Wilma Fay Brown

Wilma Fay
Brown
Born Dec. 22, 1894
Died May 2, 1895
Safe in the arms of
Jesus

Wilma Fay Brown Headstone

Photo Credit: Rosa G. Gonzales

This infant is one of the children that did not survive her parents Nathaniel and Julia Brown. In the 1900 census records of Nueces County, Julia acknowledges that she has had 5 children of which only 2 survive at that time (Nueces County, 1900 census, ED 133, page 6B). Nathaniel and Julia belonged to the African-American community of Corpus Christi and lived near the Old Bayview Cemetery. While Julia was a native of the United States (Texas), it appears that Nathaniel was born on one of the Caribbean islands. In the census records he first lists himself from Jamaica. However, this designation has been crossed out and replaced with some abbreviations that are unclear (possibly “WI� for West Indies). At any rate he does state that he is a naturalized citizen who came to the United States in 1884. Like others from the African-American community at that time, Nathaniel is working as a drayman (probably hauling supplies) and Julia lists herself as a washerwoman. At any rate they own their home on Ramirez Street free of any mortgage and live near to many other members of the community who also are buried in Old Bayview Cemetery—the Newman family, the Davis family, and the Sinclair family.