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VOLUME V
Chesterfield County Branch NAACP Newsletter
May 2009
NAACP Vision Statement
The vision of the National Association for the Advancement of colored People is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal
rights and there is no racial hatred or racial discrimination.
NAACP Mission Statement
The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored people is to ensure political, educational, social and economic
equality of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.
May 25th was Memorial Day. Often this is a day full of
pomp and circumstance. For some this is a day to celebrate
the life of those whom have served in previous wars. For
others this a date to simply do nothing; a holiday of sort.
Chesterfield County’s citizens have participated in wars
abroad, Chesterfield County’s Police, Sheriff, Fire & EMS
workers all have paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep Chesterfield County’s community safe for all of its citizens.
Ryann McCarraher
Past Life in Chesterfield County with out NAACP
May, 1956 the Planning Commission, led by Chairman Ted
Keck decried the lack of a master plan for the county’s development. That summer the Board of Supervisors authorized the Planning Commission to interview professional
planners with a view to eventually undertake a master zoning plan to address the massive growth in Chesterfield
County.
The growth required expansion of the resources that were
needed for the safety of Chesterfield County, but the
growth did not offer growth or employment for Women,
Blacks, Asians, Native Americans, and Latinos.
The Chesterfield County Police department can be traced
back to the1900’s and was established April 1924.
On May 12, 1749 a "Commission of the Peace" was issued by Governor William Gooch that created a judicial
body to administer general laws. The proclamation outlined
the powers of the Sheriff, Justices and Clerks. One of the
most important duties of the Sheriff in that era was to collect taxes. Duties of the Sheriff were described as "bringing
to court persons who broke the peace or who were suspected of breaking the law." Unfortunately due to run away
slaves and later “Jim Crow” the Sheriff’s duties were to ensure that blacks kept their place since half of the County’s
population were slaves. The Sheriffs were also tasked with
the security of the Judges, the courthouse and the jail.
July 1,1969-70 the county’s budget included funds for 20
firemen, a battalion chief and a county fire chief. In November 1969 after training the Fire Department had eleven paid
firemen at Bon Air. Unfortunately, all that were allowed to
hold such a proud position of protecting our community
were Caucasian males.
Fire Fighters at Work
Steve Delaney
Present Life in Chesterfield County with NAACP
Today Chesterfield County is the fourth largest
municipality in Virginia.
In 1974 Judge Gates appointed Michael L. Morse to
the Chesterfield County police force. He was the first
black person to join the force. Women joined the police
force in 1964 (white women). They were assigned to
crossing guards, but they had the power to arrest.
Today the Chesterfield County Police Department has
32 Blacks in which 6 are women, out of 48 women,
2 Native Americans, 10 Latinos, 385 Caucasian men.
The first female, Deputy Mary Gibson, was hired in
1971. The first Black female, Deputy Louvenia Washington, was hired in 1972 followed by the first Black male,
Deputy Lacy Bowen, hired in 1975. The current statistics
for the Sheriff Department are 24% Black males, 2%
Hispanic/Latino and Asian/Oriental and 29% female.
The first Black to join the fire department was Rowland
Stokes in August 1973. Today the Fire Department has
30 Black males, 2 Hispanic males, 1 Hispanic female, 4
Asian males, 21 woman in which 9 are Black.
The Chesterfield County NAACP recognizes that there
is still room for growth regarding diversity.
We applaud our NAACP members that have chosen to
protect our community and our country. We pay tribute to
our Military, Police, Fire & EMS, and the Sheriff Department for their service.
Chesterfield County Branch NAACP P.O. Box 246 Chesterfield, Virginia 23832 804.768.0662
www.chesterfieldnaacp.com
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Sponsor of the Chesterfield County Branch NAACP 24th Annual
Freedom Fund Banquet
Supporters of the Chesterfield County Branch NAACP
Sibley’s Bar-B-Q Restaurant & Catering
12000 Winfree Street
Chester, VA 23831
J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Home
Establishment
102 South Avenue
Petersburg, VA 23803
Jesse J. Mayes Tri Cities 555th Airborne
Chapter
Petersburg, VA 23875
Riley Ingram
62nd District
Eureka Lodge #15
Petersburg, VA 23803
CAPAAMMD
Ettrick, VA 23803
Joseph Jenkins, Jr. Funeral Home
2011 Grayland Avenue
Richmond, VA 23220
Delegate Lee Ware
65th District
Cattail Creek Farm
23801 Williamson Road
Dinwiddie, VA 23841
Dean and Associates Consulting
20107 Oakland Avenue
Colonial Heights, VA 23834
The Gee Law Firm, P.C.
211 E. German School Road
Richmond, VA 23225
Newhaven Children Services, L.L.C.
905 Maplegrove Drive Richmond, VA
23223
Chesterfield County Branch NAACP P.O. Box 246 Chesterfield, Virginia 23832 804.768.0662
www.chesterfieldnaacp.com
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The Chesterfield County
Branch NAACP looks
forward to your presence to
help us
celebrate 100 years.
Join us at the Holiday Inn Select Richmond-Koger South
Conference Center located 10800 Midlothian Turnpike Richmond, Virginia 23235 on September 5, 2009 for dining and
dancing.
The tickets are priced $50.00 per person and $400.00 per
table seating eight. The cost for the dance only is $20.00
Tickets can be purchased by PayPal at www.chesterfieldnaacp.com or call 804.768.0662
Chesterfield County Branch NAACP P.O. Box 246 Chesterfield, Virginia 23832 804.768.0662
www.chesterfieldnaacp.com
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Facts: 1956 The 34th President of the U.S. was
Dwight D. Eisenhower
96 members of the 84th Congress authored the
Southern Manifesto
U.S. Supreme Court outlaws segregation on public
transportation in Alabama, ending the Bus Boycott.
All meetings are scheduled for the third Tuesday of each
month at 7:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church Centralia located
2920 Kingsdale Rd. Richmond ,Virginia 23237
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We thank the Chesterfield County Historical Society for volume’s I and II of the History of Chesterfield from 1607-1989 , Anne Reid of the
Chesterfield County Police Department, Clay Bowles of the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office and Steve Hall and Anita Anderson of the
Chesterfield County Fire Department.
The Southern Manifesto was a document written in February-March 1956 by legislators in the United States Congress opposed to racial integration in public places. The manifesto was signed by 101 politicians (99 Democrats and 2 Republicans) from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. The document was largely drawn up to counter the landmark Supreme Court 1954 ruling Brown v. Board of Education
The Southern Manifesto accused the Supreme Court of "clear abuse of judicial power." It further promised to use "all lawful means to bring about a reversal of this decision which is contrary to the Constitution and to
prevent the use of force in its implementation." *http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/souther_manifesto
Please inform us if you have a piece of interest or any archives that you would like to share.
A Letter From The President of The Chesterfield County Branch of the NAACP
As the NAACP continues its 100th anniversary celebration, we should be mindful of our mission and vision statement. In the wake of massive unemployment the organization does not have to gaze far for low income or mistreated
individuals though minorities have always been last hired first fired we are all in the same boat.
Due to the economy Chesterfield County’s branch has witnessed an escalation in calls. The result of not being able to
respond to the escalation of calls has placed upon us what many believe to be negligence on our part. I can not state
enough that it is our desire to respond to our community and to gather knowledge and resources in order to make a reasonable and responsible assessment.
Going forward with the 100th anniversary celebration we recognize that recruitment is necessary but in order to help
our community our branch must reflect our community. Just as it was in the beginning where diversity was key to our
earlier success we ask that you not only join us with our efforts, but join us as an active member.
Finally, doors open when people talk and respect each other not when one communicates with callousness and lack of
caring. Therefore, let us continue the struggle in answering the call for civil rights by communicating to continue our legacy for the next 100 years.
Yours Truly,
L. J. McCoy
President
Chesterfield County Branch NAACP
P.O. Box 246
Chesterfield, Virginia 23832
Chesterfield County Branch NAACP P.O. Box 246 Chesterfield, Virginia 23832 804.768.0662
Stamp
www.chesterfieldnaacp.com
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