Warrenton in Fauquier County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Eva Walker Memorial Park
Community Leader, Civil Rights Activist, Model, Mentor, Friend, Daughter, Wife and Mother
| — | Experience Warrenton Virginia Est. 1810 🇺🇸 | — |
In 1988, the Warrenton Town Council voted to name the park in her honor, and Eva Walker Memorial Park was dedicated on June 21, 1990.
Devore models do it again
The Fashion Sbow, entitled Madame Modern given by the Les Charitables at the Lotus Club on Sunday, May 7, 1961, was a complete success because of the models it featured.
The models were well-known Precola DeVore Models who are internatinoally known for their talent and beauty. Two of the models in the show were the talented Eva Walker, who designed all of the lovely creations all of the lovely creations that she modeled in the show and comely Gloria Gaffney who is Miss Capital Classic for this year.
However, Eva and Gloria are not the only assets to the Devore Modeling School. The other models in the show, just as lovely, were: Helen Freeman, Sarah Adams, Ida Hall, Mazie Green, Loretta Meredith, Dorothy Mann, Yvonne Price and the sole male model, Leonard Williams.
Dresses by Miss Nan Dyer, hats by Frances, hair stules by Regis Bell, fashions by Nina of Hawaii and fashions by Jean Muriel-Originals, all who helped make the show an overwhelming success.
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As a child, she taught herself to sew and made her own doll clothes with material from cloth feed sacks. As a mother and homemaker, Eva created pattersn and designed everything from sofa covers and drapes to outfits for her daughters.
In 1959, the Walker family moved from Madisontown, another Black community in Warrenton, to nearby Third Street (now Fourth Street) when a serious lack of recreational opportunities for minorities in the area prompted Eva and her husband, robert, to open their home as a gathering place for young people to socialize, dance to music from the juke box, and to play ping pong.
Pursuing her goals, Eva balanced being a wife, mother, school mom, and community activist while attending Ophelia DeVore School of Charm in Washington, D.C. In 1964,
Though the area children enjoyed collecting fireflies, drawing hopscotch on the sidewalks, jumping rope, and sledding down snow-covered Haiti Street and the steep hill from the top of Horner Street, Eva felt that securing a safe place for the children to play was a necessity. Though she worked tirelessly toward securing the land and seeing effort to fruition, she did not live to witness the manifestation of her death.
Eva's servant spirit and creative gifts live on through her children Robyn and Sherrie, and her grand and great-grandchildren, as well. she would be extremely pround and honored to see how far we've come in making her dream come true.
"Eva often gazed out of her kitchen sink window, which overlooked 'the field' and envisioned a park."
- Robyn Thompson
Eva Walker's daughter
Artwork on panels designed by Ashleigh Corrin Webb to honor her grandmother, Eva Walker.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 24, 2026
3. Dedication plaque for the park
In honor of
one with a "vision" for the community
1934 - 1982
Land donated by the
Aaron H. Gerber Family
Fortified with contributions from local businesses and the community, Mr. Charlie took his dream to the owner of Horner Field, Mr. McDonald, and was granted permission to use the property. His dream of a full playground was completed along the area for horseshoe pitchers. A dance pavilion was constructed and furnished with a jukebox and an amplifier. Donations were raised for the electric company to assist with lighting. Carnivals and lawn parties with hay rides were held every summer. Refreshments included covered dishes, hot dogs, snowballs, sodas, candies, homemade ice cream, and watermelons. Each year, a donation was made to the Warrenton Volunteer Fire Department and the First Baptist Church from the proceeds.
When Charles Brooks, Sr. died in 1943, his dream to hold community gatherings did not end right away. Well into the 1940's and early 1950's, citizens held block parties, continuing the carnival and lawn party tradition. In addition, Horner Field was used for many years by local African-American football and baseball temas to host games or practice at night.
During the 1970's, Horner field lay dormant except the occasional sled rushing down the hillside. Around the middle of the decade, a concerned resident stared from her kitchen window and began to daydream about a community park where the children of Haiti could safely play. This woman was Eva Jenkins Walker.
For additional history of Eva Walker and the Park, go to the Town website at www.warrentonva.gov under Parks and Recreation.
Erected by Town of Warrenton, Virginia; with thanks to partners in making this tribute possible: AARP; RHI; Plan-Place; Path Foundation.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Parks & Recreational Areas • Women. In addition, it is included in the Rosenwald Schools series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 7, 1961.
Location. 38° 42.93′ N, 77° 47.553′ W. Marker is in Warrenton, Virginia, in Fauquier County. It can be reached from Alexandria Pike (Business U.S. 211) south of North Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 124 Haiti St, Warrenton VA 20186, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in 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: Rosenwald Schools in Fauquier (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); John Marshall (approx. 0.2 miles away); World War II Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Warrenton (approx. 0.2 miles away); 1812 Rose Garden (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Warrenton (approx. 0.2 miles away); Concrete Bench (approx. 0.2 miles away); John Singleton Mosby (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Warrenton.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 24, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 24, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
