When I received an e-mail from Alvah Beander that Sonny Duke had died, I did not know anything about Sonny until Alvah told me. I started inquiring about Sonny from my Elderly Advisors. After talking to my advisors, I knew I had to write about Sonny. I contacted his cousin, William “Bill” Gordon and Sonny’s daughter, Wanda Duke Kyler.
As I was researching and writing the article on Sonny, I thought to myself how many African Americans in Alexandria did not know Sonny. Sonny’s life as a businessperson was exceptional and an inspiration to individuals who want to embark on their own business, especially for African Americans.
Through the research and interviews with his cousin and daughter, I was able to reveal Sonny’s passion for being the best businessperson he could be. He valued his customers and he strived to deliver his customers’ clothes within 24 hours. He dressed for success and he rolled up his sleeves to do their clothes even when he had a staff to do the work.
Sonny worked long hours even when his health was failing. He was truly dedicated to making his customers satisfied, which result in his business being successful. His customers were in Alexandria and in Fairfax, Virginia. Sonny’s success really came from his parents that groomed him to be a businessperson. He worked beside his parents in their business starting at the age of thirteen. By the time he was eighteen, his parents made him a manager at their drycleaners.
The life of Sonny is an example of the young learning from their elders. Sonny was good in listening and learning from his elders because his life was a testimony to what he accomplished by learning from them.
Behind the scenes of the Alexandria Gazette Packet’s article on, “They Served Their Country – Davis and Shanklin Families”– dated November 26, 2020.
Sammy Shanklin shared the stories of his family military careers. Sammy’s family came to Alexandria prior to the Civil War from King George, Virginia. The Shanklin and Davis families have made many contributions to their community in the last 150-years especially their military careers.
In the article, you will read about the Army services of Chester Leroy Davis and his brother William “Billy” Davis, but there were others in their family that served in the military.
Gwendolyn Shanklin
Edgar D. Shanklin who served in the Unites States Navy during World War II. Edgar was married to Helen Jones and they had several children. Their daughter, Gwendolyn Arlene Shanklin followed in her father’s footstep. She enlisted in the United States Navy from 1974 to 1977.
Check out this article on “They Served Their Country – Davis and Shanklin Families”– dated November 26, 2020 in the Alexandria Gazette Packet on page 12 at by clicking this link: http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2020/112520/Alexandria.pdf.
Joseph Lovelace and his siblings who settled in Alexandria, all came from Halifax, Virginia. There roots go back to Halifax, Virginia into the late 1700s.
Joseph’s father Andrew Lovelace’s parents were Jacob (Jake) Lovelace and Alice Terry. Both Jacob and Alice were born enslaved. They lived in the Meadville and Staunton areas in Halifax, VA. Meadville and Staunton are on the border of Pittsylvania, Virginia. Alice was born in Pittsylvania.
Andrew Lovelace and Ludora Hawkins married in Halifax, VA. They had twelve children and all of their children migrated out of the area but two, which was Kate and Alice. Andrew and Ludora’s children were:
Obie Lovelace who was born in Halifax, VA migrated to Baltimore, MD then to Washington, D.C., and finally settled in Alexandria, VA. He had two children Obie, Jr., and Edith who are now deceased. Obie, Sr., grandchildren and great-grandchildren are living in Albany, NY, Richmond, VA and Charlotte, NC.
Sevela Lovelace died as an infant in Halifax, VA.
Kate Virginia Lovelace spent her entire life in Halifax, VA. She had two children that died as infants. Her children who made it into adulthood are Felix, Mary, Martha, Bernice,Charlie and Gladys. Kate has numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren that are living today. Her daughter Bernice migrated to Alexandria. Bernice had five children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
John Henry Lovelace migrated to Alexandria, VA then to Philadelphia and then to New Jersey. He spent his last days in Philadelphia. His children were born in Halifax, Virginia but they grew up in Alexandria. His three children are Juanita, John and Howard. Only one of his children are living today. Howard lives in San Diego, CA.
Left, Anthony Lovelace and right, Pee Wee Lovelace – 2010 Lovelace Reunion Host by: Dorella Lovelace Blount
John’s daughter, Juanita had 11 children. Her children are listed with the number of children they had: Van (2 children) born in Washington, DC, Eddie (no children) born in Washington, DC, Anthony (3 children) born in Washington, DC, Freda (4 children) born in Saginaw, Michigan, Lee (1 child), Valerie “PeeWee” (3 children), Tommy (4 children), Winnie (3 children) Wayne (3 children) Jerome (1 child), and Jeff (3 children). The last seven children were born in Alexandria.
John’s son, John Jr., had one daughter, Dorella. Dorella has four children, Waynette,John, Jomaine,Joseph and twelve grandchildren. Dorella was born and raised in Alexandria.
John’s son, Howard grew up in Alexandria and graduated from Parker-Gray. He has one daughter, Tameka. Tameka has two children. She was born in California.
Albert James Lovelace died as an infant.
Alice Lovelace Bass had three children. They were born in Halifax and Pittsylvania, Virginia. Her children are Ernest, Madeline and Lola. Two of her children are deceased. Lola lives in New Jersey. Some of Madeline’s children live in Maryland. Alice has numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Clarence Edward Lovelace was born in Halifax, Virginia. He was a World War II veteran. He lived in Alexandria a short time before migrating to Philadelphia. He had no children.
Charlie Wilson Lovelace was born in Halifax, Virginia. He migrated to Philadelphia. He had no children.
Gladys Christine Lovelace was born in Halifax, Virginia. She migrated to Philadelphia. She had three children Maxcile, Mary Jane, and her son. Christine has a number of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Left: Judy Lovelace (deceased) and her daughter – 2010 Lovelace Reunion
William Henry Lovelace was born in Halifax, Virginia. He migrated to Alexandria. All of his children were born in Alexandria. He had nine children Ann, Betty Lou, William, Joseph, Obie Lee, Vastoria, Judy, Marilyn, and Ricky. William had numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. His daughter Ann had seven children: Carlton, Marie, Michael, Brenda, Tawana, Zachary and Antonio. All of them have Alexandria roots.
Joseph B. Lovelace was born in Halifax, Virginia. He migrated to Alexandria when he was a teen. He settled in Utah and then in Colorado. He has four children, which includes Wanda and Pattie and one stepchild, five grandchildren, one step-grandchild, four great-grandchildren, and one step-great-grandchild. His daughter Wanda has two children Joseph, Brionna and a grandson, Joseph III. Wanda lives in Maryland.
I was born in Alexandria, Virginia in the 1950s. I attended Charles Houston Elementary School when it was segregated. When it was time for middle school in the 1970s, Parker-Gray was already integrated.
The only thing I remembered about African American (Black) History from elementary to middle school was the one-liner about slavery.
One year after high school, one event changed my life for every. In 1976, Alex Haley’s book “Roots” came out and the movie followed in 1977. I never thought that it was possible to research my family who had been in the United States since the 1700s, but Alex Haley made me think I could.
Forty-four years later, I am still just as passionate about genealogy as I was in 1976. I have found so many family members during these forty-years of research. Those individuals that I located never knew the achievements that our family members made. These achievements were in their local community. Because of my relatives, I have expanded my research into uncovering local histories about African Americans in Alexandria. My readers have let me know through their many e-mails how my articles have resonated with them.
I would like to thank my readers for their many e-mails of gratitude for my local history articles. I know how my readers feel because I was in their shoes when I found out about my relatives and their contributions to their community.
I would like to thank the Alexandria Gazette Newspaper for giving me the platform to write about the local histories of African Americans.
Recently, the Zebra newspaper featured me in their newspaper. I like to thank Audrey P. Davis, the Director of the Alexandria Black History Museum for interviewing me and the Zebra Production and Sale Assistant, Shenise Foster.
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