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IV. Life Stories  

Fairfax County Oral Histories of African American Residents   

• Alvin Jason Brown (1897-1983) was a lifelong African American resident of the Great Falls/McLean area. In this interview conducted by C.J.S. Durham, Brown recalls the previous owners of Towlston Grange and former residents of the Towlston Road area.  
• Marion Dobbins, a life-long resident of Merrifield, Virginia, is a sixth-generation Fairfax County resident.  
• Helen Louise Marshall Haight was born in the African American community known as The Pines off of Woodburn Road. She describes her experiences of growing up near Merrifield in this summarized interview.   
• Edwin Bancroft Henderson II, the grandson of Dr. E.B. Henderson, is the founder and Executive Director the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation.  
• Aileen Wright grew up in The Pines and Merrifield area in the 1930s.  
• Repository: https://research.fairfaxcounty.gov/local-history/oral-histories   

William A. West   

• Mr. West attended Vienna Colored School with over 60 children in the one room schoolhouse.   
• He later became a teacher in Fairfax County Public Schools.  
•  Repository: excerpt from interview made when he was 95 years old Our History Louise Archer Elementary School  https://archeres.fcps.edu/about/history/1866 [excerpt of interview of William West]  
• Conversation with William A. West-a transcribed interview with Mr. William A. West December 1965  
• Repository: Transcribed interview   
• Virginia Room City of Fairfax Regional Library   Rare Book Room   B West   

Mae Hall, a McLean resident, describes living in Odrick’s Corner for seventy years. Oral history of McLean, Virginia   Publisher McLean Historical Society and the Friends of the McLean Community Center   

• Repository: DVD videorecording can be viewed at the City of Fairfax Regional Library, Virginia Room   

John Jackson   John Jackson was born in Woodville, Virginia and moved to Fairfax County and became a grave digger. In the 1960s, his talent as a guitar player and Blues performer was discovered. He performed in Fairfax County and became famous locally, nationally, and internationally.  

• Repository: Smithsonian Folkways  https://folkways.si.edu.john-jackson-piedmont-bluesman  
• Some of his performances can be heard on YouTube. Example: “Steamboat Whistle” Smithsonian March 10, 2010  

Mary Goins Roots: A Guide to the Mary Goins Roots Collection, 1915-2017  

• A Collection in The Fairfax County Public Library Record Group Number MSS 07-26  
• The collection of items covers Mary Goins Roots’ life and career; her family; and her ancestors including the Coffer, Goins, Jeffrey, Pearson and Wright families; the Sideburn Civic Association; Greater Little Zion Baptist Church; her career with Fairfax County Public Schools; and Charles County Public Schools.  
• Repository: Virginia Room City of Fairfax Regional Library     

“John Sidney (Sid) Holland Sr. Doing What He Felt Best For His Community” by Dorothy Mann pp 201-204. Fairfax County Stories 1607-2007- Commemorating the 400th Anniversary of the Jamestown Settlement  

•  Mr. Holland’s life was dedicated to improving the lives of county residents, especially African Americans.  
•  Repository: Fairfax County Public Libraries  

“The Family History of John Bell and Clarence Raymond Summers, Sr   

• A Baileys Crossroads Family”  
• by Houston M. Summers, Jr., pp. 125-135 Fairfax County Stories 1607-2007- Commemorating the 400th Anniversary of the Jamestown Settlement 
• Repository: Fairfax County Public Libraries     

We’re Still Here, John Miles/Mills His life and Family in Fairfax County  

• John Watson Mills, a Pamunkey Indian, walked from Aylett, Virginia to Fairfax County where he would settle, marry, and have a family. On their marriage certificate, John and his wife were both identified as Black.  
• Repository: http://www.powhatanmuseum.com/Powhatan_People.html  

Quander Family History  

• Finding Quander: The Journey of one of America’s oldest documented families  
• Describes an African American family who can trace its roots back 330 years, including to George Washington’s Mount Vernon.  
• Repository: https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/maryland/finding-quander-the-journeyof-one-of-americas-oldest-documented-black-families/65-492404094  

West Ford:  The Father of Gum Springs  

• West Ford was born a slave on the plantation in Westmoreland County owned by Bushrod Washington, George’s brother.  After George Washington died, Bushrod moved to Mount Vernon, bringing West Ford with him. West Ford was guaranteed freedom at the age of 21. When Bushrod Washington died, West Ford received over 100 acres from the estate. He would later sell that property and buy a larger property which became known as Gum Springs. Repository: https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/west-ford/ 
• West Ford – Pencil Sketch Portrait 
• Repository: https://encyclopediavirginia.org/9661hpr-3850933b64104c8/   

William “Billy” Lee   

• As an enslaved man, Billy served as George Washington’s valet throughout the American Revolution and during the early months of Washington’s presidency  
• Repository: https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/william-billy-lee/  

William Lee -Valley Forge National Historical Park  

•  At around the age of 16, Billy Lee was purchased by George Washington. He worked as a valet and accompanied George Washington during the Revolutionary War.    
• Repository: https://www.nps.gov/vafo/learn/historyculture/william-lee.htm  

 “The Gravel and Grit of Olander and Margaret Banks”  

• Article by Mary Jane Dye, Editor, Golden Gazette,   
• Fairfax County Department of Family Services, Kinship Care Unit  
• In 1957, African American Olander Banks decided to leave Alexandria and move his family and his business to the “country” in Fairfax County.  
• Repository: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/familyservices/older-adults/golden-gazette/202102-the-gravel-and-grit-of-olander-and-margaret-banks  (Posted 2021 February)  

Gentleman Jim Robinson, by Mary Robinson Ewell, page 71.  Fairfax County Stories 1607-2007 Commemorating the 400th Anniversary of the Jamestown Settlement      

• James Robinson was well known, successful, and very respected in Fairfax County. At birth, he was freed and granted nine acres of land.  The chapter describes the life of Gentleman Jim and the Robinson family. During the Civil War, the Robinson home was used as a field hospital by the Union Army.  
• Repository: Fairfax County Public Libraries   

The following summaries of Oral History interviews are included in two Books: 100 Recollections of McLean and Great Falls, Virginia and Additional Recollections of McLean and Great Falls, Virginia, written by Carole Herrick. The citations are labeled either 100 or Additional. The description of each person’s biographical interview will include major topics mentioned in the interview.   

• Ailene V. Borgus –100   grew up on Ash Grove Farm, attended Odrick’s School and Manassas Industrial School and was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church  
• Archie Henry Borgus, Jr. -Additional     grew up on Ash Grove Farm, attended Odrick’s School and Armstrong High School [an all-Black school Armstrong Manual Training School in DC], described what Tyson’s Corner looked like prior to the shopping center being built   
• Harold Carter –100 Attended Odrick’s School and Manassas Industrial School   described Tyson’s Corner  

• Leon C. Gamble – Additional Described discrimination and how parents intervened to get him admitted as only Black student at Longfellow Intermediate   
• Robert Hall –100 Cottonwood Street community and the family of Christopher Columbus Hall   
• Susie I. Hall –100 Cottonwood Street community, attended Chesterbrook one room schoolhouse, was a member of World War II nurse’s unit   
• Gladys Harper – Additional    McLean resident  
• Sonja Duffin Hurlbutt – Additional Resident of Great Falls and Forestville, Springvale Farm  

• Ora Lawson –100 Teacher at Old Cub Run School, lived in Blakely Manor built by developer African America Blakely F. Weaver, described discrimination by businesses in neighborhoods   
• Susie Boston Miles – Additional Grew up on a small farm, grandmother had escaped slavery, attended Chesterbrook School and Gunnell’s Chapel - described growing up   
• Nancy A. Sampson – Additional – lived in McLean starting 1958 member of Shiloh Baptist Church for over 40 years   
• Virese Hall Thornton –100 Described her ancestor Christopher Columbus Hall   and the Black community on Cottonwood Street   
• Barbara Lee Carter Wilks - 100 Described Barnes Family and Stoney Hill [ today’s Tyson’s Corner], attended Odrick’s School, Louise Archer School, and Luther Jackson High School 
• Repository:  Fairfax County Public Libraries   

The following McLean residents are included in Legendary Locals of McLean by Carole Herrick. Each person’s contribution to the McLean Community is described and a photo is included.  

• Bernie Boston; Page 104, Mable Coates - Page 108, Myra Coates - Page 108  
• Otrich Sharper Jackson Costley - Page 19, Eric Hall Dorsey - Page 116  

• Dingwall Fleary - Page 102- Martina Hall - Page 59  
• Wanda Hill - Page 107- Sonja Duffin Hurlbutt - Page 111  
• Mary Emma Sharper Kenney -Page 26, Rufus Kenney - Page 26  
• Florence E. Smith - Page 19- Michelle Spady - Page 118  
• Virese Hall Thornton - Page 59-Lucy Turner – Images of America, McLean; Page 64  

• John Watson Mills –Page 16 
• Repository:  Fairfax County Public Libraries   

Northern Virginia Civil Rights Archive   

Interviews of Fairfax County residents were collected by Marion Dobbins to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The interviewees described their personal involvement with the Civil Rights Movement.  Each interview is approximately 12 minutes long.   

• Bernard Ames    
• Joann Bagnerise    
• Sallie Baker    
• William Ewell     
• Marion Dobbins    

• Fannie Fitzgerald    
• Glorine Gholson    
• Winifred Gilmore    
• John Harper   
• Marguerite Harris and  

• Joyce Webster  
• Edwin and 
•  Nikki Henderson    
• Alice Howard    
• Lillie Jessie    

• Alice Lightfoot     
• Velma Massenberg  
• Ervinia (Venus) Miller    
• Curtis Porter    
• Viola Richardson    
• Robert Simon    

• Bruce Smith 111  
• Herman Smith      
• Juanita Smith    
• Reverend Dr. Kenny Smith     
• Reverend Dr. Mary Smith   

• Ralph Smith    
• William Smith    
• Etta Richards Stozier      
• Norman Sultan  
• Alice Taylor 
• Inez Wells  
• Repository: https://ethnography.gmu.edu/collections/the-northern-virginia-civil-rights-archive    

Edwin Bancroft Henderson II, the grandson of Dr. E.B. Henderson, is the founder and Executive Director the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation.  

• Edwin and Mary Ellen (Miss Nellie) lived for over fifty years in Falls Church.  
• Edwin was an educator, author, a Civil Rights activist, and nicknamed “Father of Black Basketball.” Edwin was the author of History of the Fairfax County Branch of the NAACP and The Negro in Sports   
• Repository: Fairfax County Public Libraries   

Miss Nellie was a teacher and principal for thirty-two years for FCPS at the two room “Colored School.” In 1936, she created a study comparing county white schools to black schools. The study revealed that ninety percent of the county’s school budget went to white schools. After the study was made public, supporters began to demand improvements for black schools.  

• Miss Nellie wrote Our Disgrace and Shame: School Facilities for Negro Children in Fairfax County. The study was brought before the school board and was published in the Fairfax Herald newspaper on October 26, 1945.  
• Repository: Edwin Henderson, Educator, 93, Dies  
• https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1977/02/05/edwin-henderson-educator-93dies/1b2ba2d6-bbf5-446b-b426-8886da98e425/ 

Transcripts of interviews of Dr. Edwin Henderson and Mary Ellen Henderson are available at the Virginia Room, City of Fairfax Regional Library   

William McKinley Carter lived in Vienna and was a member of the NAACP, the Elks, and the Free and Accepted Masons.  He was President of the Citizen Progressive Association of Vienna. He was one of the leaders of the Friends of the Vienna Library who worked to obtain library access for blacks.  

• Repository: William Carter, Vienna Civic Leader Washington Post December 21, 1977    
• https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1977/12/21/william-carter-vienna-civic-leader 

Clifton Living magazines: articles about Clifton residents written by Lynne Garvey Hodge   

• “Cowboy James Beckwourth” – September 2020, page 10  explorer of western United States  
• “Happy 187th Birthday, Warner Melvin! Meet One of Clifton’s Oldest Neighbors” – October 2020, page 10  
• “The Jeremiah ‘Mannie’ Jackson Family” – November 2020, page 14  
• “What is Watch Night?” – January 2021, page 12  African Americans gathered to pray on the ever of January 1, 1863, when the Emancipation Proclamation was to go into effect.  “Watchnight” celebrations continue today.  
• “Minnie Beckwith Hughes – Clifton’s Grand Lady Educator” – February 2021, page 13  
• “Meet Clifton Founding Families’ Descendant – Linneall Naylor” – March 2021, page 15 
• “The Conversation Continues with Linneall Naylor” – April 2021, page 15  
• Repository:   Virginia Room, City of Fairfax Regional Library, VREF 975.529 Clifton.  

West Springfield High School Applied History Class Oral History Interviews  

• Academic Year   2020-2021, By Nia Maronda and Solene Montgomery      
• The course involves examining and learning about history from a different perspective from what is taught in a typical history class. There also is a heavy emphasis on examining local history, going as small as your neighborhood potentially. The goal of the second semester internship was to interview various African American residents who are native to Fairfax County to begin documenting the African American experience in the county.  
• Interview Summaries   
• Camille Brown lived in Bailey’s Crossroads. She started high school at Luther Jackson High that was then the only high school for all black students in Fairfax County. When schools were desegregated, she attended JEB Stuart High School,where she had to sit in the back of the school bus and eat by herself at lunch.  
• Dee Dee Carter grew up in Vienna.  Her family includes descendants of Native Americans of the Powhatan Confederacy.  She opposed a fundraising activity at her high school where students acted as slaves and others paid money to free the “slaves.”  
• Chrystal Gaskins grew up in Northern Virginia.  The interracial marriage of her parents was considered taboo.  In high school, she had to fight to take the automotive class, because a woman had never done that before.  
• Phyllis Walker- Ford grew up in Franconia where her father was born. She attended segregated schools in Fairfax County and participated in sit-ins at college administration buildings.  
• Bobby Whitmore grew up in the house his father built in Merrifield. His father was the first African American mail carrier in the area. Because of the light color of his skin, Bobby was harassed by both black and white classmates.   
• Repository: https://research.fairfaxcounty.gov/local-history/oral-histories   

Virginia Slave Narratives

• The website includes “the names of enslaved and formerly enslaved Virginians who authored narratives of their lives, were the subjects of biographies, or who spoke to journalists or oral historians.”
• by Brendan Wolfe  April 28, 2022
• Repository: Encyclopedia Virginia Virginia Humanities
• https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/virginia-slave-narratives/

Gladys Quander Tancil 1921-2002

• Gladys Tancil was a prominent person in the sharing of Mount Vernon’s history  and developing educational programming. In the 1970s Tancil became the first African American guide at Mount Vernon. She led tours at Mount Vernon that focused on the lives of the enslaved that included the lives of her ancestors.
• Repository: https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/gladys-quander-tancil-1921-2002/

 Andrew B. “Andy Smith”  A Legacy in a Gesture  

• By William Page Johnson II
• Andy Smith was born in a log cabin in Fairfax Station in 1911. His ancestors were once enslaved. Andy was a laborer who was well known as the man who sat on his front porch and waved at every motorist.  The community cared for and watched over  Andy Smith when hard times hit.
• Repository: The Fare Facts Gazette the Newsletter of Historic Fairfax City, Inc. Volume 15, Issue 3 Summer 2018: https://www.historicfairfax.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/HFCI1503-Summer2018.pdf

Carter Family of Vienna  Family’s History in Vienna Spans 160 years

• One of the earliest family members was a Native American . Another ancestor, Lucy Carter, served as a spy to aid the Union Army during the Civil War
• By Michael Morrow
• Repository: Fairfax County Times  February 25, 2022   https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/fairfax_county/family-s-history-in-vienna-spans-160-years/article_c3671608-95ab-11ec-8fe5-effb54c04133.html

A Union Spy of Color?  

• Historical Marker describes the lives of the Carter family ancestors.
• Repository: Historical Marker Database
• https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=198192