Garnell Bates Reflects on Batestown Legacy
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 […]