Leesburg resident Gertrude Evans was one of the last students at the African-American Douglass High School in Leesburg before it closed in 1968 after desegregation. A former Loudoun County government employee, she is a working artist.
LoCo Favorites
Favorite place to eat in Loudoun?
Mama Lucci’s on Catoctin Circle in Leesburg is one of my favorite places for lunch. I love the eggplant parmesan.
Best hidden gem in Loudoun?
Since I’m a history buff, I would say Thomas Balch Library is a gem as are the backroads of rural western Loudoun, which are hidden to most. Loudoun’s countryside is beautiful and filled with historic sites.
What's a must-see place for an out-of-town visitor?
The historic mansions and grounds of Morven Park, Oatlands Historic House & Gardens and the Historic Douglass High School, my alma mater.
Favorite event in Loudoun to go to?
The annual “I Have a Dream March & Celebration” that takes place in Leesburg on Martin Luther King Day in January.
What's a fun fact to share about Loudoun?
That we don’t see ourselves as southern, although we live in a southern state. When meeting out-of-towners in other states I always say, “I’m from Northern Virginia.”
The Artist
What kind of art do you do?
I paint scenes from everyday life, historical events, local scenes, portraits and landscapes. I work in many mediums – acrylic, pastels, watercolor, oils, pens and pencils and charcoal.
You won a Leesburg Arts & Cultural Districts Banner Contest – what piece of yours will be on display at the Visitor Center in Leesburg?
I will be showcasing my artwork in June and July along with the other winners. My banner depicts the 2023 Martin Luther King Day march in downtown Leesburg.
How many Douglass School alumni still reside in Loudoun?
Not many as many have died or moved away in the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s for better opportunities.
Have you been back since it became the Historic Douglass High School and community center?
Yes, often. From 2021 to 2023 I served on the Douglass High School Commemorative Committee comprised of Alumni and historical organizations. We worked with the LCPS staff and the architect to develop and approve all the ideas and art used to commemorate the history and struggle of the Black community to get the school built.
The art at the school is wonderful – what is your favorite piece?
The two sculptures: Frederick Douglass sitting on the bench and the sculpture of the boy and girl walking uphill in front of the building. I also like the mural in the Knox Daniel and Hankerson Building. I had a chance to see the artist working on it in real-time.
June 21 is the Annual Burg Family Reunion at Ide Lee commemorating Juneteenth. Will you attend and what happens at the event?
I haven’t attended yet. I do attend the Emancipation Day Celebration in Purcellville that takes place every September at the Carver Center in Purcellville. Emancipation Day celebrates the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Lincoln on Sept. 22, 1862, declaring all enslaved people in Confederate states to be free.
How should people in Loudoun commemorate Juneteenth?
In whatever way they feel comfortable. There are many activities around Loudoun and in neighboring communities. I will probably devote my day to doing some commemorative artwork. I did some artwork when it became an official holiday.
