Color Tree Inc Of Va history

Henry Clay Jones was born a free Black in western Hanover County, Virginia, in April 1842.

In 1846, Isabella was a Black female land owner in Henrico County.

In 1847, at age 21, Isaac Pleasants was listed in the United States Agriculture Population Census as a farmer.

The Sykes’ property was caught in the middle of the American Civil War battles fought on the Glendale or Frayser’s Farm, Malvern Hill, and Long Bridge Road, June 25 – July 1, 1862.

Beaty formally enlisted in the Union Army on June 7, 1863 at the rank of private and was promoted to first sergeant two days later.

Founded in 1867 under the auspices of the Freedmen’s Bureau, Richmond Colored Normal (as it was commonly called) enjoyed a well-deserved reputation that extended beyond Virginia.

Jacob Elijah Lewis was born about 1875-76 in the Glen Allen, part of the Brookland District in Henrico, Virginia to John and Martha Lewis.

Priddy Jasper Cosby was born on January 22, 1882, in Richmond, Virginia.

The H. C. Jones Lumber Company was launched in 1895.

Willie D. Cosby, Jr., was born May 30, 1910, possibly in the Henry District of Hanover County to Willie D. and Rosa J. Cosby.

In 1915 when a new school was built next to the old Mountain Road School, it was renamed the Virginia Randolph Training School in her honor.

Sadie Carter Sears was born February 19, 1919, to Grant and Esther Dandridge Carter in the Ziontown community of Henrico, Virginia.

In 1924 she married Spott Will Atkins, a farmer and descendent of enslaved ancestors who were freed by Quakers in the 18th century.

By 1930, he was married and living in the Fairfield District of Henrico County.

He graduated from the Virginia Randolph Training School in 1931.

Robinson took over the operation of the broom company in 1938, while his father remained on as company chairman.

He attended the two room Westwood School and graduated from Virginia Randolph High School in 1939.

He joined the faculty of Virginia Randolph High School as a history teacher in 1940.

June 1, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered that a segregated unit of the United States Marine Corps be established.

He married the former Robinette Tinsley in December 29, 1951, and was later employed as a security guard by the State of Virginia, Health and Welfare Department with the Metropolitan Security Agency.

Notably, she was one of the founders of the Henrico Teachers Federal Credit Union which was chartered May 1957.

His updated rerelease of “It’s All in the Game” in 1958 skyrocketed to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and remained on top for six weeks.

With the sale of the Nine Mile Road and Laburnum Avenue property to developers in 1960, for what became Eastgate Mall and later Fairfield Commons, Cosby relocated his business to 26 Virginia Avenue.

He retired from Virginia Randolph High School in 1964.

Melton would serve the Medical College of Virginia for 55 years, retiring in 1965.

In 1968, Jones was appointed principal of Central Gardens Elementary, becoming the first African American to become a principal in the desegregated schools of Henrico County.

Doctor Robertson was a long time resident of the Varina District in Henrico County, the husband of Delores Wallace, and the father of one son, Benjamin W. Robertson, Jr., who preceded him in death, July 10, 1974.

Robinson used his business acumen and leadership skills to start the Matthew J. Robinson Realty Company and served as its president until 1975.

In 1978, at the age of 68, Willie D. Cosby, Jr., was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

In 1981, Henrico County offered to purchase the lake, and later developed the land and opened it as a public park.

Priddy Jasper Cosby passed away in the Cosby farmhouse on July 15, 1983, at the age of 101.

Still not finished, she returned to Virginia Randolph from 1992-94 and participated in the volunteer program as an English tutor.

Beaty’s heroic efforts at the Battle of New Market Heights were memorialized in 2001.