Dumfries Honors a Century of Black History Commemorations

This past weekend, the Town of Dumfries gathered inside the historic walls of Little Union Baptist Church for its annual Black History Month Celebration — a moment dedicated not only to reflection, but to responsibility.

Guided by this year’s theme, “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” the program served as a powerful reminder that history does not preserve itself. People preserve it.

Residents, families, elders, and young people filled the sanctuary — a living expression of what happens when a community refuses to let its story fade.

In his remarks, Mayor Derrick R. Wood challenged attendees to see remembrance as more than ceremony.

“When a community chooses to remember, it refuses to disappear,” he shared.

For generations, the preservation of Black history has required courage — the courage to document truth, to pass down stories, and to ensure that contributions once overlooked are never forgotten. That responsibility now rests with those willing to carry the story forward.

The Town of Dumfries is uniquely positioned within that story.

From the early port along Quantico Creek to enduring landmarks like Williams Ordinary, local history reflects both the promise and the painful realities that helped shape the region. Once a colonial tavern and gathering place, the site also holds the difficult truth that enslaved men, women, and children were auctioned on that very land — a reminder that understanding our past requires honesty as much as pride.

Yet even in the shadow of injustice, resilience took root.

Communities such as Batestown, established by formerly enslaved families, became places where stability was built, land was owned, and futures were imagined. Though Batestown Road would later be renamed Mine Road, the legacy of those who built lives there remains woven into the identity of Dumfries.

The program also created space to honor the individuals whose leadership helped preserve that identity across generations.

Mayor Wood offered special recognition to Mistress of Ceremony Gwen Washington, describing her as a mentor, trusted advisor, and steady voice within the community. Having once served alongside her on the Town Council — and crediting her encouragement during his write-in campaign in 2012 — the Mayor noted that leadership is often the result of those who choose to invest in others.

It was a moment that reflected a deeper truth: history is not only something we inherit — it is something we are called to protect.

That belief continues to shape how Dumfries approaches its future. Decisions such as renaming Confederate Court to Liberty Lane reflect an intentional commitment to ensuring public spaces align with the inclusive values the town strives to uphold.

Names matter. Memory matters. And what a community chooses to preserve signals who it is — and who it hopes to become.

Throughout the celebration, one message resonated clearly: presence itself is an act of preservation.

When families gather, when elders are honored, and when young people are invited into the narrative, history remains alive — not as a distant chapter, but as a living foundation.

Mayor Wood encouraged residents not to treat Black history as something visited once a year, but as a story to carry forward.

Ask the questions.

Write the names down.

Tell the stories.

Teach the next generation where they come from.

Because, as he reminded those in attendance,

“A people who forget their story become vulnerable to anyone willing to rewrite it.”

The afternoon served not only as a commemoration of the past, but as a quiet declaration about the future — that Dumfries will remain a place where history is remembered, truth is respected, and every generation knows it belongs.

Black history, after all, is not just about yesterday.

It is evidence of what is possible tomorrow.

And a community that remembers its story…

is a community that cannot be erased.