James Henry Nash, Sr. and Elenora Fletcher Herndon Nash Family Reunion 2004.

Campbell County, Virginia Heritage

James H. Nash was a black man, born September 22, 1910.  His parents Charles Nash and Ellen Calloway Nash were born during slavery.  This family has its beginnings in the Village of New London in (now) Campbell County in the late 1800’s.  Charles and Ellen’s children were; Ada Jeanette, Lucy, Rosa, Dorothy, Ellen, our father, James H., and Morris.  Their home structure where over two generations had lived was mysteriously destroyed by fire in 1999.  The structure was nearly one hundred years old.  My father, James, and his siblings received some early schooling from their parents who farmed and were active in church and community activities. 

Since the area provided limited schooling, James went to live with an aunt in Roanoke, Virginia and attended school there.  As a young adult, he returned home met and married Elenora Herndon of Evington, Virginia (who was born September 15, 1919).  They settled a mile east of the Village of New London.  To this union five girls and two boys were born.

My father worked endlessly to care for his wife and young family.  He always had a bountiful vegetable garden.  His hogs won blue ribbon prizes for James, Jr. at Fairs.  In addition, he did landscaping and hauling of debris for communities.  This venture began in 1939 with the use of a trailer attached to his car.  Later he bought a truck.  When he died in 1968, his business had expanded and was labeled James H. Nash and Sons.

Our parents were a team.  Through all of my father’s efforts my mother (Elenora) was there, assisting, working, and striving to help make a wholesome life for the family.  They both drove school busses.  They were actively involved in church work.  My father was a Trustee and Treasurer at New London United Methodist until his death in 1968.  My mother was a Deaconess and chaired various committees at Mt. Evergreen Baptist Church in Evington where she was a member from age thirteen until her death in November 1999.  They held offices in school programs, P.T.A., Voters Leagues, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and beautification of communities.

I have many memories of activities that my father planned for the family; trips to the beach (Prince Edward Lake), Happy Land Lake, Blue Ridge Mountains, Peaks of Otter, and visits to relatives in Lynchburg and Roanoke.  Wherever we went we were properly dressed for the occasion.  We were also taught to be well mannered and groomed at all times.

We older children began school in a one-room building in New London.  Our teacher, Rev. Dr. James A. Shelton, provided the foundation for values that our parents reinforced.  In 1949 when the school closed, we were transferred to Evington Elementary School then later attended schools in Rustburg.  My father “stepped up to the plate” and became the school bus driver.  He was assigned a “new” 1949 Ford bus for his bus route.  All seven of us graduated from the Campbell Country School system.

Now, the “seven Nash children” live in different geographical locations.  We have pursued careers with the same energy and dedication that our parents exhibited.  Sara N. Clyburn recently retired as a Hospital Medical Insurance Specialist in Rockford, ILL, Margaret N. Thomas, an Assembler at Ericsson/SCI, Lynchburg, Va has retired after many years of work, James Jr. and Franklin Sr. continued the business that our father began.  James retired and Franklin relocated and continues in the sanitation industry under the original family name.  Delores N. Hicks is an Instructor Assistant in the Campbell County school system, Connie N. Powell is a Litigation Assistant, Justice Department, Washington, DC, and I retired as a Human Resource Development Specialist for the Federal Government in Washington, D.C.  All are active in official positions in our churches, i.e., Trustee, Steward, Lay Leader, Library Assistant, past Treasurers and Committee Chairs.

I have shared a few experiences of the life of James Henry Nash, Sr. and his family as members and citizens of the New London community.  The spiritual guidance that my father and mother provided has transcended several generations, but was a legacy that can be recorded as having its roots in the village of New London.  Thanks Mom and Dad

Submitted by:  Watenia Nash Brummell, eldest daughter of James H. Nash, Sr. and Elenora Herndon Nash