Sculpture Unveiling & Sneak Preview Event
On Saturday, June 6, 2026, Beloved Community Cville, in partnership with the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, celebrated the extraordinary life of Charlottesville native Sarah Ann Kelley.
Sarah’s life has been defined by courage, leadership, and service. Throughout her career, she broke racial and gender barriers in eight different fields while dedicating herself to ministry and advocating for others.
The event brought together friends, congregants, supporters, and family from across the region. James Bryant welcomed guests, and Helena Estes-Johnson shared Sarah’s important role as one of the original Beloved Community Tour docents. Remarkably, Sara has connections to all 16 sites featured on the tour.
Guests also learned about the documentary Sarah Ann Kelley: Becoming Visible, by filmmakers Hannah Ayers and Lance Warren. The film tells the story of Charlottesville through Sara’s life and achievements as a nurse, computer programmer, pastor, and community activist. During the program, Sara was presented with a family history book created by Dr. Shelley Murphy, a genealogist from the University of Virginia, who traced her maternal ancestry back to her fourth great-grandparents.
A highlight of the afternoon was the unveiling of a sculpture of Sarah by Charlottesville artist Rick Weaver. The sculpture is on display in the lobby of the JMRL Central Library alongside a collection of books related to Sara’s life and legacy. After the summer, the exhibit will travel to other community locations.
Stay tuned! The film will be premiering in the fall and in the meantime the sculpture is on exhibit in the lobby of the JMRL Central Library. Check it out!
Sarah’s life has been defined by courage, leadership, and service. Throughout her career, she broke racial and gender barriers in eight different fields while dedicating herself to ministry and advocating for others.
The event brought together friends, congregants, supporters, and family from across the region. James Bryant welcomed guests, and Helena Estes-Johnson shared Sarah’s important role as one of the original Beloved Community Tour docents. Remarkably, Sara has connections to all 16 sites featured on the tour.
Guests also learned about the documentary Sarah Ann Kelley: Becoming Visible, by filmmakers Hannah Ayers and Lance Warren. The film tells the story of Charlottesville through Sara’s life and achievements as a nurse, computer programmer, pastor, and community activist. During the program, Sara was presented with a family history book created by Dr. Shelley Murphy, a genealogist from the University of Virginia, who traced her maternal ancestry back to her fourth great-grandparents.
A highlight of the afternoon was the unveiling of a sculpture of Sarah by Charlottesville artist Rick Weaver. The sculpture is on display in the lobby of the JMRL Central Library alongside a collection of books related to Sara’s life and legacy. After the summer, the exhibit will travel to other community locations.
Stay tuned! The film will be premiering in the fall and in the meantime the sculpture is on exhibit in the lobby of the JMRL Central Library. Check it out!
Photography by Rebecca George
Who is Sarah Ann Kelley?
Charlottesville native Sarah Ann Kelley has lived a remarkable life defined by courage, leadership, and unwavering service. In the face of segregation, she broke racial and gender barriers in eight different arenas, all while dedicating herself to ministry and advocating for those in need. Here are some highlights:
- Trained as one of the University of Virginia’s “Hidden Nurses” during a time when Black students weren’t allowed entry into UVA
- The first African American nurse hired at Martha Jefferson Hospital, where she worked as a cardiac specialist and helped establish the hospital’s first Cardiac Unit.
- The first African American female computer programmer at the University of Virginia Medical Center, and two other locations.
- The first African American Chaplain at UVA Hospital.
- Founded Faith, Hope & Love in 1983, a nondenominational ministry continuing to serve the community today.
- And more!
Announcing Our New Documentary Film Project!
Beloved Community Cville is pleased to announce that we’ve launched production of a new documentary film about Charlottesville's hidden history -- the deep roots, the struggles, and the resilience. This new film will offer a unique look at our city's complex past, seen through the lens of a remarkable woman's life story.
Sarah Kelley is an 85-year-old activist and faith leader raised in Charlottesville, whose family lineage traces back to enslavement here. Throughout her life, she has made an extraordinary impact through her tireless fight for equity and the transformative power of her ministry. She charted new territory by becoming the first Black woman to hold many positions, ensuring that those opportunities would be available for those behind her. Her story embodies courage, perseverance, and hope, as well as an illuminating perspective on our city’s darker past.
Beloved Community Cville has commissioned Field Studio to produce the film and we recently completed our first day of filming. Field Studio is an Emmy-award-winning production company known for creating documentary films and media at the intersection of history and social justice. We are hoping to have the documentary finished by this summer. Stay tuned for updates!
Thanks to all of you who have donated to support this exciting project. We're still not quite at our fundraising goal yet and are in need of more support. Please help us to bring this film fully to fruition!
Sarah Kelley is an 85-year-old activist and faith leader raised in Charlottesville, whose family lineage traces back to enslavement here. Throughout her life, she has made an extraordinary impact through her tireless fight for equity and the transformative power of her ministry. She charted new territory by becoming the first Black woman to hold many positions, ensuring that those opportunities would be available for those behind her. Her story embodies courage, perseverance, and hope, as well as an illuminating perspective on our city’s darker past.
Beloved Community Cville has commissioned Field Studio to produce the film and we recently completed our first day of filming. Field Studio is an Emmy-award-winning production company known for creating documentary films and media at the intersection of history and social justice. We are hoping to have the documentary finished by this summer. Stay tuned for updates!
Thanks to all of you who have donated to support this exciting project. We're still not quite at our fundraising goal yet and are in need of more support. Please help us to bring this film fully to fruition!