyard-after-32-years/docview/568542022/se-2

“United States Census, 1900”, database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMNJ-LKM : 11 March 2022), Eddie Faulk in entry for Henry Faulk, 1900.

“United States Census, 1930,” database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CCMB-76Z : accessed 12 December 2022), Eddie Folk, Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 72, sheet 14A, line 2, family 241, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2471; FHL microfilm 2,342,205.

United States Census, 1940 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VTMW-H3Z

“United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940,” database, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPRH-PQX6 : 3 September 2021), Eddie C Folk, 11 Jun 1919; citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985), various roll numbers.

“Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917”, database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HN4S-J1PZ : 28 January 2020), Eddie Faulk, 1894.

“Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987,” database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVRZ-KDQQ : 16 August 2019), Eddie Oscar Folk, 26 Feb 1962; from “Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850,” database and images, Ancestry(http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia, United States, entry #, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.

“Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940”, database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRM2-VH5 : 29 January 2020), Eddie O. Folk, 1926.

“Virginia, Marriage Certificates, 1936-1988,” database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK9J-23JT : 20 February 2021), Eddie Oscar Folk in entry for Stewart Howard Alston and Doreatha Gladys Folk, 29 Aug 1954; from “Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850,” database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing Norfolk, , Virginia, United States, certificate 21424, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.

by Ariah Edwards

Ewin Martin was born August 17, 1896 in Tullahoma, Tennessee. He lived with his parents, William and Mary Martin, and his nine siblings. Before he joined the military, he worked as a restaurant waiter for the Country club on the Lafayette River in Norfolk. He lived at 310 Cumberland Street, Norfolk.

At the age of 21, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was trained at the Hampton Institute in Hampton, Virginia. He was then transferred to Camp Jackson. At this point, he was a private. When asked about his feelings about the military, he said that it was something that he had been longing for since he was a kid. He also talked about how camp experiences have affected him mentally and physically.

After the war he was discharged from the military, on January 1918 as a private and returned to his civil life as a waiter. He moved a few blocks down Cumberland Street to number 516. He may have returned to Tennessee by 1925 and married Lizzie Shaw on October 7 or 8, 1925.

Sources:

“Martin, Erwin.” Virginia War History Commission, World War I History Commission questionnaires, Library of Virginia. Available online: https://lva.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01LVA_INST/altrmk/alma990006685250205756

“Tennessee Marriages, 1796-1950”, database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X8T5-XHS : 16 March 2020), Ewin Martin, 1925.

“United States Census, 1900”, database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MS8S-BFD : 10 March 2022), Ewin Martin in entry for William Martin, 1900.

“United States Census, 1910,” database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGND-SNN : accessed 12 December 2022), Ewin Martin in household of Will Martin, Tullahoma, Coffee, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 49, sheet 2B, family 36, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1494; FHL microfilm 1,375,507.

“United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940,” database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:W9YC-TQ2M : 23 October 2019), Ewin Martin, ; citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985), various roll numbers.

“United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918”, database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6ZQ-R3R : 23 December 2021), Ewin Martin, 1917-1918.

by Candyce Croom

In the year 1882, Charlie Miller and an unconfirmed mother gave birth to Arthur Everett. In South Mill, North Carolina, he was born as an African American male. Arthur Everett was a Baptist.

On June 19, 1910, he wed Lena. The couple had a son named Clarence Everett and a daughter named Minford Everett. Minford Everett was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on September 15, 1918, and Clarence Everett was born there on March 25, 1917. Before joining the U.S. Naval Reserve, Arthur Everett worked as a cook for Southern Transportation.

On May 1, 1917, in Norfolk, Virginia, at the age of 35, he enlisted in the US Naval Reserve. He was the class 1 cook for the ship. He served from May 1, 1917, to April 4, 1918, aboard the USS Montgomery. He subsequently served from April 4, 1918, through November 11, 1918, aboard the USS Merrick. He was later transferred to the US Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia. To continue working as a cook. On June 18, 1919, the United States Naval Reserve released Arthur Everett as a U.S Naval reserve force class 3. After the war, he and his family lived at 1518 Lesner Court, Norfolk.

After being released, he went back to working as a first-class ship’s cook.Unfortunately, it is not known when Arthur Everett passed away. And his final resting location is also unknown.

Sources:

“North Carolina, World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919,” database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2H2-JPNN : 11 March 2018), Arthur Everett; citing 01 May 1917, Norfolk, Virginia, United States, The North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh; FamilySearch digital folder 004321107.

https://lva.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01LVA_INST/altrmk/alma990006684030205756

https://lva.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01LVA_INST/altrmk/alma990006684030205756

by Brandi Turner

Connie Fowler was born May 9, 1893, in Greenville, SC, to parents George Fowler and Anna Magby. He was the brother of Elliot Fowler Poole, Amanda Sherley, and Missouri Perry. Prior to his military service, Connie Fowler lived at 529 Nixon St, Norfolk, VA where he worked as a laborer at the National Oil Company. 

On June 21, 1918, Connie Fowler was drafted in the United States Army. He enlisted with a military occupation specialty in Field Artillery at the rank of Private. Shortly after, he left for basic training to join the Depot Brigade at Camp Jackson, South Carolina. There he trained for two months before he was deployed to Europe to help in the fight of WWI. Once in Europe, he first went into action on October 20, 1918, at the Western Front. During this time, he supplied ammunition for the company he was assigned to. According to the records, Connie Fowler enjoyed his time in the military and thought his time overseas helped him grow closer to God. In February 1919, just after the war, Connie Fowler was transferred back to the United States to New York City.

After being released from the military on March 6, 1919, he went back to work as a laborer in Virginia. Several months after his return from war, Connie Fowler married Marie Cherry on July 23, 1919, in Washington, Beaufort, North Carolina. They had one daughter together, named Oleithia Terie Fowler on February 23, 1920. Records indicate at some point Marie Cherry passed away leaving Connie Fowler as a widower. In November 1937, Connie Fowler remarried to Blanche Virginia Miller Whitehurst in Newport News, Virginia. Blanche had five children prior to their marriage, Elise Smith, and Fannie, David, Anthony, William Whitehurst. The couple also had two children of their own, Georgia Bailey and Arlethia Green. Connie Fowler resided in Atlantic City prior to his death on August 16, 1950. After his passing he was buried at the Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery in Mays Landing, Atlantic, New Jersey.

Sources:

SUFFOLK NEWS…: Suffolk Girl Marries North Carolina Veteran

New Journal and Guide (1916-); Norfolk, Va. [Norfolk, Va]. 02 Sep 1950: D13.

Family Search

“North Carolina Marriages, 1759-1979”, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8QP-CYD : 14 February 2020), Connie Fowler, 1919.

“Find A Grave Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV24-5S2R : 4 June 2020), Connie Fowler, 1950; Burial, , ; citing record ID , Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

“Find A Grave Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV24-5S2R : 4 June 2020), Connie Fowler, 1950; Burial, , ; citing record ID , Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

“Virginia, Marriage Certificates, 1936-1988,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK9F-DRSR : 20 February 2021), George Fowler in entry for Connie Fowler and Blanche Virginia Miller Whitehurst, 01 Jan 1939; from “Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850,” database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing Norfolk, , Virginia, United States, certificate 30063, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.

“Find A Grave Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV24-5S2R : 4 June 2020), Connie Fowler, 1950; Burial, , ; citing record ID , Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

“North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ,” database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLM9-VM8Y : 21 July 2021), Connie Fowler and Marie Cherry, 23 Jul 1919; citing Washington, Beaufort, North Carolina, United States, p. , North Carolina State Archives Division of Archives and History; FHL microfilm .

“North Carolina, Center for Health Statistics, Vital Records Unit, County Birth Records, 1913-1922”, database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:8YLK-6KPZ : 27 August 2020), Connie Fowler in entry for Olethia Terie Fowler, 1920.

ARCHIVAL MATERIAL

Fowler, Connie.

Virginia War History Commission.

http://image.lva.virginia.gov/WWI/pages/045/0080.html

Census

by Ayanna Smith

James Arthur Forrest was born on August 27th, 1893 to Ida Ganer and Robert Forest in Gold Point, Martin County, North Carolina. He had no siblings. They attended Baptist church services, and his highest education was in public school. Before he enlisted, he worked as a chauffeur for A. J. Wood & Co.

Forest enlisted in the Army on June 20th, 1918, at Camp Lee, Virginia. His original assignment was 535 engineers service battalion, but he was transferred to Company 45 service battalion. His enlisted bank was private engineers, and when discharged on December 17th, 1918, in Camp Humphrey, Virginia, he was at a private bank. He was awarded a Victory medal for his service. Once discharged, he resumed his profession as a Chauffeur. James married Nellie Jane Perkins on July 20th, 1919, in Princess Anne County, Virginia. They had no children. 

By 1920, James and Nettie Forest rented a room on Wool Street and he was working as a porter for a grocery store. The couple disappears from the historical record after this point.

Sources:

“United States Census, 1920”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJJ7-N2S : 4 February 2021), James Forest, 1920.

“Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, County Marriage Registers, 1853-1935,” database, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DSRW-Q52M : 1 July 2022), James Arthur Forrest, 20 Jul 1919; citing Marriage Registration, Princess Anne, Virginia, United States, Virginia State Library and Archives, Richmond. 

Draft record: “United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918”, database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6ZQ-P7K : 23 December 2021), James Arthur Forrest, 1917-1918. 

“Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, County Marriage Registers, 1853-1935,” database, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DSRW-QR3Z : 1 July 2022), Nellie Jane Perkins in entry for James Arthur Forrest, 20 Jul 1919; citing Marriage Registration, Princess Anne, Virginia, United States, Virginia State Library and Archives, Richmond. 

by Aris Baker

William “Willie” Fulcher was born in North Carolina on November 22^nd, 1884, in a large family of nine siblings. He had five brothers and four sisters and was the oldest child in his family. His parents, Columbus and Fannie Fulcher raised Willie in a non-religious household. Willie Fulcher only had a 4^th grade education and worked on his father’s farm at fifteen years old. By 1910, Willie had moved to Norfolk and was working as a dock laborer and renting a room on Allentown Road.

Willie married his wife, Lula Wilson, on February 18^th, 1912, in Norfolk, Virginia and they had three children, Marie, Naomi, and Lillie (born after the war). When Willie signed up for the draft, he was working as a laborer in a steamship company and he and his wife had two daughters. Before enlisting into the U.S. Navy, Willie worked for the City Water Department of Norfolk, Virginia. The couple also shared their home after the war with Ernest and Mannie Odom and their infant daughter Helen. The couple continued renting out a room in their home on Smith Street to a variety of boarders, and Willie continued working as a plumber for the city. William Fulcher died March 1, 1938 of a cerebral hemorrhage and is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Norfolk.

Sources:

“United States Census, 1900”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSYY-NHK : 25 February 2022), Willie Fulcher in entry for Columbus Fulcher, 1900.

“United States Census, 1910,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPLW-NQK : accessed 29 November 2022), Willie Fulcher in household of Thomas Moore, Norfolk Ward 1, Norfolk (Independent City), Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 20, sheet 4B, family 89, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1637; FHL microfilm 1,375,650.

“United States Census, 1920”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJJW-7K9 : 4 February 2021), William Fulcher, 1920.

“United States Census, 1930,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CH5C-8W2 : accessed 29 November 2022), William Fulcher, Norfolk, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 24, sheet 14B, line 77, family 318, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2470; FHL microfilm 2,342,204.

“United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918”, database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6Z3-178 : 23 December 2021), William Fulcher, 1917-1918.

“Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, County Marriage Registers, 1853-1935,” database, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:847V-RWW2 : 1 July 2022), William Fulcher, 18 Feb 1912; citing Marriage Registration, Norfolk, Virginia, United States, Virginia State Library and Archives, Richmond.

“Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987,” database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVR4-PH93 : 16 August 2019), William Fulcher, 01 Mar 1938; from “Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850,” database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing Norfolk, , Virginia, United States, entry #, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.

by Aris Baker

Edward Augustus Frisby was born on January 17^th, 1884 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His mother, Bessie Blounton from Bacon Castle, VA, and his father, Stephen Frisby from Philadelphia, PA, raised Edward in a non-religious household. He was the youngest of four children and the only son. Edward Frisby attended preparatory school but pursued no further education beyond that. Edward was enlisted in the Navy on September 5^th, 1902, and re-enlisted for WW1. Before re-enlisting, Edward worked as an elevator lift operator and a cook. At some point before 1910, Edward married Annetta Canada. Annetta worked as a servant in a white household in Rhode Island early in their marriage. It wasn’t until November 15^th, 1915, that Edward officially re-enlisted in the U.S. Navy at Fort Monroe. where he was assigned as a Mess Attendant as a Petty Officer 3^rd Class. Edward remained in the U.S. Navy through 1920, when he was stationed on the USS Stockton as a cabin steward. Edward and Annetta had several children, Laura born in 1911, Florence, born in September 1913, Edward Jr., who passed away at 7 months old in 1916, and Annetta C., born in 1917. Annetta and the children lived at 901 Fremont Street while Edward served on the USS Stockton. At some point between 1920 and 1929, Annetta Canada Frisby died and Edward left the Navy.

He married Ella Victoria Brown on February 15^th, 1929, in Portsmouth, Virginia. The couple lived with Edward’s youngest daughter Annetta on Effingham Street, Portsmouth. Edward Augustus Frisby passed away on October 31, 1930 from chronic myocarditis at the Norfolk Naval Hospital and was buried at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Portsmouth, VA.

Sources:

“United States Census, 1900”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M37Z-RNK : 13 January 2022), Edward A Frisby in entry for Stephen Frisby, 1900.

United States Census, 1910,” database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPX3-32L : accessed 29 November 2022), Annette Frisby in household of Francis T Evans, Newport Ward 2, Newport, Rhode Island, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 55, sheet 24A, family 6, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1437; FHL microfilm 1,375,450.

“United States Census, 1930,” database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CC8S-8T2 : accessed 29 November 2022), Edward A Frisby, Portsmouth, Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 12, sheet 10B, line 83, family 296, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2473; FHL microfilm 2,342,207.

“United States Census, 1920”, database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SP8R-P35 : 4 February 2021), Edward A Frisby, 1920.

“United States Census, 1920”, database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJJD-7X7 : 4 February 2021), Annetta Frisby in entry for Annetta Frisby, 1920.

“United States Headstone Applications for U.S. Military Veterans, 1925-1949”, database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VHZC-3FF : 26 April 2021), Edward Agustus Frisby, .

“Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987,” database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVRW-PNH3 : 16 August 2019), Edward Agustus Frisby, 31 Oct 1930; from “Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850,” database and images, Ancestry(http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing Portsmouth, Norfolk, Virginia, United States, entry #, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.

“Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987,” database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVRQ-R523 : 16 August 2019), Edward A Frisby, 29 Feb 1916; from “Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850,” database and images, Ancestry(http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia, United States, entry #, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.

“Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940”, database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XR94-JSB : 29 January 2020), Edward Augustus Frisby, 1929.

“Virginia, Marriage Certificates, 1936-1988,” database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVBY-CKSW : 20 February 2021), Edward Augustus Frisby in entry for Robert Wise and Florence Elizabeth Frisby, 27 Jul 1969; from “Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850,” database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing Norfolk, , Virginia, United States, certificate 69 025045, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.

by Aris Baker

Charlie Frissel Evans was born on July 8^th, 1895, in Gloucester, Virginia. Evans was raised by Rosia and Robert Evans in a Baptist household. He and his sisters, Julia, Frederica and Inez, grew up near his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins in Ware District, Gloucester County, Virginia. His father and uncle were oystermen and his mother worked as a laundress. His grandfather was a farm laborer. Charlie attended school through high school.

Charlie spent much of his adult life in Norfolk, VA, and worked as a waiter for W. H. Gary in Willoughby Beach, Norfolk, Virginia before his entry into service on October 29, 1917, at Camp Lee, VA. He enlisted into the National Army as a Private and was assigned to Delta company in the 511 Engineers Regiment, 80^th Division. Charlie departed from Hoboken, NJ, on the USS Martha Washington and arrived in France on April 4^th, 1918. Charlie saw combat before he reached France and was a participant in battle against a German U-Boat submarine while in transit to France and did not sustain any injuries nor did he have any distinguishing actions during this fight. He was promoted to Private 1^st Class after his engagements on June 15^th, 1918. After serving two years in France, Charlie Evans returned to Newport News on the USS Susquehanna on June 8^th,1919, and just 10 days later, was discharged from the National Army as a Private 1^st Class on June 18^th, 1919. Charlie Evans returned to civilian life as a government laborer and regarded his experience and time of service as “very helpful to me.” Evans married Susie Blackwell Clayborn of Petersburg, Virginia on July 28, 1920.

Sources:

“United States Census, 1900”, database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMNQ-JFN : 11 March 2022), Charles Evans, 1900.

“United States Census, 1910,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPPK-53Y : accessed 29 November 2022), Charles Evans in household of Robert Evans, Ware, Gloucester, Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 49, sheet 6B, family 115, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1629; FHL microfilm 1,375,642.

“United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918”, database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6ZM-228 : 24 December 2021), Charlie Frizzell Evans, 1917-1918.

“Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, County Marriage Registers, 1853-1935,” database, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:83K6-JP2M : 1 July 2022), Charlie P Evans, 28 Jul 1920; citing Marriage Registration, Norfolk, Virginia, United States, Virginia State Library and Archives, Richmond.

John Langston Cheatham was born on January 27, 1895 at Sport Spring, Appomattox, Virginia. His father’s name was Alford Cheatham, and he was born in the United States, as was his mother named Mattie Davenport. He had two older brothers, Manuel and Alfred, and he grew up next door to his maternal grandparents. His parents and grandparents farmed while he and his siblings went to school. The Cheatham family moved to Norfolk between 1900 and 1910, and they lived at 59 Chapel Street, with another single woman and her boarder. He had earned a sixth grade education and worked as an hostler at the U.S. Port Storage Yard before the war.

On July 18, 1918 he was inducted into the service. He was a private in the Quartermaster Corps and was assigned to the 407th Regiment. He served at Camp Lee VA, while there, his eyesight permanently became weakened from the flu. He was discharged only as a private. He didn’t get the opportunity to do much as he didn’t even get a chance to rank up in the military. When asked about his attitude towards military service in general and towards his call in particular he talked about how he was fond of military service. He thought that the United States had to have a good army to back up the country as he felt like they were needed to protect their people. Cheatham seemed to be the kind of person to always keep himself in a good mood no matter what life threw at him.

Cheatham married Buelah Beck on July 3, 1919. The young couple started out living with John’s brother Herman, and John worked at the Navy Yard. Beulah died in 1970. He died November 23, 1979 at Norfolk Medical Center of a cardiopulmonary infarction and other heart disease. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Norfolk.

Experiences in life can either weaken or boost your morals. When asked about the subject of what effects his experiences had on his religious belief, he answered with the belief that it made him stronger towards God. So in the case of John L Cheatham the experiences that he went through caused him to have a stronger faith in god. To me that is nice to see as I hope serving has the same effect on me. Cheatham was a hopeful, Christian man who saw the good in things. Not coming from a lot, he appreciated everything he had. His life was full of setbacks and hard times, but people like Cheatham paved the way for the new generation to hopefully have a better chance at a better life, thanks to their sacrifices.

Sources:

“United States Census, 1900”, database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMFD-KPJ : 22 January 2022), John L Cheatham in entry for Agnes Cheatham, 1900.

“United States Census, 1910,” database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPLW-7CY : accessed 5 May 2022), John L Cheatam in household of Alfred Cheatam, Norfolk Ward 1, Norfolk (Independent City), Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 19, sheet 5A, family 110, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1637; FHL microfilm 1,375,650.

“United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918”, database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7Z43-GLZM : 25 December 2021), John L Cheatham, 1917-1918.

“Spanish Flu.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Apr. 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu.

“1918 Pandemic (H1N1 Virus).” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 Mar. 2019, https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-pandemic-h1n1.html.

“Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, County Marriage Registers, 1853-1935,” database, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:8WJP-HDPZ : 21 January 2022), John L Cheatham, 3 Jul 1919; citing Marriage Registration, Norfolk, Virginia, United States, Virginia State Library and Archives, Richmond.

“United States Census, 1920”, database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJJ7-K7V : 4 February 2021), John Cheaton in entry for Herman Cheaton, 1920.

“Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987,” database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVYG-SZYF : 16 August 2019), John L Cheatham in entry for Buelah Cheatham, 19 Oct 1970; from “Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850,” database and images, Ancestry(http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing Norfolk, , Virginia, United States, entry #, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.

“Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987,” database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVY2-TPPW : 16 August 2019), John Langston Cheatham, 23 Nov 1979; from “Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850,” database and images, Ancestry(http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing Norfolk, , Virginia, United States, entry #, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.