Cumberland in Cumberland County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Lucyville

Photographed By Lew Longenecker, April 10, 2024

1. Lucyville Marker

Inscription. The Rev. Reuben T. Coleman, enslaved at birth, became an entrepreneur after the Civil War. About 1.5 miles north of here he established Lucyville, named for his daughter, which in the 1890s featured a bank, post office, newspaper, and mineral springs resort that drew visitors from afar. Coleman, who challenged segregation, was the pastor of Mount Olive Baptist Church and a local Republican leader and officeholder. His brother-in-law Shed Dungee, formerly enslaved, represented the area in the House of Delegates (1879-1882) and aligned with the Readjusters, a biracial coalition that achieved major reforms and supported public education. Many Lucyville residents left during the Great Migration.

Erected 2024 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number MJ 5.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 37° 32.537′ N, 78° 16.03′ W. Marker is in Cumberland, Virginia, in Cumberland County. Marker is at the intersection of Trents Mill Road (County Route 622) and Oaks Hill Road (County Route 629), on the right when traveling south on Trents Mill Road. Across

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from Bear Creek Market. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 591 Trents Mill Rd, Cumberland VA 23040, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Jackson Davis (approx. 3.4 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 3.4 miles away); Confederate Memorial (approx. 3.4 miles away); Cumberland County Court House (approx. 3.4 miles away); First Call For Independence (approx. 3.4 miles away); Campaign of 1781 (approx. 4.6 miles away); Buckingham County / Cumberland County (approx. 5.8 miles away); Buckingham Baptist Church (approx. 8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cumberland.

Also see . . . The chronicles of Lucyville: A historic community forgotten. Cardinal News (2/29/24) Fourth in a series of articles about how students at Cumberland Middle School researched and proposed a historical marker. (Submitted on April 28, 2024.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2024, by Lew Longenecker of Appomattox, Virginia. This page has been viewed 53 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on April 28, 2024, by Lew Longenecker of Appomattox, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.

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