Husband, Father, Man of God
ASHBURN, Va. — I had a wonderful time this morning attending the Washington Commanders Training Camp practice at the team’s facility in Ashburn with friends. It was exciting to experience the energy of the crowd, meet fellow OU graduate Tress Way, and enjoy a beautiful Virginia morning in great company.
OCCOQUAN, Va. — The Ebenezer Baptist Church in Occoquan was founded in 1883 by Rev. Lewis Henry Bailey, who was born into slavery, separated from his family, sold to Texas, and after emancipation walked back to Northern Virginia to reunite with them.
The church's story is one of faith, perseverance, and community. Now recognized with a Town of Occoquan historical marker and as part of the Prince William County African American History Trail, Ebenezer continues to honor a remarkable legacy that has endured for more than 140 years.
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ARLINGTON, Va. — On February 2, 1959, Stratford Junior High School became the first public school in Virginia to desegregate, marking a pivotal moment in the Commonwealth's Civil Rights history and signaling the collapse of the state's policy of Massive Resistance.
Constructed in 1950, Stratford became the focus of a legal and political battle that followed the U.S. Supreme Court's 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education. After years of litigation led by the NAACP and local activist Dorothy Hamm, a federal court ordered Arlington County to admit four Black students—Ronald Deskins, Michael Jones, Lance Newman, and Gloria Thompson—to the previously all-white school.
Despite threats from segregationist organizations and the presence of approximately 100 police officers on the morning of February 2, 1959, the four students entered the school peacefully. Principal Claude Richmond welcomed them, classes proceeded without violence, and the day became known by the Anti-Defamation League as "The Day Nothing Happened." That quiet success marked the beginning of the end for Massive Resistance across Virginia.
Today, the campus is home to Dorothy Hamm Middle School, renamed in 2019 to honor the Arlington activist whose determination helped make school desegregation a reality. The Stratford Commemorative Trail on the school's campus was dedicated in 2021 and preserves the story of the four students whose courage changed Virginia history.
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ARLINGTON, Va. — Lomax AME Zion Church preserves one of the most significant chapters in Arlington County's African American history. Founded by formerly enslaved residents of Freedman's Village, the congregation traces its origins to 1863, making it the oldest extant African American church in Arlington County.
The congregation began as Wesley Zion Church, later known as Little Zion Church, within Freedman's Village on the former Arlington estate of Robert E. Lee. As the federal government prepared to close the settlement, members temporarily worshipped in the home of Levi and Sarah Ann Jones before purchasing a one-acre site in Green Valley in 1874, where the church has remained for more than 150 years. The congregation later adopted the name Lomax AME Zion Church in honor of Bishop T.H. Lomax, an influential leader of the AME Zion Church.
The present Gothic Revival sanctuary, completed after construction began in 1922*, is recognized as an Arlington County Landmark and is listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register as the county's oldest surviving African American church building. Its adjoining cemetery preserves the stories of generations of Green Valley residents, including formerly enslaved men and women whose lives helped shape the community.
Lomax AME Zion Church also played an important role in the modern Civil Rights Movement. In August 1963, under the leadership of the Rev. Arthur W. Walls, the congregation welcomed activists traveling to the March on Washington. On the eve of the historic march, Martin Luther King Jr and Ralph Abernathy addressed supporters in the church parking lot before traveling to the nation's capital, where Dr. King delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech the following day.
Today, Lomax AME Zion Church continues to stand as both a place of worship and a lasting symbol of Green Valley's resilience, preserving a legacy that spans from emancipation through the Civil Rights Movement and into the present day.
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Whether your interest is in local history or you simply enjoy discovering places with meaningful stories, you will find that this is a museum that offers a deeper appreciation for Arlington's past and the people whose contributions continue to inspire today.
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