Ann Frances Slaughter Wingfield

Ann Frances Slaughter Wingfield was born April 29, 1831 in Culpeper, Virginia, the daughter of Thomas Jefferson Wingfield and Martha Moore. In November 1861 she married Isaac W. Wingfield. She lived in Catalpa and Stevensburg in Culpeper County. Ann was a war widow and taught school from 1866 to 1892. In 1892 the Culpeper Graded School was built. This was the first public school built for white children. Ann Wingfield was one of the first teachers at this school. Prior to her teaching school at the Culpeper Graded School, she taught students in her home at the dining room table. In 1907, four grades were added and the building became the county’s first high school. In 1916 a new school was built and it was named after Ann Wingfield. Her teaching career ended in 1909 and she passed away on January 15, 1916 at the age of 84. She is buried in Fairview Cemetery.