When an elder leave this world, he takes his history library with him. Mr. James E. Henson died on December 13, 2020 in Alexandria, Virginia. He shared his knowledge that he gained from his elders with others. I was one of those individuals who he shared a great deal of history of what he knew and what he gained from his elders.
Now Mr. Henson has joined his elders and left the rest of us to inspire generation after us. He left us a priceless gift of self and history. He made room for us to do the same. He was one of a kind. Many will miss Mr. Henson.
The second article is on one of Parker-Gray High School’s finest women runners, Marian Stanfield a 1964 graduate of Parker-Gray High School.
On the same page as Marion Stanfield, is the third article about, ‘Parker-Gray Alumni 40 Plus Years of Giving Scholarships’ monies. The PG Alumni recently announced that they are retiring the organization so this will be the last official scholarships given out to new recipients. You can find these articles on page 14 at – http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2020/122320/Alexandria.pdf.
I would like to wish all my readers, Happy Christmas and Happy New Year. I look forward in continuing to bring you, local stories of African Americans in Alexandria who made accomplishments and a difference in their community.
I would also like to thank all the individuals who took the time in 2020 to write my editor about the stories that I wrote. I truly feel grateful that I have been able to highlight Alexandria African Americans’ accomplishments. I deeply appreciated that my readers enjoyed taking this history tour with me in learning so many stories of the forgotten histories of our community. Thank you and be safe!
Behind the scenes of the Alexandria Gazette Packet’s article on, “Getting Ready to Cast My Vote – Cassie Reddick Whitmore”– dated December 9, 2020.
Gale Brooks-Ogden
Gale Arlene Brooks Ogden is her family’s historian. She played a major role in providing information on her family who are connected to the Alexandria Freedmen Cemetery. Her family has been in Alexandria since the Civil War.
The article that was in the Alexandria Gazette focused on Gale’s great-grandmother, Cassie Reddick Whitmore. Although, Gale never had a chance to meet Cassie, she collected family stories and researched Cassie’s life. Cassie was dead almost two decades before Gale was born.
Through Gale’s research, she was able to know a lot about Cassie’s life. Cassie had the strong fierce spirit of her parents. Both of Cassie’s parents were born in enslaved and they were bold enough to make it from Hartford, North Carolina and Loudoun, Virginia during the civil war to Alexandria.
Cassie also seek freedom just like her parents. She wanted the freedom to cast her vote. With the passing of the 19th Amendment, Cassie cast her vote in the November 2, 1920 Election for the presidential candidate Warren G. Harding. Cassie made history and that history was passed down for 100 years to her great-granddaughter Gail.
Correction to the Alexandria Gazette article on page 6, Cassie Reddick Whitmore. Correction on the first line it should be 19th Amendment. In the seven paragraph, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was 32nd President and not the 39th.
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.
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