A two-part discussion series and online exhibit weaving Sheryl's plantation descendant heritage, faith, family, and responses to current events into the design of her exquisite quilts. Each tells a colorful story — that of her enslaved and freed ancestors, her Woodlawn Quaker heritage, her preservation work with her mother, or that is reflective of the emotions of today's world.
Viewer shares beautiful quilts crafted to relieve stress
A two-part discussion series and online exhibit weaving Sheryl's plantation descendant heritage, faith, family, and responses to current events into the design of her exquisite quilts. Each tells a colorful story — that of her enslaved and freed ancestors, her Woodlawn Quaker heritage, her preservation work with her mother, or that is reflective of the emotions of today's world.
Viewer shares beautiful quilts crafted to relieve stress
Quilts featured on MSNBC's The Week, hosted by Joshua Johnson, January 17, 2021
NSDAR Arts Recognition Award
"I am thrilled to let you know we received word today that your application for the DAR American Heritage Women in the Arts Recognition Award has been approved!
Congratulations! You truly deserve this accomplishment!
You have been an inspiration to many of our members to use the Arts for Service!"
Mary Beth Cutting, MD
Regent, Nelly Custis Chapter NSDAR
Although commemorated for more than 150 years by African Americans, Juneteenth remains a curiosity for many people across the nation. In 2020, Fairfax County declared Juneteenth a county holiday. This was following Virginia’s declaration that a state holiday be observed. Check out opportunities to learn more about Juneteenth. Included in this article is a special poem by Sheryl Sims, art quilter and visual story teller, recognizing Juneteenth. https://bit.ly/3x2OGHk #GoldenGazette #FairfaxCountyFamilyServices
Article by Mary Jane Dye, Editor, Golden Gazette, Department of Family Services
(Posted 2021 June)
Although commemorated for more than 150 years by African Americans, Juneteenth remains a curiosity for many people across the nation.
Juneteenth—a word coined by combining June and Nineteenth—marks a final chapter in the end of slavery, which was abolished by the 13th Amendment. But for the enslaved Blacks in Galveston, Texas, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865 when they finally learned they were free—two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation and 10 weeks after the surrender at Appomattox Court House.
In 2020 Fairfax County declared Juneteenth a county holiday. This was following Virginia’s declaration that a state holiday be observed. It is an official holiday in all states except Hawaii.
Juneteenth is not yet a national holiday. It is interesting to note that the last national holiday passed by the United States Congress was Martin Luther King, Jr., Day in 1983 which occurs on the third Monday in January.
Throughout the years, Juneteenth carried many names from Liberation Day, Freedom Day, and Jubilee Day to Emancipation Day. Despite various names, its meaning and significance remained constant—freedom.
According to a PBS article written by historian Henry Louis Gates, Jr., “In one of the most inspiring grassroots efforts of the post-Civil War period, freed slaves transformed June 19 from a day of unheeded military orders into their own annual rite.”
Here are a couple of sentiments from older adults in the county when asked about Juneteenth.
Jocelyn Jones thinks Juneteenth is bittersweet, “A day of celebration with sadness.” She continues, “It’s not something I learned about until I was much older.” She wishes that it had been taught in school.
Everett Brown says, “I think about its importance and reflect on all that happened to African Americans and our heritage on that special day.”
Another way to appreciate the day is by participating in the County’s Library Juneteenth Book Festival. The festival seeks to boost and celebrate Black American stories and the people behind them. This video archive of the virtual book festival features Black American writers, artists, and industry professionals.
If you are interested in learning more about Juneteenth, visit these resources.
Juneteenth World Wide Celebration at Juneteenth.com
Juneteenth (1865): June 19, 2020 at Census.gov
Juneteenth (Encyclopedia Britannica)
Some local communities within the county may be offering additional ways to celebrate. Check with your homeowners association or local newspapers for events.
The Golden Gazette is honored that Sheryl Sims, art quilter and visual story teller, graciously wrote a poem just for the Golden Gazette as one of the many ways she celebrates Juneteenth. In addition, her newest creation in a series of “Historic Moments” quilts depicts Union troops arriving in Galveston, Texas declaring an end to slavery. (Learn more about Sheryl's story in the March 2021 Golden Gazette.)
Juneteenth
The days we toiled were hard and long
Sad stolen lives and mournful songs
Tears and blood flowed from our souls
As those we loved were killed and sold
We prayed for strength just to carry on
Toiling throughout the night and again at dawn
Tattered rags from scarred, weary, bodies hung
Starving for the scraps our cruel masters flung
A cry for freedom was all we sought
Yet cries and sweat was often for naught
The Masters’ whips were cruel and harsh
Some fled to hide among trees and marsh
Long bitter paths with dogs in pursuit
Trees filled with decay and stranger fruit
Property, not people, is all they saw
While ancestors were sold to places far
Oh, Freedom Day, when will you come?
Like America’s buffalo, so free to roam
Confederates soldiers seeking to hold tight
Despite the fact that they lost the fight
The day did come, and on June 19th
Despite what many chose to think
Jubilee Day, liberating one and all
“Free those enslaved!”--the Union called.
1865, was indeed, a year for change
Breaking free from slavery’s awful chains
Hear the voice of Gen. Gordon Granger
And, heed the prayers of departed ancestors—
For we are finally “Free At Last!"
Sheryl Sims
NSDAR - Nelly Custis Chapter Presentation 02-10-2021
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14bRDcewqdVIn6atGXfiqXQn899nhB-iG?usp=sharing
Friends of Historic Huntley - 11-06-2021 Presentation
The pandemic has changed our lives in many ways. For Alexandria-area Sheryl Sims, it gave her the time to fully explore art quilting, adapting it to her own style and artistic vision. In doing so, she found a way to capture in fabric her rich family ancestry and relations, both African American and White. Although her immediate family hails from Louisiana, Sheryl has discovered through genealogy that she has historical, local-area Quaker connections, including to James Hollingsworth, a one-time Superintendent of Mount Vernon; and to Buckman Road's Horace Buckman.
Descended from the enslaved, enslavers, and at least one Revolutionary War patriot, Sheryl brings together many threads of American history, and they, in turn, both appear in and influence the tenor of her artwork--which also includes many works of faith. Earlier this year, the Woodlawn Pope Leighey House featured Sheryl's artistic creations in their programming. Now, we bring to FOHH Sheryl's unique talent for artistically capturing the past and her own expressions of self and family that emerge from it. It's an inspiration for how we all might look to, and think about, the past and its continuing presence in our lives today.
Todi S. Carnes (FOHH President)
10-30-2021 Friends of Historic Huntley Meeting (FOHH) -- Announcement that Sheryl Sims was gifted with a lifetime membership to FOHH by Charlotte Brown.
Del Ray Artisans Presentation 10-10-2021
Studio Art Quilt Association - Member, 2020-2021
Historic Huntley Presentation 11-06-2021
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qT91RboF3ZuHZqEh5Lok10D03JwaROV8/view?usp=sharing
12/14/2021 - Appointed to the Alexandria Commission for the Arts for the term of 2022-2024 - sherylsims.aca@gmail.com
Smithsonian Museum of Natural History - Docent 1994-5: Field to Factory Tour/The Great Migration
Christ Church - Episcopal, Alexandria, VA Presentation - 6-12-2022
Charlottesville Area Quilters Guild (CAQG) - Charlottesville, VA - May 4, 2024
Peninsula Piecemakers Quilt Presentation - Newport News, VA - June 14, 2024
Alexandria Quaker Meeting Quilt Presentation - September 29, 2024
NSDAR Arlington House Chapter Presentation - April 9, 2025
Quilt Alliance Presentation - April 11, 2025
Quiltfolk Journal: Issue 35 - July 2025