“Preservers of Faison History” includes the many individuals, over the decades, who have made a significant contribution in documenting or preserving the history of Faison and the surrounding area. These individuals, generally, have contributed a significant amount of time and energy in this preservation effort. Contributions have included, but not been limited to the following examples::
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Served on Faison Museum Committee
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Volunteered in support of activities of the Faison Museum
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Contributed in a significant way to assembling and documenting/describing museum “Collections”
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Wrote books on the history of Faison
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Conducted historical and/or genealogical research
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Researched and documented genealogy of Faison area families
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Created photo albums of pictures of Faison and its people
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Created scrap books about Faison and its people
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Preserved memories through paintings, including portraits
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Assembled Collections of papers and other writings
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Assembled historical artifacts
| Period | Name | Picture | Legacy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890-1949 | Williams, Mary Lyde Hicks |  | Artist: Painted more than 500 portraits, including more than 30 portraits of former slaves in depicting plantation life in the Faison area. A Collection of copies of these 30 portraits can be viewed in the museum and on this website. Also, assembled/developed the genealogies of the Faison and Hicks families. |
| 1910-1929 | Witherington, Anne Hicks |  | Historian of the Civil War and churches of the Faison area and genealogist. Spent decades collecting and assembling genealogy files, papers, and photographs of various Faison area families, including Faison, Hicks, Whitterington, and others. |
| 1930-1939 | Hicks, Elizabeth |  | Museum Collections include personal scrap book from the 1930's and created by Elizabeth Hicks., long time resident and school teacher in the Faison High School. Assembled and preserved history of the early schools of Faison. |
| 1940-1949 | Long, Ruth Edgerton | Genealogist of the Clifton, Edgerton, King, and Lavender families. Some of these papers are located at Duke University. | |
| 1950-2009 | Baughan, Lucille |  | Original Member of the Faison Museum Committee Lucille Baughan was the Sesame Club Cookbook Chairperson that organized the creation of a cookbook in 1951 of family favorite recipes from this period. A “Collection” of photographs of the contributing 102 Faison area women were included in the cookbook and in a separate photo album located in the Faison Museum. The actual cookbook, which included the recipes and pictures, is located in the Faison Museum. Both, the cookbook and photo album are available for viewing at FaisonDepot.com. Many grandmothers and great-grandmothers are included in this photo album. |
| 1960-1969 | Williams, Virginius | Attorney, V.F. Williams wrote a paper, titled, "Old Wrote many articles for newspapers about the history of Faison. Confederate Home Containing Vista in History". A presentation and tour and history of the Faison-Williams home in Faison, NC Researched the post masters of Faison Researched the Doctor's of Faison Wrote numerous articles on Faison history. |
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| 1980-1989 | Carter, Fay | Contributed to preparation & publication of Front Porches, Front Parlors | |
| 1980-1999 | Baughn, Lucille |  | Original Member of the Faison Museum Committee Contributed to preparation & publication of Front Porches, Front Parlors |
| 1980-1989 | Decker, Mildred | Contributed to preparation & publication of Front Porches, Front Parlors | |
| 1980-1989 | Nan Fesperman |  | Contributed to preparation & publication of Front Porches, Front Parlors |
| 1980-1989 | Oates, John Martin, Jr. |  | Genealogist and Author did extensive research in court houses and at the State Archives in Raleigh on many families of the Faison area. Published "Roots, Seeds, and Other Things, Vol. I on families of Oates, Cogdell, Barfield, Martin Published "Roots, Seeds, and Other Things, Vol II on families of King, Sutton, Oates. |
| 1980-1989 | Precythe, Harold |  | Business man and owner of Southern Produce Distributors, donated the old Faison Depot Train Station (c1880) to be used for a Library and Museum and moved it to the Faison Park.in 1980. |
| 1980-2009 | Sutton, Joyce Armstrong |  | Original Member of the Faison Museum Committee Wrote "History of the Faison United Methodist Church - 1985" Wrote "Glimpses of History of Faison Area Schools" approx. 1989 Assembled the genealogies of the Armstrong and Jackson families. |
| 1990-1999 | Britt, Helen | Original Member of the Faison Museum Committee | |
| 1990-1999 | Byrd, Tom | Researched records in court houses and other sources of deeds, etc. to identify the original owners of the lands that became the Town of Faison and surrounding area. This information was consolidated into a large "hand drawn" map of approximately 30" X 30" that indicates the lands in the Faison area, and owners during the period 1776. | |
| 1990-1999 | Cates, Ester |  | Original Member of the Faison Museum Committee |
| 1990-1999 | Clifton, Rachel Martin | Original Member of the Faison Museum Committee | |
| 1990-2009 | Faison, Betty Jane |  | Original Member of the Faison Museum Committee. Very active in sharing Faison history in organizing events, such as Betty Ray McCain day, William Thornton day, and "Wanna Go Home". Preserved archival documents and history of the Faison family, including many old photographs. |
| 1990-1999 | Faison, Terry | Original Member of the Faison Museum Committee | |
| 1990-1999 | Flowers, Dr. Linda |  | Author: Wrote and published "Throwed Away": Failures of Progress in Eastern North Carolina - August 17, 1992". The book also describes Dr. Flowers' memories of growing up on a tenant farm in Faison, NC in the 1940's, 50's and 60's. This book is available for reading in the Faison Museum and is available for purchase from Amazon. |
| 1990-1999 | Martin, Hugh Bryant |  | Member of the Museum Committee |
| 1990-1999 | McColman, Edna McCullen |  | Original Member of the Faison Museum Committee. In addition, a preserver of history through pictures of veterans and school children. |
| 1990-2009 | Precythe, Mildred Warren |  | Original Member of the Faison Museum Committee. Very instrumental in establishing the purpose and function of the Museum Committee and helping to get it off the ground at a time when it had stalled. |
| 1990-1999 | Stroud, Rachel Witherington |  | Chair-person publication of Front Porches, Front Parlors Provided research and collaboration to W. Frank Ainsley, in publication of "Front Porches, Front Parlors, The Historic Architecture of Faison, North Carolina - 1994", .written by W. Frank Ainsley. Sponsored by the Faison Museum Committee and the North Carolina Division of Archives and History. Collected and saved Town of Faison history and Duplin County history. Collected many articles on weddings and brides of Faison. |
| 1990-1999 | Swain, Berta Stroud | Proof read and published "Front Porches, Front Parlors, The Historic Architecture of Faison, NC" written by W. Frank Ainsley. Sponsored by the Faison Museum Committee and the North Carolina Division of Archives and History. | |
| 1990-2019 | Taylor, Anne Stroud |  | Original Member of the Faison Museum Committee 1991-2017 Curator of the Faison Museum Faison Museum Committee, Chairperson 2015 Faison Area Veterans Appreciation "From the Farm Fields to the Battle Fields" Faison Legacy Series Interviews Project: Implement recommendations from Traveling Archives Program (TAP) visit to the Faison Museum |
| 2000-2009 | Boone, Carson |  | Photographed and assembled a Collection of 34 framed black & white pictures of life around Faison, NC. The Collection is named "Wanna Go Home" 2003. The collection depicts life in Faison and includes, as Carlton "Pete" Warren, beloved barber for more than 50 years, cutting hair in his barber shop. |
| 2000-2009 | Flake, Inga Christianson |  | Member of the Museum Committee. Active in creating displays in the museum for the education and enjoyment of visitors to the museum. In particular, assembled and created a unique display of children's toys from early years, many from her own private collection. |
| 2000-2009 | McCain, Betty Ray |  | Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. In this capacity, promoted preservation of history throughout North Carolina, including Faison. The State Archives of NC was part of this organization. Gave many TV interviews that included memories of growing up in Faison, NC. |
| 2000-2009 | Thornton, William |  | Scientist and Medical Doctor Created a drawing of the streets and houses of Faison in the 19xx"s. This drawing was used in the publication, Front Porches, Front Parlors. Donated his NASA Astronaut suit to the museum. Currently writing a book of memoirs of growing up in Faison, N.C. |
| 2010-2019 | Anderson, Gene | Co-Chair, WWII museum display at the 2015 Market Day | |
| 2010-2019 | Coley, Peggy |  | Co-Chair, WWII museum display at the 2015 Market Day Festival, From the Farm Fields to the Battle Fields |
| 2010-2019 | Franklin, Sherry Millard |  | Member of the Faison Museum Committee Town Board representative to the Faison Museum Chair, Vietnam War museum display at the 2015 Market Day Festival, From the Farm Fields to the Battle Fields Project: Implement recommendations from Traveling Archives Program (TAP) visit to the Faison Museum |
| 2010-2019 | Grady, Michelle Tucker | Former Member of Faison Museum Committee Co-Chair, WWII museum display at the 2015 Market Day Festival, From the Farm Fields to the Battle Fields |
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| 2010-2019 | Hollingsworth, Jane Precythe |  | Member of Faison Museum Committee Project: Implement recommendations from Traveling Archives Program (TAP) visit to the Faison Museum |
| 2010-2019 | Jackson, Becky Taylor |  | Member of Faison Museum Committee Chair, WWI museum display at the 2015 Market Day Festival, From the Farm Fields to the Battle Fields Project: Implement recommendations from Traveling Archives Program (TAP) visit to the Faison Museum Faison Historic Legacy Series Interviews |
| 2010-2019 | King, Lydia | Member of Faison Museum Committee Co-Chair, Korea museum display at the 2015 Market Day Festival, From the Farm Fields to the Battle Fields Implement recommendations from Traveling Archives Program (TAP) visit to the Faison Museum |
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| 2010-2019 | Mello, Laura Martin |  | Member of Faison Museum Committee Co-Chair, Korea museum display at the 2015 Market Day Festival, From the Farm Fields to the Battle Fields Implement recommendations from Traveling Archives Program (TAP) visit to the Faison Museum |
| 2010-2019 | Newman, Karen Warren | Genealogist and Researcher: Researched and assembled various family genealogies, including the Warren family genealogy files. Researched the origins of the photo album, believed to have been created by L.H. Gehman, Principal of the Faison Academy in 1906. Volunteer to the Faison Museum Committee. Project: Implement recommendations from Traveling Archives Program (TAP) visit to the Faison Museum |
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| 2010-2019 | Oates, M. R., Jr. |  | Volunteer to the Faison Museum Committee. Webmaster of FaisonDepot.com Digitization of museum collections. Commissioned painting "Our Boys in Vietnam" on display in the Faison Museum 2015 Faison Area Veterans Appreciation "From the Farm Fields to the Battle Fields" Faison Legacy Series video interviews of 20 Faisonite's in their 90's and 80's Project: Implement recommendations from Traveling Archives Program (TAP) visit to the Faison Museum |
| 2010-2019 | Recupero, John | Donated the 1906 Scrap Book. However, this was more than just a donation. Read the following story to understand the journey that this scrap book took to find its way to the Faison Museum.... Fascinating story: Purchased an old scrap book from the period of 1906 while in Colorado. Later from his home in RI, he discovered a picture in the album that included writing of A Street in Faison, NC 1906. He traveled in Faison to deliver this scrapbook ultimately to the Faison Museum. | |
| 2010-2019 | Shelton, Claudette Rouse |  | Artist: Painted the Theme painting named "Our Boys in Vietnam" for the 2015 Market Day Festival, "From the Farm Fields to the Battle Fields". Hundreds of hours were spent researching with reading multiple books on the Vietnam War, visits to the 82nd Airborne Museum at Ft. Bragg, NC, interviews of Vietnam veterans, as well as her brother-in-law, Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, General Hugh Shelton and, of course, the painting of "Our Boys in Vietnam". |
| 2010-2019 | Singleton, Mike and Kay McNeill |  | Co-Chair, Afghanistan/ Iraq museum display at the 2015 Market Day Festival, From the Farm Fields to the Battle Fields |
| 2010-2019 | Summerlin, Cynthia Price | Co-Chair, Vietnam museum display at the 2015 Market Day |