At the intersection of past and present, Rockingham County Public Schools (RCPS) mourn the loss of two civil rights pioneers whose stories have been carefully preserved through the dedication of RCPS student historians. Joy Cabarrus Speakes and Reverend J. Samuel Williams, Jr., both participants in the historic 1951 Moton High School Student Strike, passed away in 2025, leaving behind a legacy that continues to educate and inspire through the innovative Farmville Tour Guides Project.
For the past decade, Rockingham County Public Schools has transformed the traditional field trip model into a powerful exercise in living history. Through the Farmville Tour Guides Project, students don't simply visit historic sites – they become the voices of history itself. Each student delves deep into research about a specific chapter of the Farmville civil rights story, developing carefully crafted presentations that they deliver to their peers at the very locations where these momentous events unfolded.
The power of place plays a crucial role in this unique educational experience. Standing on the same auditorium stage where Barbara Johns rallied her fellow students in 1951, RCPS students bring her courage and determination to life for their peers.
Joy Cabarrus Speakes, who as a young student helped change the course of American education, shared with TAHS students her memories of the watershed moments that would eventually become part of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case. She recalled how the NAACP initially dismissed the students' plea for help, believing it was "just young students... and nothing would be done." Yet through persistence and conviction, these young activists proved their seriousness, ultimately convincing NAACP attorneys Oliver Hill and Spottswood Robinson to take their case.
Speakes emphasized to students the crucial role that faith and community played in sustaining the movement. "The parents were very strong in faith, and faith played a lot in the support of [the students in Farmville]," she shared, highlighting how local churches provided both spiritual strength and physical infrastructure for the movement.
Reverend J. Samuel Williams Jr., who graduated from R.R. Moton High School in 1952, brought students a unique perspective as both a student striker and later civil rights leader. His vivid recollections of the explosive summer of 1963 painted a picture of courage under pressure. "Keep in mind, '63 was hot that summer, and I don't mean climatically so, but socially so, politically so, economically so - hot!" he told students, describing the wave of protests that swept through Farmville.
What makes the Tour Guides Project particularly meaningful is the presence of former Moton students and community members who accompany the young historians on their journey. These living links to history provide invaluable context and perspective, culminating in intimate Q&A sessions at the Moton Museum where students can engage directly with those who lived through these historic events.
Williams' account of leading a "kneel-in" at the all-white Farmville Baptist Church, resulting in his arrest along with twenty-two other protesters, demonstrated to students the personal risks civil rights activists took in their pursuit of justice. His detailed memories of singing freedom songs on the church steps before being arrested provided students with an intimate view of civil disobedience in action.
The Farmville Tour Guides Project has done more than simply record history; it has created a living legacy where students become active participants in preserving and sharing these crucial stories. Through their research, presentations, and interactions with pioneers like Speakes and Williams, RCPS students have helped ensure that future generations will understand the courage, determination, and sacrifice that drove the fight for educational equality.
The Farmville Tour Guides Project serves as a model for meeting Virginia's Standards of Learning while creating meaningful connections to history. The program directly addresses multiple strands of Virginia's History and Social Science standards, particularly VUS.1 and VUS.13. Students develop critical historical thinking skills by synthesizing evidence from primary sources, including direct testimony from civil rights pioneers like Speakes and Williams. Through their research and on-site presentations, they construct arguments using multiple sources and analyze connections across time and place – key requirements of VUS.1.
The project aligns with VUS.13, which requires students to understand the social, political, and cultural movements of the twentieth century. By researching and presenting at locations like the Moton Museum, students gain deep insight into how the Brown v. Board of Education decision shaped American society, while learning about the vital roles of civil rights organizations and leaders in advancing educational equality. Their interactions with figures like Joy Speakes and Rev. Williams transform abstract historical standards into lived experiences, helping students understand how local events in Farmville connected to the larger civil rights movement.
What sets this program apart is its ability to merge rigorous academic standards with emotional resonance. Through their research, presentations, and direct interactions with civil rights pioneers, students develop the skills for historical thinking, geographical analysis, and responsible citizenship outlined in the SOLs while forging personal connections to the material that extend far beyond the classroom.
The Farmville Tour Guides Project stands as a testament to the power of connecting young people directly with those who shaped history, creating a chain of memory that stretches from the brave students of Moton High School to the engaged student historians of today. The passing of Joy Cabarrus Speakes and Reverend J. Samuel Williams Jr. represents a profound loss, but their remarkable courage and leadership stand as defining moments in the fight for civil rights. If you would like to learn more about the lives of Joy Speakes and Rev. Williams as told through RCPS students' hard work, visit the following websites:
Reverend J. Samuel Williams Jr.
Photo (from left to right): Grant King, Bryce Huffman, Rob Lovell, Hannah Burkholder, Charlotte Hanson, Hallie Avalos, and Mrs. Joy Speakes
Photo (from left to right): Summer Conley, Haley Orebaugh, Bailey Barker, Rev Williams, and Sophia Lam