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Belle Grove Hosts Warren-Page County NAACP Black History Month Program

In association with Belle Grove Plantation, the Warren-Page Branch #7125 of the NAACP celebrated Black History Month on February 4, 2017. The event was free and open to the public; more than 100 people attended.

The program began with an invocation by Reverend Alfred Woods, Past President of the NAACP chapter. The Mistress of Ceremony was Dr. Judith James, Co-Chair of the Shenandoah Valley Chapter of Coming to the Table. The program included brief remarks from Belle Grove Plantation's Chair Suzanne Conrad and Executive Director Kristen Laise. Vocalist Mrs. Jean Ollie Baltimore provided musical selections. Reverend Bessie Taylor Jett Pastor of the Church Without Walls Ministry in Huntly, Virginia was the featured speaker and was followed by remarks by NAACP Chapter #7125's President Mr. A.D.Carter, III and Loudoun County NAACP's President Phillip E. Thompson Esq. The program also included Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park Ranger Shannon Moeck presenting "Kneading in Silence: A Glimpse Into The Life of Judah the Enslaved Cook in the Belle Grove Winter Kitchen." Born in 1794 and purchased by the Hites around 1816, Judah remained their cook until her death in 1836.  The benediction was provided by Reverend James Kilby Pastor, First Baptist of Washington, Virginia.