Local historian recounts Greensville County Training School as board proclaims Black History Month

Dorothy Wilkes, who identified herself as the daughter of Joycey William Wade, told the Greensville County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 3 that the Greensville County Training School was established in the early 1900s to provide educational opportunities for Black children at a time when no local Black school existed. Wilkes said the three‑room frame school was funded in part by a $1,000 contribution from the Belfield School Board, a $500 donation from a local businessman and community borrowing, and that her father purchased school buses to transport students to training schools in town.

The presentation emphasized community financing and leadership. Wilkes cited early leaders including Reverend J. H. Waller, George Kelly and Principal Edward W. Wild and recounted that her father allowed families to defer payment and that he later purchased a larger bus when the first one burned. "He ensured that black children in the county received higher education," she said.

After the presentation, the board read and approved Resolution 25‑63 recognizing February 2025 as Black History Month in Greensville County. The resolution cites national figures such as Dr. Charles Drew and Carter G. Woodson and local pioneer Garland P. Fason, noting his service as the first African American elected official in the county and his 20 years on the Board of Supervisors. The board approved the resolution by roll call vote.

The presentation and resolution mark a ceremonial acknowledgment of local and national African American contributions; there were no formal policy decisions tied to the presentation. The board thanked Wilkes for her remarks before moving on to other business.