By Rebecca Barnes, Publisher, Prince William Living

Since 1950, Prince William County Public Schools has honored influential African Americans by naming schools after leaders who shaped education, civil rights, military service, and community life. These names are more than identifiers on buildings; they are daily reminders to students and families of the values of service, perseverance, leadership, and equity.

From local educators who helped integrate Prince William County classrooms to nationally recognized civil rights leaders whose actions changed the course of American history, fourteen PWCS schools carry forward these legacies. Below is a closer look at the schools and the individuals they honor.

Elementary Schools

Covington-Harper Elementary School

Opened in 2017, Covington-Harper honors John Harper, a pioneering community leader, county employee, Vietnam War veteran, and the first African American member of the Prince William County School Board, who retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after 23 years of service. The school also recognizes Betty Covington, a longtime PWCS teacher, principal, and School Board member.

Suella G. Ellis Elementary School

Opened in 2004, Ellis Elementary is named for Suella Gilbert Ellis, a former Prince William County educator and the first African American woman appointed to an administrative position in PWCS.

Fannie W. Fitzgerald Elementary School

Opened in 2008, Fitzgerald Elementary honors Fannie W. Fitzgerald, one of the first African American teachers to integrate Prince William County Public Schools. After 35 years of service, she retired in 1988 and continued volunteering to support local children.

Admiral Samuel L. Gravely, Jr. Elementary School

Opened in 2008, the school is named for Samuel L. Gravely Jr., the first African American to command a U.S. Navy fleet and the Navy’s first African American admiral. Admiral Gravely was also a resident of Haymarket.

Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School

Established in 1981, the school honors Martin Luther King Jr., whose leadership in the Civil Rights Movement and commitment to nonviolent protest helped reshape American society.

Thurgood Marshall Elementary School

Established in 1994, Marshall Elementary is named for Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice and the attorney who argued Brown v. Board of Education, ending segregation in public schools.

Rosa Parks Elementary School

Opened in 2006, the school honors Rosa Parks, whose refusal to give up her bus seat in 1955 sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott and galvanized the Civil Rights Movement.

Sonnie P. Penn Elementary School

Opened in 1998, Penn Elementary is named for Sonnie P. Penn, a former assistant principal, youth leader, and community mentor.

Mary G. Porter Traditional School

Opened in 2004, the school honors Mary G. Porter, a local educator who began teaching in a three-room schoolhouse in Dumfries and was among the first African American teachers to integrate PWCS.

Mary Williams Elementary School

Opened in 2004, Mary Williams Elementary is named for Mary F. Williams, a teacher of 19 years and School Board member for the Neabsco District, known for her dedication to students and public education.

Washington-Reid Preschool Center

Opened in 1950, Washington-Reid honors Marion Washington and Marjorie Reid, two prominent African American women who owned and donated the land on which the school was built.

Middle Schools

Dr. George M. Hampton Middle School

Renamed in 2016, the school honors George M. Hampton, a retired U.S. Army officer and respected community leader.

Unity Braxton Middle School

Renamed in 2020, the school honors Celestine Braxton, who taught in PWCS for 33 years and helped integrate local schools, and Carroll Braxton, a retired Marine, World War II and Korean War veteran, and Congressional Gold Medal recipient.

High School

Unity Reed High School

Renamed in 2020, the school honors Arthur Reed, an Army veteran and retired DEA officer who spent the final 13 years of his life serving students as a beloved security assistant.

More Than Names on Buildings

Together, these fourteen schools represent a powerful throughline in Prince William County’s history. They acknowledge the individuals who broke barriers, educated generations, served their country, and strengthened communities. For students walking these halls today, the names above the doors offer daily lessons in courage, service, and the enduring impact of leadership.

Rebecca Barnes is a history major and a lifelong resident of Prince William County. As the publisher of Prince William Living, she is committed to preserving and sharing local stories that reflect the people, places, and history that shape the community.