Neighborhood Historians
Dedicated Sisters Leave Their Mark on Gainsboro
Often, neighborhood leaders are some of the most influential educators. Gainsboro and Northeast were fortunate to have several neighborhood champions that were passionate about promoting the incredible history of the area in Evelyn Davis Bethel, Helen ‘Pete’ Davis, Alice Roberts, and Margaret Roberts.
Their passion and staunch persistence benefitted the Gainsboro neighborhood in many ways. Their advocacy and input led to improvements and changes in the design of many proposed projects in the neighborhood, including the ultimate realignment of Wells Avenue, the historic designation of the Gainsboro Library, and the rehabilitation (versus demolition) of historic homes. They were also instrumental in protecting and documenting the history of the neighborhood through historic district designation and the implementation of the Gainsboro History Walk and other historic markers. Without their valuable knowledge, meritorious contributions, and influence, this virtual history project may never have happened.
Many knew them as “The Sisters.” They were from two legacy families and grew up just blocks from one another in historic Gainsboro and Northeast. The Sisters’ approach for influencing change was very different from one another, but each had success.
The Davis Sisters
The Davis Sisters were raised on Patton Avenue, NE, in Gainsboro. Their parents were Edmond and Agnes Davis, and they were from a family of seven children—five boys (James, Herbert, Roy, Curtis, and Clarence) and two girls (Evelyn and Helen). Their parents were hard workers and instilled the same ethic in their children. Their father worked for a hardware business and their mother was a cook at a restaurant and did domestic work.
Evelyn Davis Bethel (1933-2020) was a passionate and tenacious advocate for the preservation of the historic African-American neighborhood of Gainsboro. After graduating from Lucy Addison High School in 1951, she left Roanoke for college and a long career in public service with the Navy and the Social Security Administration. She graduated from Virginia Union University in 1955 with a degree in sociology and did postgraduate study at American University in Washington, DC. Following her retirement, she returned to Roanoke and in the 1990s worked full time to fight for the preservation of her neighborhood.
Helen ‘Pete’ Davis (1928-2019) was a graduate of Lucy Addison High School and the Burrell Memorial Hospital School of Practical Nursing. She worked for many years as a licensed practical nurse at the Virginia Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center before retiring. She was a passionate community activist.
The Davis Sisters’ tenacious advocacy for the neighborhood earned them the nickname “Gatekeepers of Gainsboro.” Much of what remains today of this neighborhood is because of their efforts. Bethel and Davis continuously advocated for the preservation of Gainsboro’s history and buildings by representing neighborhood interests in projects such as the Dumas Center, the Gainsboro History Walk, and expansion of the Roanoke Higher Education Center. Evelyn Bethel served as president of the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation in 2000.
The advocacy efforts of the Davis Sisters engaged residents and government leaders and resulted in:
- critical changes to right-of-way plans and the realignment of Wells Avenue
- formation of a neighborhood organization, Historic Gainsboro Preservation District, Inc.
- designation of a local historic district in northeast Gainsboro
- listing of Gainsboro and Henry Street historic districts and the Gainsboro Library on the National Register of Historic Places
Evelyn Bethel and Helen Davis persisted in their roles as community watchdogs by monitoring city activities and attending nearly every City Council meeting. Their presence—usually in matching outfits—in the back row of Council chambers was a constant reminder to city leaders not to forget the Gainsboro neighborhood or underestimate its residents. Evelyn Bethel was so passionate about making change that she ran for City Council in 2006.
““I looked at the map and realized that they were trying to bring a highway through here.” [Evelyn] Bethel said with indignation still apparent in her voice; her hands forming a linear slash in the air. “I saw Jefferson, Wells, Gilmer, and Patton; the way they had it laid out, they would have just totally destroyed our neighborhood.” “We said, ‘they can’t do that!’” exclaimed [Helen ‘Pete’] Davis. “They’ll take all of this area!” (Roanoke Star, 2020)
The Gainsboro Branch Library paid tribute to the sisters at “An Evening Honoring Evelyn Bethel & Helen Davis” in October 2018, recognizing them for their lifetime commitment to historic preservation and the Gainsboro community.
In 2019 the Virginia General Assembly passed a resolution commending Evelyn and Helen for their work as historic preservationists and community leaders, and for striving “to lead by example when it comes to civic engagement and community service.”
Evelyn Bethel and Helen Davis received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation in 2020 for their preservation of African American History. Because of Evelyn’s passion and advocacy for Gainsboro and her service to RVPF, the Foundation commemorated her achievements by creating an annual Evelyn Davis Bethel Award for the Preservation of African-American Heritage.
“I don’t really remember discrimination at the lunch counters (prior to integration in the 1960s),” said [Evelyn] Bethel, “because we were so poor, we couldn’t buy a soda. But I do recall sneaking a sip of water from the white water fountains; I did that because I wanted to see if ‘white’ water tasted any different.” (Roanoke Star, 2020)
“My dream is that there will once again be a vibrant residential community in this area,” said [Evelyn] Bethel, adding, “and official public recognition that Gainsboro was chartered before Roanoke City.” (Roanoke Star, 2016)
The Roberts Sisters
Alice Roberts (1921-2014) and Margaret Roberts (1923-2021), often referred to as the “Roberts Sisters,” were instrumental in assuring continued awareness of African American history in Roanoke, particularly in Gainsboro and Northeast Roanoke. For several decades their persistent advocacy informed and facilitated multiple interpretive history projects implemented by both public and private organizations in the Gainsboro Community.
Margaret and Alice Roberts were the daughters of Dr. John Roberts, a prominent physician and one of the founders of Burrell Hospital. They grew up in the 400 block of Gilmer Avenue NW, and were neighbors to some of the most prominent African American professionals of twentieth century Roanoke, including Oliver White Hill, Dr. Edward Dudley, Rufus Edwards, and Lucy Addison.
Both of the sisters left Roanoke to continue their education. Alice Roberts was the first African American student admitted to Pratt Institute, School of Information and Library Science in 1942. She became a medical librarian. Margaret Roberts was trained as a clinical dietician.
The Roberts Sisters were both very private individuals and rarely directly shared their personal perspectives. They refused to take pictures or to be recognized publicly for their work. They were consistent, proactive members of the Gainsboro Southwest Community Organization and the Oliver White Hill Foundation. When they entered a room in which there was a public hearing, their presence commanded attention and respect.
Some of the many projects that they were instrumental in implementing include:
- Burrell Memorial Hospital Interior Interpretive Panels
- Gainsboro History Walk—Interpretive Panels on Wells Avenue
- Restoration and Reuse of Oliver White Hill Home at 401 Gilmer Avenue
- National Register Historic District Nominations for Gainsboro Historic District, Burrell Memorial Hospital, and Henry Street Historic District
- Virginia Historical Highway Markers for Oscar Micheaux and Oliver White Hill
- Interpretive Panels at Roanoke Higher Education Center for Henry Street and Oscar Micheaux (interior)
In 2014, the Roberts Sisters’ work on the Gainsboro History Walk earned recognition for the Gainsboro Southwest Neighborhood Organization from the City of Roanoke, which awarded it the Roanoke Neighborhood Improvement Award, Project of the Year.
Their work on the Henry Street Panels at the Roanoke Higher Education Center led to the Gainsboro Southwest Neighborhood Organization and the Roanoke Higher Education Center receiving a Preservation Award for Heritage Education from the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation in 2018.
The Roberts Sisters received the Kegley Preservation Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation in 2021.
See Also
Sources
Campagna, M. E. (2016 October 3). Sisters determined stand saved historic neighborhood in Roanoke City. The Roanoke Star. https://theroanokestar.com/2016/10/03/sisters-determined-stand-saved-historic-neighborhood-in-roanoke-city/
ColorsVa. (2018, November 1). At the feet of our elders —Helen Davis and Evelyn Bethel, the gatekeepers of Roanoke’s Gainsboro community. https://www.colorsvamag.com/2018/11/01/at-the-feet-of-our-elders-helen-davis-and-evelyn-bethel-the-gatekeepers-of-roanokes-gainsboro-community/
Roanoke Times. (2020, July 5). Bethel, Evelyn Davis obituary. https://roanoke.com/obituaries/bethel-evelyn-davis/article_24ae2eb5-0437-54c1-b4c9-f561df61cf5a.html
Hammack, L. (2020, June 25). Evelyn Bethel remembered as a fierce defender of Gainsboro. The Roanoke Times. https://roanoke.com/news/local/evelyn-bethel-remembered-as-a-fierce-defender-of-gainsboro/article_18396946-ab0e-5dcd-9daa-1c80187b9f87.html
The Roanoke Star. (2020, June 26). Death of iconic African American activist is great loss for Roanoke.
WDBJ7. (2020, June 26). Remembering advocate Evelyn Bethel. https://www.wdbj7.com/2020/06/27/remembering-gainsboro-advocate-evelyn-bethel/
Jackson, T. (2006, Feb. 6) Bethel bows out of race for city council. The Roanoke Times. https://roanoke.com/archive/bethel-bows-out-of-race-for-city-council/article_8381935d-5ecf-58fc-8d8c-52a3932a17e0.html
Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation. Newsletter Fall 2020.
https://roanokepreservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2020-Keagy-Preservation-Awards.pdf