Absolon Kent

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Hidden in the heart of today's Lake Ridge community is the remarkable story of Agnewville—also known as Chinntown and Smoketown—a thriving African American community built by the Chinn family after emancipation.

Beginning with Thomas and Mary Jane Chinn and their eight sons, the family purchased nearly 500 acres, creating a vibrant community with homes, a post office, general store, restaurant, gaming hall, and Mount Olive Baptist Church, where generations of the Chinn family are still laid to rest.

Although Agnewville gradually disappeared as transportation routes changed and the area was redeveloped, its legacy lives on through the Prince William County Historical Commission marker that honors the resilience, entrepreneurship, and vision of a family who transformed freedom into opportunity for generations.

Every historical marker tells a story—and this one reminds us that communities can disappear from the landscape but never from history.

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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. — Macedonia Baptist Church traces its origins to 1908, when residents of Arlington's Green Valley community gathered for prayer meetings in the home of Bonder and Amanda Johnson. From those modest beginnings, the congregation grew into the first African American church established by the Nauck (now Green Valley) community itself.

After constructing an early chapel beside the Johnson home, the congregation acquired Peyton Hall near Nauck Station before formally organizing as Macedonia Baptist Church in 1911. Under its first pastor, the Rev. John Gilliam, the church quickly became a center of worship and community life, with its first baptisms taking place in Four Mile Run in 1912.

As Green Valley expanded, so did the church. A new sanctuary was completed in 1927, and the cornerstone for the present church was laid in 1971. During the pastorate of Dr. Leonard L. Hamlin Sr., Macedonia broadened its mission beyond the pulpit, establishing the Bonder and Amanda Johnson Community Development Corporation in 1999, developing affordable housing through The Macedonian, and expanding community services with a family life center.

On November 29, 2003, Arlington County dedicated a historical marker recognizing Macedonia Baptist Church's enduring contributions to Green Valley. More than a century after its founding, the congregation continues to serve as both a spiritual home and a cornerstone of one of Arlington's oldest African American communities.

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VIENNA, Va. — Hidden among the neighborhoods of Tysons, the Carter Family Burial Plot is the last surviving physical reminder of the Carter family and the once-thriving Freedom Hill community.

In 1842, Keziah Carter, a woman of Tauxenent/Pamunkey ancestry, purchased 50 acres of land here after securing the freedom of her enslaved husband, Robert Carter. At a time when Black and mixed-race families faced extraordinary legal and social barriers to land ownership, the Carters established a home and farm that became the heart of Cartersville, one of Fairfax County's earliest free Black communities.

Their descendants left a lasting legacy. During the Civil War, Lucy Carter carried manumission papers to prove her free status and was granted special Union travel passes in 1864. Historians believe she may have served as a Union informant, helping support the Union cause during one of the nation's most turbulent periods.

Today, the Carter Family Burial Plot at 1737 Key West Lane, Vienna preserves the resting place of this pioneering family. Although only one headstone—Millie Carter Whales—remains visible, historical records indicate that several members of the Carter family are buried here. Preservation efforts continue to ensure that their story is not forgotten.

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