Little Bethel Church and Cemetery on Zion Drive

Title

Little Bethel Church and Cemetery on Zion Drive

Description

  • In the early 1900s, the Little Bethel Church was started as a mission church by the members of Little Zion Baptist Church on Burke Lake Road. The church was built on land donated by David R. Pinn.
  • A cemetery is located on the south side of the David R. Pinn Community Center and is surrounded by a wrought iron fence. Several graves are marked with field stones. A formal marker describes that members of the church were buried here between 1905 and 1964. Since 1973, the Sideburn Civic Community Association has operated the community center as a recreation center and meeting place for community meetings activities.
  • Historical Marker text: David R. Pinn Community Center
  • After the Civil War, a small community of African Americans lived on Route 654, now known as Zion Drive. The Wrights, Hamiltons, Whites, and Pinns were farmers and laborers. In 1904, David R. & Sarah F. Pinn donated an acre of land to build Little Bethel Baptist Church. In 1946, the church building was purchased by the Immediate Relief Association, which helped neighbors in need. The Sideburn Civic Community Association acquired the parcel in 1973, and the David R. Pinn Community Center was established. After more than 100 years, many of the descendants of the original families continue to live in this community.
  • “Sideburn is more than a name” The article describes the origins of the name Sideburn family and the Ed Reedy family’s life there.

Source

Collection

Markers

Citation

“Little Bethel Church and Cemetery on Zion Drive,” Fairfax County African American History Inventory, accessed October 24, 2026, https://fairfaxaahi.centerformasonslegacies.com/items/show/380.