Madison County African American Historical Association

10/25/2026

We are excited to see that one of our 2026 Black History Month essay contest winners has been named MCHS Homecoming Queen! Congratulations Trinity! And congratulations to Zyen! NAACP-Culpeper Branch 7058

Please join us in congratulating Mr.Zyen Tinsley, our Homecoming King, and Miss Trinity Shoultz, our Homecoming Queen!

MCHS is incredibly proud to have these two outstanding students represent our school as this year’s Homecoming King and Queen!

09/25/2026

We are incredibly proud of the meaningful work happening at the Madison County African American Historical Association through our Silent Ground Initiative.

This beautiful and powerful photo, captured by our member Victoria Garnett, represents more than a moment in time. It reflects our commitment to uncovering, documenting, and preserving the African American history that is deeply rooted in Madison County.

There is something powerful about standing on ground where generations before us lived, raised families, built communities, experienced joy and hardship, and created stories that deserve to be remembered.

Some of that history is visible. Other parts require us to search, listen, document, and preserve so they are not lost to time. Through the Silent Ground Initiative, we are working to ensure these stories and places are remembered and shared with future generations.

We are grateful to Virginia Humanities for awarding a grant to the Madison County African American Historical Association that helped make this important work possible.

We invite you to learn more about the impact of Virginia Humanities and the many projects and organizations doing important work across the Commonwealth in the Virginia Humanities 2026 Impact Report:

https://impact.virginiahumanities.org/

We are honored to be part of this work and excited to continue uncovering and preserving the stories of Madison County.

Some ground may be silent, but the stories are still there. We just have to be willing to listen.

09/16/2026

We would like to share our gratitude for the generosity of William Moore Passano, Jr.

The Madison County African American Historical Association is grateful for the kind consideration of the late William Passano in remembering our organization. Mr. Passano, the father of Madison County resident Kemp Hill, had a lifelong interest in education and valued our efforts to research, preserve, and share our local history. He passed away in May of this year, having arranged for a generous donation to support our work. We honor his memory and wish to express our condolences and appreciation to his family.

09/05/2026

We’re proud to introduce Hiram Lee Blakey as the newest feature in our Hometown History series!

A true son of Madison County, Hiram Blakey’s story is one of family, community, perseverance, and a life rooted in the place he called home. His journey reflects the strength and character of the people whose lives have helped shape Madison County’s history and legacy.

Through our Hometown History series, we have the privilege of preserving stories like Boyd’s, stories that remind us that our local history lives not only in places and dates, but in the people, families, experiences, and memories that make our community what it is today.

We invite you to learn more about Hiram Lee Blakey, celebrate his life and legacy, and discover another important piece of Madison County history.

Read his full Hometown History profile on our website and help us honor a story worth remembering and sharing. https://mcaaha.org/hometown-histories-hiram-lee-blakey-a-legacy-rooted-in-resilience/

09/05/2026

📣 The Lodge Hall is OPEN TODAY!

Come on out and spend some time with us!

📍 Lodge Hall
📅 Open Today

Come through, bring a friend, and enjoy the day with us. See you at the Lodge! 🙌🏾

08/19/2026

Sending love and prayers to the family of James Arrington. We will miss our dear friend. 💕

06/22/2026

Our MCAAHA president, Dr. Mesha Jones, recently gave an excellent speech on heritage tourism at the annual Madison County Chamber of Commerce dinner. Read more at MCAAHA.org under News. 🇺🇸

https://mcaaha.org/mcaaha-president-mesha-jones-addresses-madison-chamber-of-commerce/

06/10/2026

Our new interpretive marker is in place in Graves Mill! This marker memorializes a cemetery for the enslaved that was recently discovered on a farm and has now been carefully preserved thanks to the efforts of farm owners Kemp and Tommy Hill, farm managers Shannon and Nathan Carter, Virginia Humanities, and the MCAAHA. Special thanks to James Garnett for installing the plaque and our MCAAHA founder Nancy Garnett Williams for overseeing its development! And to Eddie’s Engraving for creating the plaque!

https://mcaaha.org/interpretive-marker-placed-at-graves-mill-cemetery/

02/02/2026

A message from our president:

“If you don’t know where you’ve come from, you don’t know where you’re going.” - Maya Angelou

Black History Month invites us to pause, reflect, and recommit. In a moment when history is being questioned and the present feels just as uncertain, remembrance becomes essential not only to honor the past but also to guide the future we are shaping together.

Celebrating Black history means more than reflection during one month. It means learning the full story, sharing it openly, and carrying its lesson forward in how we lead, serve, and care for our communities. Progress is sustained when we stay engaged, informed, and intentional.

Our call to action: continue learning, speak with care and courage when history is minimized and the present is at risk, support Black voices and communities, and commit individually and collectively to building a more just and equitable future, all year long.”

Dr. Mesha Jones

01/19/2026

Don’t forget to vote for the MCAAHA in this year’s Hometown Heroes competition! Voting ends soon!

https://e.givesmart.com/events/MDg/i/_Cultural%20Enrichment/?fbclid=IwRlRTSAPbcVlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEezG3GnGlYzkBtUKHjNliULgeUoRbmawKfXEQ4Vm1_4d524MzPmnqumK-8b-I_aem_-du7rY_02583CWZtTlXQSA