 He was the second of two boys to Margaret George Hairston (1884-1963) and Peter Hairston (1841-1975).The Hairstons owned plantations all around Henry County, Virginia, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, Franklin County, Virginia, North Carolina, and Lowndes County, Mississippi.He was born on the Cooleemee Plantation, which was built by his grandfather, Peter Wilson Hairston (1819-1886).