The Connection

James Davis died in 1863, but he was just buried Monday in the Oakton Baptist Church Cemetery in Chantilly.

Actually, it was his second burial. The first was shortly after his death, but his remains were recently moved so a memory-care facility may be built upon his original gravesite.

“He’s the first person with whom I’ve ever had the chance to experience a resurrection,” said the Rev. Lewis Holmes, the church pastor, during the March 9 graveside service. “Out of the thousands of funerals I’ve done, it’s the first one where we’ve gotten to take someone’s remains and put them back into the ground.”

Several of Davis’s descendants — members of the Birch family — were there to witness his re-interment. Among them was his great-great-grandson, Ray Birch, 89, who was raised in the Chantilly/Pender (now called Fair Oaks) area and lived in the City of Fairfax for 58 years.

The roots of the Davises and Birches run deep in this area. And shortly before the reburial, Birch related some of his family history. He said Davis was his great grandmother’s father.

“She was born in 1846 and remembered the Civil War,” said Birch. “She used to tell us about hearing the cannon fire from the Battle of Bull Run in Centreville, and also from the Battle of Ox Hill [in Fairfax], which was fought in a fierce rainstorm.”

Years later, Fairfax County preserved almost 5 acres of the 500-acre Ox Hill battlefield and erected monuments to the two Union generals who died there in battle. And in 1914, as a teenager, Birch’s father cleared the land for those monuments.

As for James Davis, he was a farmer who owned property at Flatlick Branch in Chantilly, by the Centreville/Walney Roads intersection with Route 50. “I have the Birch family bible and also did some genealogy,” said Birch. “James married Elizabeth Cross and they had four children, three daughters and a son.”

Eventually, Birch’s paternal grandfather was born in Chantilly on the Davis farm property. His own father, Alvin Birch, was born on property that later became the Greenbriar community – and what’s today known as the Birch Pond community nearby was named after him (Alvin).

Ray Birch graduated from Fairfax High in 1942, when it was in the building that now houses Paul VI High. He later married his wife Dot and worked for Fairfax County for 30 years before retiring in 1977. “I rose from a clerk typist to assistant director of finance,” he said.

Getting back to Davis, he died of natural causes at age 56 and was buried on his farm. But now, a century-and-a-half later, Artisan Land Group LLC is going to build The Arbors of Chantilly on that same property, off Downs Drive, at 13622 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway (Route 50). A 48-unit, residential structure, it’ll focus on caring for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

However, when it was discovered that there was a grave on the property, the developer needed to find its exact location so it could be moved. So Artisan President and owner Sean Ambrose contacted local banker Rick Hutchison to ask if he knew any longtime Chantilly residents who might know where the grave was.

“In the late 1970s or early ’80s, the county was putting in a water or sewer line next to the property,” said Birch. “I saw it and told the county there was a grave there, so the county put the grave on its maps.” But Artisan was unable to find it since its marker – a red rock on which Birch had painted a white cross – had disappeared long ago.

So Hutchison connected Ambrose with Birch and, about a year ago, Ambrose, a lawyer and an archaeologist contacted Birch to enlist his help finding the grave. “My father had told me about that grave when I was a kid,” said Birch. “I was the only living person who knew where it was.”

The foundation of an old house was still onsite, and Birch told Ambrose to look for the grave 20 feet northwest of it. “They went back and found it,” he said. “Now Artisan is moving [Davis’s remains] and paying for his reburial. I suggested Oakton Baptist Church because it was my grandparents’ and great grandparents’ church. It was established in 1874 as an Episcopal church, and we appreciate the church letting us bury him there.”

The church cemetery contains graves from the Birch family going back several generations. “There are 12 family graves there now,” said Birch. “My grandparents and great grandparents are buried there, along with some aunts and my sister, who died as an infant.”

Regarding Davis’s reburial, he said, “I think it’s unique being able to say you went to your great-great grandfather’s burial. And it unites the family’s past history with the current generation.”

During Monday’s service, which brought together family members from both Virginia and Maryland – including three great-great-great granddaughters – everyone recited The Lord’s Prayer. And Holmes told them that, one day, “James’s body will rejoin his spirit in heaven.”

The church cemetery is right beside Route 50, and Birch said afterward that he was thinking during the service “what a different world it is today from when James was alive. Cars were whizzing by and airplanes flew overhead – and none of these things were invented then.”

“I think this is great,” said Birch’s wife, Dot. “It’s a historic event and it’s important because there are still relatives living.”

Barbara Miller, who’s married to Davis’s great-great grandson, Jack Miller, said, “I just think it’s neat that he came home to rest with his people. And it’s so nice to see all the family together. I think he’d be happy knowing he’s here where his children and grandchildren are buried.”

Brothers Asa and John Swart Jr., also Davis’s great-great grandsons and Fairfax High grads, attended the service, too. “It’s not something you see very often,” said Asa.

“I’m glad they were able to restore him to a natural place to be buried with his family,” said John.

Even Ambrose was there. He said they hope to break ground on the Arbors of Chantilly this fall, with construction expected to take about 10 months. “I feel great because this really worked out well,” he said. “It was amazing to find out about this cemetery and see all the other family members that are buried here. I think Mr. Davis would be happy to be here with his family and not in a field somewhere.”

Summing it all up, Ray Birch said, “All those who came here today at least know where his final resting place is. This closes a chapter.”