Unity Cemetery-Columbus Faison

Image and narrative source: African American Cemeteries of Tidewater Virginia and North Carolina.

"Most of the known Veterans buried in Unity Cemetery have standard military-issue grave markers, but some are "hidden in plain sight." Such is the case of WWI Veteran PVT Columbus Faison, born in 1896 (per military records), Tarboro, NC.

Columbus was the son of Richard Faison and Barbara Mourning Faison, and the grandson of Civil War Veteran Isaac Faison of Sampson County, North Carolina, who served with the 135th United States Colored Infantry.

Columbus Faison served overseas with Headquarters Company, 365th Infantry from 1918 through early 1919 (no engagements), and returned stateside aboard the troop transport, USS Olympic, in mid-February, 1919.

Columbus settled in Rocky Mount a few months later, and in 1920, married Miss Rosetta Wortham of Columbus County, NC, also a descendant of a Civil War Veteran.

In 1924 the couple became the proud parents of daughter Willie Mae Faison Manuel Battle (1924-1988), wife of Clement Manuel and Francis Battle.

The Faison family resided on E. Goldleaf St., Rocky Mount, where Columbus worked as a general laborer, and operated a small eating house in the 1930s. Columbus passed away on September 21, 1936.

His wife, Rosetta, died in 1962, Durham, North Carolina, and also rests in Unity Cemetery.

If you are related (or think you may be related) to PVT Columbus Faison, we'd love to hear from you!"