.
The Legacy of Kitty Reynolds. Mt. Olive Church, Critz. Nanny of the Reynolds children who grew up on the Rock Spring Plantation, Kitty Reynolds also had a tremendous influence on Civil Rights history, playing a significant role in the landmark legislation Ex Parte Virginia. Her great, great grandson Jay Kimble Reynolds, along with African American historian John Whitlow will discuss the tremendous legacy of this amazing woman.
John Whitfield, a research historian, will open the program, speaking briefly on the history of the enslaved at Reynolds Homestead and the importance of recording oral histories, and he will be available to speak to participants following the program and schedule an appointment to record their oral histories. Richard A. Reynolds, a retired teacher and great-grandson of Kitty Reynolds, will present an oral history of Kitty’s life based on stories told to him by Kitty’s son, (his grandfather) Davie Reynolds.
Kimble Reynolds, Jr., an attorney and great-great-grandson of Kitty Reynolds, will present facts surrounding a legal case involving Kitty’s sons Burwell and Lee Reynolds that led to an important civil rights decision by the US Supreme Court known as Ex Parte Virginia.
Born enslaved on October 15, 1838, at Rock Spring Plantation in Critz, Virginia, Kitty Reynolds was the property of Hardin W. Reynolds. As a young woman, Kitty is credited with saving Hardin from a charging bull, a story often told by both Kitty’s and Hardin’s descendants. According to this legend, due to her selfless act, Kitty was appointed nanny to Hardin and Nancy Jane Cox Reynolds’ children. Nancy bore 16 children, and Kitty bore 18 or more children of her own.
Following emancipation, Kitty actively served as a midwife in the surrounding communities. She maintained close ties with members of her former owner’s family. R.J. Reynolds, one of Hardin’s sons, purchased a home for Kitty, and would send his chauffer, or train tickets, to compel Kitty to visit his family in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Her son Davie often accompanied her on these visits.
In 1883, two of Kitty’s sons, Burwell and Lee Reynolds, were involved in a fight with two white brothers, Green and Aaron Shelton, who were making derisive remarks about the school that had been established for African Americans. During the fight, Burwell stabbed Aaron who died the following day. Both Burwell and Lee were arrested and charged with the murder of Aaron Shelton.
Mary Reynolds Lybrook, one of Hardin and Nancy’s children whom Kitty had nurtured, was married to Andrew Murray Lybrook, a local attorney and Virginia State Senator from the readjuster party. He and another lawyer, William Martin, agreed to defend Burwell and Lee. The two attorneys, both former officers of the Confederate Army, requested that one-third of the jurors be of African American descent. The presiding judge, William Treadway, refused this request, which led to an appeal to Judge Alexander Rives and a series of events that led to the Supreme Court decision, Ex Parte Virginia that required race could not be a factor in determining the eligibility to serve as jurors.
The Reynolds Homestead, a Commonwealth Campus Center of Virginia Tech, is interested in collecting more oral histories about Rock Spring Plantation that will provide information on the enslaved community of Rock Spring Plantation and their descendants. Participants interested in sharing oral histories will have an opportunity to schedule a future appointment during the reception.
For more information about this program, please contact the Reynolds Homestead at 276-694-7181.
The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities was established in 1974 to develop and support public programs, education and research in the humanities and to relate the humanities to public issues. The VHF is non-profit and non-partisan and receives support from private gifts, grants and contributions, and from the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. For more information visit the VFH online at www.VirginiaHumanitie
