Only July 5th, 2024, the Claytor Memorial Clinic building in Gainsboro, a historic site known as one of Southwest Virginia’s earliest Black family-owned medical clinics, received official recognition from the state with a new historical marker. Founded by Dr. John B. Claytor Sr. in 1948, in memory of his late wife Roberta Claytor, the clinic provided crucial healthcare services at a time of racial segregation.
The unveiling ceremony also underscored the challenges faced by the Claytor family during Roanoke’s urban renewal period, which threatened their clinic and nearby properties with eminent domain. Despite legal battles, the Claytors prevailed, leading to legislative changes that curtailed localities’ use of eminent domain. Jordan Bell, a Gainsboro historian, emphasized the community’s responsibility to preserve and restore the clinic, noting its symbolic importance in revitalizing the entire Gainsboro area. Vice Mayor Joe Cobb echoed these sentiments, calling for city support in restoring the clinic as a focal point of community resurgence.
Despite this honor, the future of the clinic, closed since the 1990s, remains uncertain. Efforts by the Claytor family to secure funding for restoration, including a proposal to use federal pandemic relief money from Roanoke City Council, were ultimately unsuccessful. The city had intended to repurpose the site as part of a community hub for small business development and healthcare, but negotiations faltered.
The new marker, located in the cul-du-sac next to the clinic, marks the culmination of a year and a half of efforts led by Nelson Harris, former City of Roanoke mayor and local historian. Funds for the state marker were raised by the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation from the proceeds from their annual Scavenger Hunt and Pub Crawl.
This marker is part of Roanoke’s growing collection of historical markers, with a significant focus on acknowledging overlooked Black histories.