By Sharon Wisdom PACE

Cora Black and her twin brother, William Zackley were born July 14, 1884 in Reynolds Co., Missouri. She was the daughter of Coatsworth Pinckney Black, JR and his second wife, Nancy Matilda (Nonnie) Finn Cozine. Cora's mother, Nancy, died when she was a very small child. Her father married Aminda Catherine Maddin when Cora was about two years old. At about six months of age, Cora's twin brother, William Zackley, died.

Cora came from a large family. Her father had six children by his first wife, Nancy Thomas. They were Jonathan (married Nancy Jane Henson), Alexander (married Frances Parker), James (married Agnes Bardsley), John Monroe (married Mollie Johnson), Rebecca (married James Goggin), and Rhoda (married Jack Wisdom). Cora's sister, Effie Maud was born in 1881 to Coatsworth and Nancy Matilda. Effie Maud married William Moses Latham. Cora, William, and Effie were the only children born to this union. Children born to Coatsworth and Aminda Catherine Maddin were Bessie J (married Purl Burse), Perry Leroy (married Elsie Evelyn Strickland), and Maggie L. (married Charles P. Short).

On October 17, 1901, Cora married William Wisdom, son of Sargent and Lydia Chandler Wisdom. They were married in Reynolds County, Missouri with Rev. John O. Adams performing the ceremony. Cora and William were blessed with six children; Ellis who married Mary Patterson, Ethel who married Harold Hampton, Agnes who married George Lewis, Sylvia who married Dr. Lawrence Green, Goldie M. who married Melvin Hedrick, and Raymond Ray who married Stella Mae Franklin.

Cora and William lived most of their lives in the Reynolds County and Dent County areas in Missouri. Sometime before William died, they moved to Salem, Missouri. William died in Salem on February 21, 1934. He is buried at Greeley Cemetery in Bunker, MO.

After William died, Grandma Wisdom (Cora) lived in a little house down the street from us. I remember going with my father to visit her. As long as she was able, she attended the First Assembly of God Church in Salem.. She loved the Lord very much and loved and cared for her family.

Cora died on August 23, 1970 in Salem, Missouri. She is buried beside her husband at Greeley Cemetery in Bunker, Missouri.

By Sharon Wisdom Pace – Great Granddaughter of Cora Black Wisdom.