arzola walker hornsby
1911-1978
Life Story
Biography
(September 15, 1911 – after 1973)
Early Life and Family
Arzola Walker Hornsby was born on September 15, 1911, to Lewis Walker (1884–1963) and Cora Evans Walker (1886–1962). She was raised in a family rooted in agricultural labor and community stability, with strong ties to the Walker and Evans families of Newton County, Mississippi.
Education and Early Employment
In her early years, Arzola worked as a farm laborer, reflecting the economic realities faced by many African American families in the rural South. By 1940, she had completed four years of high school, an important educational achievement for a Black woman of her generation. That same year, she was employed as a teacher, working approximately 40 hours per week, indicating both professional training and a respected role within the community.
Marriage and Family Life
Arzola married Sylvester Hornsby (1912–1999). From this union, one known child was born:
- Lewis Hornsby (1946– ?)
By 1950, Arzola and her family were residing in Toulminville, Mobile, Alabama, a historically African American neighborhood that became home to many families migrating from rural Mississippi in search of greater opportunity. At that time, her occupation was listed as keeping house, reflecting her role as the central caretaker of the household.
Later Years in Mobile, Alabama
Records from the early 1970s place Arzola and her husband as property owners in Mobile, Alabama. These records document both residence and ownership, situating the Hornsby family within a period of significant neighborhood transition and increased municipal regulation.
Sidebar: Property Ownership and the 1973 Unsafe Building Notice
In November 1973, a legal notice published in Mobile, Alabama, identified property located at 2470 Muriel Avenue, owned by Sylvester Hornsby and Arzola Hornsby, as subject to a public hearing under the Unsafe Building Act. The notice stated that the City of Mobile would determine whether the structure constituted a public nuisance.
The property was legally described as Lots 19, 20, 21, and 22, Block 2, Second Addition to St. Stephens Highlands, as recorded in Map Book 4, page 93, in the Office of the Judge of Probate, Mobile County.
A related assessment record later canceled the tax assessment in Arzola Hornsby’s name for a portion of the Muriel Avenue property. Such actions were common during this period as older housing stock in historically Black neighborhoods faced heightened scrutiny, redevelopment pressures, and uneven enforcement of housing codes.
This documentation provides valuable insight into the Hornsby family’s experience as Black homeowners navigating municipal authority, property maintenance challenges, and neighborhood change during the 1970s.
Historical Significance
Arzola Walker Hornsby’s life reflects the broader story of African American women who moved from rural Mississippi to urban Alabama, balancing education, professional work, family responsibility, and property ownership. Her trajectory—from farm laborer to teacher, wife, mother, and homeowner—embodies both progress and the structural challenges faced by Black families in the mid-20th-century Gulf South.
Resting Place
Saint John Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1920 Federal Census
- 1930 Federal Census
- 1940 Federal Census
- 1950 Federal Census
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- .S. City Directories, 1822-1995
- The Newton Record, Donza J. Walker Obituary, Wed, Nov 01, 1972 ·Page 19
- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- The Mobile Press, Legal Notice, Sat, Nov 17, 1973 ·Page 20
- The Mobile Register, Sat, Jan 16, 1971 ·Page 27
- The Mobile Register, Fri, Jan 22, 1971 ·Page 30
Leave a Reply