ABOUT VOICES OF BLACK FAIRFAX

The "Voices of Black Fairfax" initiative emerged from a series of community dialogues organized by Fairfax County in collaboration with local Black clergy and leaders. Notable contributors included Dr. Eugene Johnson, Senior Pastor of Mt. Olive Baptist Church; Dr. Vernon C. Walton, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Vienna; and Dr. Darrell K. White, Senior Pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church. Alongside these esteemed clergy were Black leaders representing various sectors and neighborhoods across Fairfax County. These individuals were invited to discuss the underlying factors contributing to inequities within the Black community in Fairfax County.

These pivotal sessions commenced on September 15, 2020, and continued on Tuesday evenings over a four-week period, with an approximate attendance of 53 participants. The conversations concentrated on identifying and addressing disparities in key areas such as Health, Criminal Justice, Education, Housing, and Economic and Wealth-Building Opportunities.

The final session, held on October 6, facilitated discussions on how to sustain and build upon the momentum generated during these engagements. 

Since then, we have been diligently advocating for the Black residents of Fairfax County, striving to address and rectify the systemic inequities identified during our initial discussions. Our efforts are focused on promoting health, justice, education, housing, and economic opportunities for the Black community. We are committed to fostering a more equitable and inclusive environment within Fairfax County. 

As we move forward, we eagerly anticipate forming strategic partnerships and collaborations with organizations and entities that share our vision and values. Together, we aim to amplify our impact and work collectively towards the sustained well-being and success of Black Fairfaxians. Through these collaborative efforts, we aspire to create lasting positive change and ensure that every member of our community has the opportunity to thrive.

Meet The Clergymen

  • Rev. Dr. Eugene Johnson has served faithfully as pastor of the Mount Olive Baptist Church for over 25 years. His leadership and ministerial creativity are credited as major factors in Mount Olive’s positioning as a prominent 21st Century church. His expression of faith and knowledge of church life affirm him as never being a stranger to the Christian walk of life. He was religiously educated in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel in a Christian home. His father was a Baptist pastor and his mother worked avidly for the causes of Christ. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was reared in the suburban community of Oakville, Louisiana. He currently resides in Centreville, Virginia.

    Dr. Johnson assumed the leadership of Mount Olive in November 1992. Under the divine will of God and Dr. Johnson's leadership, Mount Olive has been transformed from a small rural church to  its current recognition as a progressive suburban church. It has experienced unprecedented growth in membership, ministries, outreach programs and finances. In addition to experiencing its resounding growth, the church has received an overwhelming number of men and women who have experienced Christian conversion and have given their lives to Christ. Dr. Johnson has carried out a unique ministry that has not only attracted the youth, but has drawn many men to the church. He has instituted a unique Christian Discipleship Ministry that focuses on Building Individuals Spiritually for God’s Service. Throughout his pastoral leadership, he has maintained Mount Olive at the forefront of ministry development and has been instrumental in its recognition as a change-agent in the community.

    Dr. Johnson's academic preparation encompasses the completion of his primary and secondary education in the Louisiana's public school system. He attended and completed his advanced academic studies at Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA where he received a Bachelors of Architecture Degree in June 1970. His seminary study was completed at the Howard University School of Divinity where he earned a Masters of Divinity Degree in 1989.  He was conferred the prestigious Honorary Doctors of Divinity Degree by the Richmond Virginia Seminary in October 2006.

    Dr. Johnson unique combination of pastoral and architectural skills was most beneficial to the church as he led it in building a new multimillion dollar state-of-the-art facility. He utilized his architectural and esthetics expertise in designing the new facility which proved to be a tremendous savings to the church.

    Dr. Johnson is actively involved in religious, civic, and academic organizations. Most notably, he served as the Moderator of the Northern Virginia Baptist Association from 2006-2010. He is a leader in the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention where he serves as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. His support of and participation in foreign mission programs has been instrumental in Mount Olive extending its Christian witness to six continents.

    Among his many honors, Dr. Johnson is a recipient of the prestigious Howard University School of Divinity’s James F. Jenkins Pillar of Faith Award.

    Besides the work of God, Dr. Johnson prides his life most on the love of his family. He is married to the former June L. Lambert of Harvey, LA. They have been blessed with two sons, Brian and Kevin and are the proud Grandparents of Marley and Jadin.

  • Pastor Darrell K. White is a native of Louisiana and represents the fourth generation of Baptist ministers in his family. He is the youngest son born to the late Rev. Arthur White, Sr. and Ethel Cretchan White of Welsh, LA. Dr. White has 4 siblings: Jane, Arthur, Jr., Lane and Kenneth. He was unanimously elected on June 24, 1999 as the Senior Pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, located in Alexandria (Gum Springs), VA. The Lord has nurtured within Pastor White a shepherd’s heart and a servant’s spirit, as well as equipped him with diverse gifts and many unique abilities.

    Pastor White believes the first and foremost calling on the lives of every disciple of Bethlehem is to be equipped for the work of ministry and to cultivate beyond the sanctuary the kind of Christ-like compassion and service to God. His lifestyle and faithfulness to God’s call on his life has left an indelible mark on not only the people of God called Bethlehem, but also in the Gum Springs Community, Fairfax County, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Dr. White has over thirty years of Gospel ministry experience with an exceptional educational portfolio that includes a

    Bachelor of Science (Grambling State), Master of Divinity (Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University), Master of Arts (Presbyterian School of Christian Education) and an earned Doctorate in Ministry Degree (Pastoral Care) from Howard University School of Divinity. Dr. White was awarded a certificate in Church Business Administration from The Leadership Institute at

    Union Presbyterian Seminary, in cooperation with the National Association of Church Business Administration (NACBA). He is also a 2012 graduate of Leadership Fairfax.

    Pastor White holds membership in the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.; Baptist General Convention of Virginia; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He is the former President of the Baptist General Convention of Virginia and former Moderator for the Northern Virginia Baptist Association.  Pastor White also serves on the Board of Directors for Virginia One Church, One Child Inc. Pastor White serves as the

    Community Representative on the Fairfax County’s Successful Children and Youth Policy Team (SCYPT) and the Fairfax County Clergy and Leadership Council. He has also completed training as a Community Chaplain for the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management & Fairfax County Chaplaincy Corps. Dr. White is also a member of the Pride of Fairfax County Lodge #298 Free and Accepted Masons Inc.

    Dr. White is married to the former Ms. Jaffee Ferree and they have two daughters

    Sierra Ashe (Philip) and Nia. Pastor White and First Lady White are the proud grandparents of two wonderful grand-daughters, Jordyn Renee and Malia Naomi Ashe.

  • Senior Pastor First Baptist Church, Vienna, VA

    Church and Community have always been the staples of the ministry of Dr. Vernon C. Walton. Dr. Walton, a native of Jersey City, New Jersey, has served as Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Vienna, Virginia, since February, 2014. He is the 19th Senior Pastor in the history of this 152-year–old congregation.

    Dr. Walton’s primary mission is to “make a difference in
    our community and be a light of hope for the World.”     His charismatic, energetic and innovative leadership is leading the 1,100-member congregation of First Baptist into a season where they are “Empowered by the Past and Excited About the Future.” As a result of his leadership, First Baptist has increased its

    community engagement and missions opportunities and has strengthened the capacity of its 33 ministries, making a difference in the lives of those within and outside of the church.

    During his tenure at First Baptist, Dr. Walton has focused much of his ministry efforts on missions, cultural awareness and social justice. Under his leadership, First Baptist has provided meals to nearly 1 million food insecure people around the world by partnering with Rise Against Hunger and hosting meal packaging events. He also initiated “Be the Church Sundays” which serve as opportunities for church members to go outside the walls of the church to serve others throughout Northern Virginia. An emphasis on cultural/civic awareness and social justice is evidenced through such ministry opportunities as First Baptist’s Juneteenth Celebration and Revival, the Heritage Lecture Series hosted during the month of February and Justice and Legislative Sunday. Dr. Walton continues to create partnerships with local community organizations and leaders to better serve those in need.

    In addition to serving as First Baptist’s senior pastor, Dr. Walton serves the denomination as a board member of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., where Dr. Jerry Young is president. He was recently appointed to the NAACP National Board’s Religious Affairs Committee, and to the Board of Trustees of the John Leland Center for Theological Studies.
    Dr. Walton is also an Advisory Board Member for the Samuel D. Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA.

    Dr. Walton was licensed to preach in 1989 and ordained in 1993 by the Salem Baptist Church, Jersey City, under the Pastorate of the late Reverend Dr. H. Hudson Bobbitt. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology & Criminal Justice from Virginia Union University (1993); his Master of Divinity Degree from New York Theological Seminary (1997) and a Doctorate of Ministry Degree in Preaching and Leadership from United Theological Seminary of Dayton, Ohio in December 2003.

    Dr. Walton previously served as Minister of Youth at the St. James Baptist Church of Milford, Virginia. He later joined Mount Olive Baptist Church of Hackensack, New Jersey, as Youth Pastor and later was called to serve there as Assistant Pastor under the leadership of
    the Reverend Gregory J. Jackson. In 1998, Rev. Walton became the fourth Senior Pastor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church of Englewood, New Jersey. Under his leadership, Mount Calvary expanded its witness through membership growth, multiple staff development initiatives, the addition of multiple worship services and the formation of Calvary Cares Community Development Corporation, which ministered to the needs of the entire community.

    With a passion for community, Dr. Walton has previously served as a Councilman for the City of Englewood (2004-2006). He was elected as the first African-American Freeholder for the st County of Bergen, New Jersey (2008). In addition, he was a founding Board Member for the 1 Federal Credit Union and Past Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Ramapo College,

    Mahwah, New Jersey.

    Dr. Walton released his first book, Life Lessons: Living, Learning & Trusting God. He has been honored by two national publications: The Network Journal, as one of the “40 under Forty” Class of 2010 and The African American Pulpit Journal, as one of the “Twenty to Watch under Forty,” Spring 2005. Dr. Walton is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and loves his role as preacher and teacher.