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

African American Pioneers

circa November 2025

1. African American Pioneers Marker

Inscription.
This marker commemorates the remains of six African Americans discovered approximately 75 yards west of this site during construction of the Defense Supply Center Richmond's Child Development Center in October of 1998.

Analysis prepared at Radford University identified the remains of three male and three female African Americans and estimated burial between 1840-1920.

The 1870 census in this area recorded African Americans with the surnames of: Palmer, West, Brightwell, Frent, Prow, Orange, Armstrong, Jefferson, Borseaux, Grammar, Drewry and Gregory. Our attempts to locate descendants were unsuccessful.

The Virginia Department of Historic Resources approved DSCR's request to re-inter and a full re-internment service was performed in October 1999.

They are now officially part of the DSCR family. May they watch over us as we do our part to keep the nation strong and diverse.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1999.

Location. 37° 24.805′ N, 77° 26.694′ W. Marker is in Bellwood, Virginia,

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in Chesterfield County. It is at the intersection of L Road and J Road, on the right when traveling north on L Road. Marker is on post at Defense Supply Center Richmond and is not accessible to civilians without sponsored access or authorized escort. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 J Rd, Richmond VA 23237, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Central Virginia,

and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A-6E Intruder (within shouting distance of this marker); Our American Indian Ancestors (about 400 feet away, measured in a

African American Pioneers Marker & Cemetery image. Click for full size.

circa November 2025

2. African American Pioneers Marker & Cemetery

direct line); F-16 Fighting Falcon (about 600 feet away); Bellwood Elk (approx. ¼ mile away); AH-1 Cobra (approx. ¼ mile away); The Gregory Burial Ground (approx. 0.3 miles away); F-14A Tomcat (approx. 0.4 miles away); F-15 Eagle (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bellwood.

African American Pioneers 1999 Gravestones image. Click for full size.

circa November 2025

3. African American Pioneers 1999 Gravestones

Credits. This page was last revised on November 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 26, 2025. This page has been viewed 45 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 26, 2025. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.