Created by Friends of Derrick Wood

In honor of Black History Month 2025, Mayor Derrick Wood of Dumfries, Virginia sits down with Garnell Bates, a 97-year-old resident and the eldest living member of the Bates Family—believed to be the oldest free Black family in the area. In this powerful oral history interview, Mr. Bates shares memories of his childhood in Batestown, a once-thriving African American community that existed near Dumfries, now part of Prince William Forest Park. He speaks on growing up as a free Black child in segregated Virginia, his love for classic cars, his 35-year career at Possum Point Power Plant, and the legacy of faith, family, and resilience passed down through generations. Batestown was founded by formerly enslaved people and free African Americans, and Garnell’s story connects us directly to this rich but often overlooked chapter of Virginia’s Black history.