Fairfax History

Brought to life

an untold

story

The free Black population of Fairfax Court House dates to at least the 1820s. After the Civil War, newly freed Black citizens expanded the hamlet of Jermantown dramatically. Additional segregated neighborhoods, including School Street, which overlapped today’s George Mason University, and Ilda, off Guinea Road, grew and thrived. in the second half of the nineteenth century, residents built schools, churches, and a cemetery. These families persevered under Jim Crow in the early twentieth century. After incorporation, the city of Fairfax annexed these historically Black localities, and their separate character began to disappear. This group of authors with deep roots in Fairfax tells the stories of their communities.

Authors: Etta Willson, Rita Colbert, Linneall Naylor, Rondia Prescott, Jenee Lindner

I am grateful to the many contributors who made this important work of scholarship possible.

Catherine S. Read, Mayor, City of Fairfax, VA July 2023

award winning team

Meet The authors

Etta Willson

Etta was raised in two segregated communities. She has been a passionate genealogist for 43 years. She has been a source of documentation for much of the book.

Rita Colbert

Rita is the community picture lady! Additionally, she has collected newspaper clippings. She has helped to bring the book to life.

Linneall Naylor

Linneall is an active member of a Racial Reconciliation Group. She is president of the Jermantown Preservation Society and loves doing genealogical work.

Rondia Prescott

Rita's niece, and her genealogical collection speaks to her passion for family history. She is Vice President of the Jermantown Preservation Society.

Jenee Lindner

A longtime genealogist, Jenee is a Fairfax County History Commissioner. She was chosen in 2022 as Fairfax County Community Champion Volunteer of the Year and a Fairfax City Volunteer of the Year.