Mattie Lula Johnson Hinton (1901 – December 15, 1953) was born 1901 in Edgecombe County, North Carolina to Benjamin Sr. and Mary Jane Johnson. Mattie Lula met and married Octavia Hinton and to this union six children were born. They were Josephine, Roxie, Jesse, Elizabeth (Doll), John and Thomas Hinton. She was a member of Cedar Creek Church in Nash County.
Mattie and Octavia Hinton were living on a farm when they separated. Mattie Lula moved to a three-room apartment on Park Avenue in Rocky Mount where she was struggling to the pay the rent. Octavia and Lula went back together and tried to make their marriage work. They moved to Port Island farm on 64 Highway, where they were paid by the day. Octavia and Mattie worked on the farm for a year.
Octavia bought Mattie Lula everything that she wanted if he could afford it. When she wanted a sewing machine, he surprised her and bought it for her. He also bought her outfits with matching shoes and hats. Mattie still wanted her own money, and the problems continued. She felt if she worked, she should have her own money. Her thinking was well before women’s liberation (smile). In those days the husband gave the wife what he thought was an adequate allowance.
Mattie Lula’s mother, Mary Jane Johnson, intervened about the separation. She had warned her daughter that she should stay with her husband, but Mattie Lula didn’t listen and got a divorce anyway. Mattie Lula faced difficult times after the divorce. She couldn’t take care of her children. After Lula and Octavia divorced, some of their children went to live with various relatives.
Jesse, Sr. (Hut) went to live with his Aunt Maggie and her family. Roxie went with to live with her cousin, Mae Linda, and Octavis Battle in Battleboro, NC. Elizabeth (Doll) went to live with her father Octavia Hinton when he married Alice Farmer, where she stayed until she was grown. Josephine, John and Thomas (Tom) stayed with their mother, Mattie Lula.
Mattie Lula moved to Dunbar in Battlesboro, where she did day work on a farm. She eventually left the farm and moved to Rocky Mount, NC on Matthew Street. She was employed at Lee’s Factory until her death. Mattie Lula Johnson was a young woman when she died December 15, 1953 at the age of 52. She died from low blood pressure. Mattie was buried in Unity Cemetery, Rocky Mount NC. Mattie loved her grandchildren.