Dr. Joanne Harris Lucas proudly stands beside a bust of her late father and Virginia civil rights leader, the Rev. Curtis W. Harris Sr., which was unveiled Saturday in front of Hopewell City Hall, where he served for 26 years on the city council and for two years as the city’s first Black mayor. The unveiling comes six years after his death in December 2017. He was arrested 13 times in leading protests against segregation in Hopewell and other parts of the state and led the Hopewell Branch NAACP and the Virginia Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference for more than 20 years. During his 46 years as pastor of Union Baptist Church in Hopewell and during his tenure on council, he fought for environmental justice and opposed Hopewell commercial developments that impacted Black and poor people in the city.

William Fox Elementary School remains boarded nearly two years after a fire destroyed much of the building. In late November, the Richmond City School Board approved a $30 million contract from Gulf Seaboard General Contractors Inc., the sole bidder, for the reconstruction of the building. The building permit and trade permit applications are currently under review by the city administration, with contract details to be finalized and executed in the next two weeks. The cause of the fire, which occurred late at night on Feb. 11, 2022, remains unknown and is believed to have been an accident. Fox Elementary, which first opened in 1911, is scheduled to reopen in the Fall of 2025.

Thousands of spectators line the Dominion Energy Christmas Parade route along Broad Street between Terminal and 7th streets on Dec. 2 to enjoy the annual holiday event’s magic. Parade highlights included bedazzled floats, music from various marching bands, several dance troupes and more. In this photo, the Grinch Grand Marshal Float sponsored by Chicken Fiesta.

Museum District’s vibrant blooms

Thousands of spectators line the Dominion Energy Christmas Parade route along Broad Street between Terminal and 7th streets on Dec. 2 to enjoy the annual holiday event’s magic. Parade highlights included bedazzled floats, music from various marching bands, several dance troupes and more. In this photo, the Grinch Grand Marshal Float sponsored by Chicken Fiesta.

Do Baton! Dance and Twirl Team

Petersburg High School crimson wave marching band

I Am Beauty Camp(ers)

Kings Dominion performers

Children enjoy a front row seat at the parade.

All smiles-Kinsley Hurte, 5, is excited to meet Soul Santa and give him her holiday wish list at the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia on Dec. 2. Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press