Mount Zion Baptist Church continues into the twenty-first century having been led by a series of senior pastors. At some point, Robert was sold to Richard H. Lynch of
Washington County, Virginia who published a $100 reward in 1863 for the return of a runaway slave, 24-year-old Robert Laws, who was described as "5 feet 7 inches high and weighs about 175 pounds" and likely headed to Middlesex County, Virginia. Laws eventually traveled and settled in Washington, DC. In 1866, he and Patsey A. Williams married in Washington, DC. Laws was pastor of the Old Bell Church at Freedman's Village, subsequently called Mount Zion Baptist Church, from 1866 to 1875. In 1866, he received 90 persons into the church. In 1875 the Mount Zion Church building collapsed during repairs. From 1875 to 1891, Laws served as pastor of the Virginia Avenue Baptist (Colored) Church, later renamed
Friendship Baptist Church in Washington, DC.
Rev. Joseph Matthews Rev. Matthews was born in 1850 in Fredericksburg, Virginia. His wife was Lucretia Payne. He served as the second senior pastor for Mount Zion Baptist Church from 1875 – 1890. He presented his ministerial credential to the Alexandria (VA) court in 1884 and was granted license to perform marriage ceremonies. Rev. Matthews officiated the first church wedding at Mount Zion. He also led Bethlehem Baptist Church in Anacostia, Washington DC from 1892 until his passing in 1919 and First Baptist Church of
Vienna, Virginia from 1908 – 1918.
Rev. Edward R. Jackson Rev. Edward Roland Jackson was born ca. 1858 in Yorktown, Virginia. His wife was Susie Franklin. In 1891, he graduated from the
Howard University Theological Department. He was ordained into ministry by the
Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. Rev. Jackson led Mount Zion Baptist Church from 1890 to 1903. During this time, he represented the church in meetings with other African American ministers in the
Washington metropolitan area. In 1898, he also "filled the pulpit" at Zion Baptist Church in Lottsburg, Virginia.
Rev. Charles H. Fox Rev. Charles Fox was born ca. 1872 in Virginia. His wife was Lucy Barber. He served as the fourth senior pastor for Mount Zion Baptist Church for six months in 1903.
Rev. Abraham G. Gordon Rev. Abraham Garnett Gordon was born in 1862 in
Orange County, Virginia. His wife was Mary Stewart. He served as the fifth pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church from 1904 – 1906. Rev. Gordon returned to
Gordonsville, Virginia in Orange County and made
brooms, which were noted for "being of superior quality and make." Rev. Gordon eventually employed six persons.
Rev. Frank W. Graham Rev. Frank Wood Graham was born ca. 1868 in Alcorn, Mississippi. His wife was Edna Witherspoon. Rev. Graham was the sixth pastor and led Mount Zion Baptist Church from 1908 to 1914. While serving as pastor, Rev. Graham was also a clerk at the US Department of the Treasury and took in boarders, including Julia T. Hammonds, who received a US patent for an apparatus for holding yarn skeins. Rev. Graham died in 1914 while pastor at Mount Zion Baptist Church.
Rev. James Edgar Green Rev. James Edgar Green was born in 1878 in Carolina County, Virginia. His wife was Eliza Owens Green. The couple had eight children James Jr., William, Jesse, Christina, Charles, Richard, Alfred and David. Rev. Green came to the Arlington area about 1900 and worked for a building contractor. He also joined Mount Zion Baptist Church in 1903 and held various roles such as Sunday School superintendent, choir member and deacon. Rev. Green was called to ministry and served as the seventh senior pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church from 1914 until he passed in 1950.
Rev. Dr. Oswald Garrett Smith Rev. Dr. Oswald Garrett Smith was born in 1925 in Richmond, Virginia, to Rev. Ernest Clarence Smith, former pastor of
Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. (1928–1977), and Mamie O. Davis. In 1947, Rev. Smith married Berta Elizabeth Mills, and together they had two children, Oswald Jr. and Alicia. Rev. Smith pursued higher education at
West Virginia State College,
Howard University School of Religion,
Union Theological Seminary, and Columbia University. •
Dr. André D. Ivy, Senior Pastor 2025 to present ==Arlington Historical Landmark marker==