Monthly Archives: October 2019

WWI Snapshot: Doctor Pearson Murphy 1894-1967

Doctor Pearson Murphy’s son gained fame as one of the founders of the Black Voters League in Red Bank, NJ. His daughter-in-law was also a leader in the community. In addition, his son served in WWII.

NC WWI Service Card
Doctor Pearson Murphy was a resident of Bolivia, Brunswick County, when he was called to duty in WWI. He had recently married Maggie Galloway on May 20, 1918. The photo below was found in Ancestry.

Corporal Murphy served from August 2, 1918 until December 19, 1918, in the 349th Labor Battalion.

After the war, he returned home to Brunswick County. At least two sons were born there. The family eventually moved to Kings, New York City.

His son, Curtis, achieved fame as one of the founders of the Black Voters League of Red Bank, NJ, among other accomplishments. Curtis’ wife, Ernestine Elois Norris Murphy, was also a community leader. Their obituaries are shown below. Burial information and the obituaries were copied into findagrave: Curtis and Ernestine.

Doctor Pearson Murphy passed away on January 4, 1967. He was buried in Long Island National Cemetery, presumably with military honors. No photo of his grave site is available.

Source: Asbury Park Press (Asbury, NJ), 11 July 1995, p16.
Curtis Murphy, led Black Voters League

Curtis Q. Murphy, 75, a resident here and former Red Bank resident, died Saturday at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. Mr. Murphy was a senior electronics engineer at Fort Monmouth until his retirement, and he was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a graduate of Stuyvesant High School, Brooklyn, and received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from City College of New York, and his master’s degree in electrical engineering from Rutger’s University.

Mr. Murphy was one of several founders of the Black Voters League, Red Bank. The league’s goals were to acquaint local politicians with the needs of the black community and to elect favorable candidates, he said in a 1983 interview in Asbury Park Press. The league conducts door-to-door voter registration campaigns and uses the churches as forums for voter education, he said.

Mr. Murphy was a member of the Red Bank Board of Education for 14 years, the Red Bank Parks and Recreation Commission, the Greater Red Bank National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Tinton Falls Board of Adjustment, the Eatontown Parents Teachers Association, and the Bates Lodge 220 of the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World. Mr. Murphy was born in Bolivia, N.C., lived in Red Bank for more than 30 years, and came to Tinton Falls in 1979.

Surviving are his wife of 54 years, Ernestine; two daughters, Rita Johnson, New York, and Marsha Longino, Ohio; and three grandsons. Childs Funeral Home, Red Bank, is in charge of arrangements.

Source: Asbury Park Press (Asbury, NJ), 19 April 2007, p22.
Ernestine Elois Norris Murphy,

of Tinton Falls, died Friday, April 13. She was the daughter of Eva and Riddick Norris and grew up and attended school in Brooklyn, N.Y. Ernestine was married to Curtis Q. Murphy. To this union, two daughters were born. In the 1950s, Ernestine moved to Eatontown and later to Red Bank. At an early age, Ernestine was baptized at the Brown Memorial Baptist Church in Brooklyn, N.Y. When she moved to New Jersey, she became a Watch Care member of the Shrewsbury Avenue A.M.E. Zion Church under the ministry of the Rev. Charles Bourne. She sang with the A.M.E. Choir and served as a Girl Scout leader, sponsored by the church. Ernestine helped to organize and served with the Asbury Park Cotillion for many years. She worked as a volunteer librarian on a book mobile that served migrant workers. Dr. King, Superintendent of the Red Bank School System, appointed her as a social worker for the Red Bank schools. Ernestine also served as a Head Start assistant in the Red Bank school, a nurse’s aide at the Red Bank Convalescent Nursing Home, and was a member of the PTA and the Greater Red Bank NAACP.

She is survived by her two daughters, Rita and Marsha; her brother, William Norris; three grandchildren, Julian, John, and Quentin; a great-grandchild, Erin; and a host of relatives and friends.

Her viewing will be from 10 a.m. Saturday until her service at noon at Shrewsbury A.M.E. Zion Church, 285 Shrewsbury Ave., Red Bank. Interment will be at Monmouth Memorial Park, Tinton Falls. Childs Funeral Home, Red Bank, is in charge of arrangements.


To view this or an earlier profile or snapshot at any time, click on the veteran’s name on the WWI Brunswick County Veteran list, which is also accessible by the blue button on the top right of the webpage.

If you would like to help us honor Doctor Pearson Murphy or another Brunswick County WWI veteran, please use the following links:

Click here for the announcement:
Announcement: Honor a Brunswick County World War I Veteran
Click here for directions to donate and honor a veteran:
How to Honor a Brunswick County World War I Veteran

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WWI Snapshot: Jackson Brown 1890-1940

Jackson Brown’s WWI service resulted in 100% disability. He and his wife never had children, leaving no direct descendants to ensure that his sacrifice is not forgotten.

NC WWI Service Card
Jackson Brown was born in Town Creek, Brunswick County, NC, on July 23, 1890.

Jackson was called to duty on July 15, 1918. He served in the 12th Labor Battalion, serving overseas from August 27, 1918, until March 12, 1919.

When he returned home, he was suffering from empyema: infected fluid between the lung and chest wall.

[Source: Ancestry.com. U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.]

Pvt Brown was not discharged until July 28, 1920, which shows he required an incredibly long period of medical care by the US Army. He was designated 100% disabled, which indicates the Army considered his disability a result of his service.

It’s possible that he was exposed to poisonous gas, which can result in many issues as detailed in a previous profile, and could be responsible for the kidney failure which eventually caused his death. Gas exposure has also been blamed for sterility, contributing to the many WWI veterans who could have no children and thus, had no surviving generations to ensure their lives and sacrifices are not forgotten.

On May 6, 1940, Jackson died as a result of chronic nephritis.

His wife applied for a military headstone, which was installed at Saint James AME Zion Church Cemetery in Leland. She died the following year.

Source of headstone photo: Findagrave


To view this or an earlier profile or snapshot at any time, click on the veteran’s name on the WWI Brunswick County Veteran list, which is also accessible by the blue button on the top right of the webpage.

If you would like to help us honor Jackson Brown or another Brunswick County WWI veteran, please use the following links:

Click here for the announcement:
Announcement: Honor a Brunswick County World War I Veteran
Click here for directions to donate and honor a veteran:
How to Honor a Brunswick County World War I Veteran

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WWI Snapshot: Samuel Benjamin “Bunn” Frink 1899-1989

Samuel Benjamin “Bunn” Frink attempted to serve in WWI while underage and was honorably discharged. He later became a lawyer and was known as “The Perry Mason of Brunswick County.” Throughout his life he served his country by holding many political offices and positions, as well as serving in WWII.

NC WWI Service Card
Samuel Benjamin “Bunn” Frink was born on October 2, 1899, in Shallotte, Brunswick County, NC.

On May 1, 1917, Bunn enlisted in the US Navy in Wilmington, NC. He served for over a month until June 15, 1917, when he was declared underage and honorably discharged.

Records show another Brunswick County WWI veteran, John Newton of Bessemer City, NC, attempted to enlist at Fort Caswell and was discovered to be underage. This notation was found on Pvt Newton’s NC WWI Service Card:

“Under the provisions of the Act of Congress, approved March 2, 1929, (Public #950 – 70th Congress) in the administration of any laws conferring rights, privileges, or benefits, upon honorably discharged soldiers, their widows and dependent children, the above named soldier shall hereafter be held and considered to have been honorably discharged”

Photo source: The State Port Pilot (Southport, NC), 8 May 1935, p. 1.

Bunn was a family friend of Kathryn Kalmanson, daughter of Susie Carson, the late historian and founder of the Southport Historical Society. Susie Carson was also employed at one time by Bunn’s law firm. Kathryn shared the following memories of Bunn:

“Samuel Benjamin Frink was always known as Bunn. His legal signature and name on the letterhead of his law office was “S. Bunn Frink.” No one will recognize him by his real name. But mention the name Bunn Frink in Brunswick County and you’ll get lots of responses even now. He really had a big impact on the county in many ways. He was a man of integrity, and always a gentleman. Please check my info on this, but I believe he did not actually serve in WWI. He said, if I remember correctly, that he lied about his age in order to enlist and was caught before he went overseas. By the time he turned 18, the war had ended. He did serve in WWII, but I think it was in Coast Guard because he was too old for regular enlistment.

“Mr. Frink was an interesting person. Through his work as a lawyer with some newsworthy cases, he became known as “The Perry Mason of Brunswick County.” He was once written up in some lurid but popular crime magazine, True Detective or something like that. He also served many years in the NC State Senate.”

Kathryn shared the following photos.

Bunn was featured in this article in 1959.
Source: Craven, Charles. “Brunswick’s Senator Grew up on Water.” The News and Observer [Raleigh, NC], 07 June 1959, p. 3.

Brunswick’s Senator Grew up on Water
The two-masted schooner was beating up the broad estuary of the Cape Fear River in the face of a gale, tacking and keeling over to her scuppers. At the tiller was a 15-year old boy. In the repeated course alterings, the boy jerked the tiller with glee, the masts arcing down to an alarming degree. The vessel fairly leaped over the choppy surface.

Suddenly in a powerful gust, the schooner leaned to such an alarming angle that the racing water brimmed the rail and rushed in a torrent along the deck. It appeared certain she was going to keel over. But a halyard snapped forward, the split ends lashing out wildly. The bellying foresail collapsed, began to flap with loud reports as it slid down the foreward mast. The schooner righted.

The boy saw the captain’s head bob out of the hatch. He came forward in quick, angry strides, clinging to a rope stretched from foreward aft to the stern rail. “Damn your soul, boy!” shouted the captain, grabbing the tiller.

The two other members of the crew were now climbing from the cabin white-faced.

Never Again.
That day is still fresh in the memory of S. Bunn Frink of Brunswick County, big ex-deckhand, bookkeeper and U.S. Coast Guard officer and now a lawyer and state senator. “I never made another trip with that captain,” he recalled.

Why was he was gleefully careless with the tiller that he almost capsized the schooner that stormy day years ago?

“Hah!” shrugged Frink with a grin of fond remembrance. “A damn boy will do anything…I just wanted to see her run.”

The schooner had had a hold full of clams bound for Wilmington from Little River, S.C. She had come up the coast, there being no Intracoastal Waterway in those days. She was one of two schooners young Frink served on when he was in his teens.

“The cargo from Little River was usually country produce and naval stores, such as turpentine and resin, ” Frink said. “The return cargo was for the country people – snuff, tobacco, sugar, molasses, coffee and ‘sweet cakes’.”

Samuel Bunn Frink, 59, has a decided “Jack London” flavor about him. A country boy, who lived his early years on his father’s farm, he was lured by the sea.

After Six Weeks.
But after the schooner episode in the stormy mouth of the Cape Fear, Frink got a job weighing cotton in a Lumberton cotton mill and stayed six weeks. “That was enough for me,” he said.

A hitch in the Navy during World War I also lasted until the end of six weeks – when authorities found out he was only 16 years old. Subsequent jobs were aboard a U.S. dredge and seagoing tugs towing coal out of Norfolk to Providence, R.I., Boston and Gloucester, Mass.

But the robust young seaman saw that some book learning was going to be necessary to keep him from forever a wanderer. He had gone briefly to Mrs. Mamie Alderman’s School in Brunswick County. He returned home now and enrolled in Mott’s Business College.

From there on, his education was desultory, being interrupted by work and some adventure. He was employed for a time as bookkeeper with Tidewater Power Company and with a real estate firm in Raleigh. A lung infection disabled him for a time which was spent in the town of Brevard on advice of his doctor.

In 1926, he was refused admittance to Trinity College (now Duke University) because he had no high school diploma. However, the school authorities allowed him to sit in law classes. He left in the fall of 1929 and subsequently passed the State Bar examination and set up law practice in Southport.

In World War II, Frink served in the Coast Guard, was for a time Captain of the Port of Wilmington. He was discharged as a lieutenant.

Sen. Frink’s political career has been a hybrid affair. He has served as a clerk of Superior Court of Brunswick County, was a member of an early board created to further port development, which was dissolved when the late Kerr Scott became Governor. Under his administration the present State Ports Authority was created.

Frink has served three prior terms in the Senate – 1935, 1937, and 1951.

Has a Temper.
His colleagues look to him as a person of sound judgment and warmly human instincts. However, they know also that he possesses a sharp temper. “I have to control it,” he said in his interview. “It never helps matters.”

Sen. Frink is particularly interested these days in the establishment of State operated ferry service between his beloved Southport and Carolina Beach. He extolls the tourist attracting value of such a service and has hopes for its early accomplishment.

Senator Frink is married to the former Margaret Weathers of Fayetteville. She has a daughter by a previous marriage, Mrs. Elbert N. Herring of Raleigh. He also has children by a previous marriage: a son, Malcom, who is employed at the Sunny Point Ammunition Dump near Southport; and a daughter, Mrs. Charles A. Adams of Triangle, Va., whose husband is an Army captain and a West Point graduate.

Bunn lived over 89 years. The Brunswick Beacon published his obituary on August 31, 1989, on page 5-B.

Samuel B. “Bunn” Frink
Samuel Benjamin “Bunn” Frink, 89, of Shoreline Drive, Sunset Beach, died Aug. 23 in Grand Strand General Hospital, Myrtle Beach, S.C. He was a former state legislator and longtime practicing attorney in Brunswick County.

A graveside service was held Saturday, Aug. 26, in the Stanaland-Frink Cemetery at Sunset Beach. The Rev. Frank Ross officiated.

Born Oct. 2, 1899, he was the son of D.S. and Martha G. Frink. He was a native of Brunswick County.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving in both World War I and World War II. He also served in the U.S. Coast Guard, and for 18 months served as captain of the Port of Wilmington. He was discharged in 1946 with the rank of senior grade lieutenant.

Frink was admitted to the North Carolina State Bar in January 1931. During his nearly 60 years in the legal profession, he was associated with most of the men engaged in the legal profession in Brunswick County. He was founder of the law firm Frink, Foy, Gainey & Yount, with offices in Shallotte and Southport. He was active in the firm on a daily basis, and was well known for his legal skill as a courtroom lawyer.

His legal career was interspersed with service during six sessions of the North Carolina General Assembly, with five of the terms in the State Senate and one term in the House of Representatives. His last legislative stint was in the Senate in 1971-72.

For many years he was a member of the board of trustees of Dosher Memorial Hospital and of the board of stewards of Trinity United Methodist Church, both in Southport. He served by governor’s appointment on the State Ports Authority. For 16 years he served as the county’s attorney and also served as attorney for the Brunswick County Board of Education. He had served on the board of directors of the Security Savings & Loan Association since 1938.

Survivors include his wife, Marguerite Weathers Frink; two daughters, Marion F. Adams of Virginia and Joanne Herring of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; four sisters, Elneta F. Cox and Sue Frink, both of Wilmington, Gertie Mooney of Supply and Frances Martin of Durham; five grandchildren and a great-grandson.

Memorials may be made to the Sunset Beach Volunteer Fire Department, Shallotte Volunteer Rescue Squad or the Calabash Volunteer Rescue Squad.

His accomplishments are displayed at his gravesite, as shown.

Source of headstone photo: Findagrave


To view this or an earlier profile or snapshot at any time, click on the veteran’s name on the WWI Brunswick County Veteran list, which is also accessible by the blue button on the top right of the webpage.

If you would like to help us honor Samuel Benjamin “Bunn” Frink or another Brunswick County WWI veteran, please use the following links:

Click here for the announcement:
Announcement: Honor a Brunswick County World War I Veteran
Click here for directions to donate and honor a veteran:
How to Honor a Brunswick County World War I Veteran

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An interview with Back Porch Rockers, performing at Oktoberfest in Caswell Beach this Saturday

Reminder:
Oktoberfest in Caswell Beach is this Saturday, October 12, 2019

Call 910-278-7584 for tickets.

Note that overflow parking is available up the street at the BB&T Bank. It is a short walk to the Oktoberfest held at the Fire Station.

When did the band decide to entertain FREE for non profit events?
When we formed the band in 2016, we decided that we would perform only for legitimate non-profits and charities. We do perform for private parties, but we have a requirement for them to raise a minimum of $1000 for a charity of their choice. This has never been a problem. Several private parties we have done have exceeded over $3,000. We are all retired and this is one of the ways we donate back to the community we live in.

How many years have you been doing this for non profits?
As stated above since the inception of our band in April of 2016.

Approximately how much has the band earned for non profits?
Well, there are bands that track this info, but we do not. A couple of reasons, first, it is not that important to know how much we help raise, it is far more important to us, that we are able to help. We don’t actually raise any money, we just provide the entertainment, and as you know there are many others involved who assist in organizing fund raisers. We did track this dollar information in our first year or so and if I had to guess, we have helped raise approximately $200K over the past few years.

How many events have you done in 2019?
We are scheduled to perform for 18 events in this calendar year. We have done 13 to date.

What about the funds you need to continue?  Instruments, gas, etc.
All expenses are absorbed by the band members, it is our way of helping the cause.

Give us some info on the members of the band.  Their love of music,
playing for audiences, etc.  Tell us about your band.

Steve Privott, our lead guitarist, is from Virginia and has been playing since he was 13 years old. He played and recorded professionally in the 60’s and has shared the stage with performers including The Yardbirds, The Loving Spoonful and Neil Diamond.

Kurt Chismark, performs vocals and percussion for our band, has an extensive background in music including a Music & Recording Industry Certification from San Francisco State University.

Martin Murphy, our bass player, also performs vocals and 6 string guitar and our music arrangements. Martin began playing guitar in high school and played in a popular Cleveland, Ohio band that opened for both national and international touring acts before retiring from the music business. Taking up music again in the 80’s, Martin began played electric bass for a 10-piece R&B group then for an acoustic guitar act. After another prolonged absence from music, he retired to the Southport area in 2015 and began playing again.

Dave Testa is our drummer and provides back-up vocals. Dave had an early interest in music inherited from a singing mother. This inclination was reinforced by an older brother who played drums in a high school rock and roll band. Dave’s earliest bands were in High School, with one locally successful soul band just before college. He then retired from playing for about 30 years and then a revival as his wife encouraged him to get back into music. He has played for several groups here in the area before bringing his talents to our band.

Jim Irvine, guitar, began playing music in 5th grade by taking piano lessons. He switched to playing Trumpet in 6th through 8th grade taking lessons and playing in the school band. When the “British Invasion” hit America Jim took up playing a 12 String Guitar. Jim left music when he was in his early 20’s and got a real job. Around 2010, with the encouragement of his wife got back into music and started taking lessons again, where he met several other students that eventually formed the band.

Linda Harlow, guitar and vocals, began her musical venture by playing her older sister’s accordian and then her younger sister’s guitar. She played with several small groups in college but gave it up when she started her professional work career as a French professor. After moving to Southport in 2010 she began taking guitar lessons and eventually helped form our band.

Randy Lewis, guitar and vocals began his journey into music very late in life. Growing up, he never showed any interest in music although his parents and siblings were very involved in music. After retiring a dear friend of his sent him a nice guitar in 2014. He started taking lessons from his instructor and mentor in Oak Island who then, convinced him to sing as well. After meeting and playing with a few other students, specifically, Linda Harlow, Jim Irvine and Dave Testa, the idea of a band was born.

To summarize, we all have a very strong love of our music and our desire to perform for others. All of us are still learning to be entertainers. Several of us help other bands when the need arises and all of us are involved in other volunteering positions. We love what we do and we love this community.

What about the turnover?  Do you have much?
We have had no turnover since we started performing publicly.

Do any other bands in Brunswick County play for non profits?
There is one other band that I am aware, that plays exclusively for charities and non-profits. Mike’s Garage Band has been doing this for approximately 10 years. Their fundraising revenues and have exceeded over $1million! Their band has done such great things for this area. They are great friends and supporters of our band.

Additionally, most every band down here will play a benefit or fundraiser from time to time. The band that we referred for your fundraiser earlier this year, Trilogy and their jazz band, are prime examples.

The Friends are feeling fortunate that there are people like the Back Porch Rockers that consider the plight of non profits by helping with their fundraisers. Those of us that are passionate about historic preservation, the aged, young children, pets and others thank these folks for their time, love of what they are doing and doing it with a happy heart. Again, we thank them!

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WWI Snapshot: Robert Leroy Stratmon 1900-1944

Robert Leroy Stratmon served in both WWI and WWII. He lost his life while serving in World War II.

NC WWI Service Card
Robert Leroy Stratmon was born on June 12, 1900, in Southport, Brunswick County, NC.

On October 27, 1917, Robert, listed as 18 years old, joined the US Navy. At the time, African American men were assigned only menial positions in the Navy, so he began as a Mess Attendant, 3rd Class. By the end of his service, he had risen to Wardroom Cook.

The 1920 census shows that he had returned to his home in Southport. His family relocated some time later to Boston and NYC.

Robert served in the US Naval Reserves in WWII. He died in service to his country on August 16, 1944. In the excerpt below, his name appears at the bottom right. [Source: The New York Age, June 4, 1946]

His name does not appear on WWII casualty lists, so it is assumed that he died of disease.

His remains were returned four years later from the American military cemetery in New Guinea, (USAF Cemetery, Fischaffen #2) and buried in Long Island National Cemetery.
[Source: Ancestry.com. U.S. National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.]

Source of headstone photo: Findagrave


To view this or an earlier profile or snapshot at any time, click on the veteran’s name on the WWI Brunswick County Veteran list, which is also accessible by the blue button on the top right of the webpage.

If you would like to help us honor Robert Leroy Stratmon or another Brunswick County WWI veteran, please use the following links:

Click here for the announcement:
Announcement: Honor a Brunswick County World War I Veteran
Click here for directions to donate and honor a veteran:
How to Honor a Brunswick County World War I Veteran

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Reminder: Oktoberfest in Caswell Beach is next Saturday, October 12.

Friends of Fort Caswell Rifle Range Fundraiser
Click for more information:
Oktoberfest in Caswell Beach

Call 910-278-7584 for tickets.

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