Charles Jameson, 78, a Vietnam War veteran, on his family’s land in Culpeper that has been in his family for generations. (Photo/Ireland Hayes)
Preserving his family’s history — and his town’s soul
Charles Jameson’s life is a journey through history itself—from the farmlands of Culpeper to the battlefields of Vietnam and back to the very soil his family tended for generations.
At 78, he is a pathfinder, someone who forges a new trail, lighting the way for others. His legacy is defined by his deep-rooted connection to his family’s land and a commitment to uncovering and sharing the full, often-untold, history of his community.
Jameson’s connection to Culpeper is both personal and historical. He lives on a street named for his late father, Saint Elmer Jameson, and on land that has belonged to his mother’s family—the Jackson and Bowen lineages—for generations. The house he was born in still stands across from his current residence. With all of his brothers having passed away and his sister now in Pittsburgh, he said in an interview, he feels “fortunate to be the one still here, serving the community I love.”
Growing up, Jameson didn’t think consciously about segregation. He would drive past schools in town, but had to travel another seven miles to his own school. It wasn’t until much later he understood how this system created such different lives for people, even within the same family, based solely on the color of their skin.
Charles Jameson looks at his childhood home in Culpeper, Va. (Photo/Ireland Hayes)
That early understanding would become the foundation for his life’s work. He’s discovered that some family members left Culpeper to find opportunity, often passing as White to find success. “I think they left when they saw that they could succeed for their families,” he said, his voice full of empathy.
Military awards
In 1970, after attending Virginia Union University and Virginia Commonwealth University, Jameson was drafted into the U.S. Army. His time in Vietnam revealed a hidden talent for numbers; he could work out calculations in his head faster than most. This inherent skill led to his appointments as section chief for many units.
Charles Jameson points to areas of Vietnam he served in during the Vietnam War on a blanket he keeps in his home office. (Photo/Ireland Hayes)
While serving in Vietnam, he was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries he sustained from mortar fire in early 1971. Later that same year, he earned three Bronze Star Medals for combat. He also received two Army Commendation Medals.
After his service, he worked in construction, rising to the level of superintendent of major projects like the Dulles Toll Road. He stayed in Culpeper, guided by his grandfather Clarence Clifton Tutt’s advice: “Hold on to your land.”
Retiring in 2010, Jameson began a new mission — genealogy. His research uncovered a complex network of Revolutionary War connections. He is a direct descendant of David Jameson, who carried the Culpeper Minute Men flag, and his maternal family lineage links him to presidents George Washington and Benjamin Harrison.
This journey led him to the Daughters of the American Revolution’s (DAR) “Forgotten Patriots” program, which honors people of color who fought for America’s independence. As his research revealed more of this overlooked history, he knew it had to be shared. “History has a lot to say, and all of it has not been written yet,” said Jameson.
Champion of Culpeper
Jameson’s work has had a significant impact. He was the first African-American member of the Culpeper Minute Men Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). He called his entry a profound experience, saying, “it felt like being accepted into an organization that recognized my family’s deep roots in this country.”
During his SAR chapter presidency from 2020 to 2021, Jameson’s work in telling the whole story of the revolution helped the chapter earn the National Best Mid-Sized Chapter Award. His presentations on “Forgotten Patriots” often draw standing room only crowds.
The street sign for St. Jameson Street, which was named after Charles Jameson’s late father, Saint Elmer Jameson. (Photo/Ireland Hayes)
A graduate of George Washington Carver Regional High School in Rapidan, Jameson serves on the boards of both the Carver 4-County Museum and the Culpeper History Museum. He is a driving force behind the Historical Marker Program, advocating for plaques to honor local history, including ones for the Tutt family, Norman’s Grocery on Sperryville Pike in Culpeper, the Norman School in Culpeper and 20 Patriots of Color from the Revolutionary War.
His dedication to Culpeper has not gone unnoticed. He has received numerous awards, including the Culpeper Colonel Award, the MLK Dreamkeeper Award and the NAACP Activism Award.
This past summer, Jameson was commended in the Congressional Record, the official daily record of proceedings in the U.S. Congress. In remarks by Rep. Eugene Vindman, whose Virginia congressional district includes Culpeper County, Jameson was described as “an extraordinary citizen” and praised “for his unwavering commitment to our community.” Jameson called the recognition “both amazing and unexpected.”
Jameson is most proud that he is still on his family’s land, able to pass it to his heirs. He views himself as a “living history document”—a bridge between generations. He’s not only a guardian of his family’s past but also a guiding light for his community’s future, living his life as a powerful example. Jameson offered this guidance for others:
“Find your own light and shine it as brightly as you can to help illuminate your own path and those of others.”
