1/1/2009: A.G. - … this picture of my great-Grandfather and great-Grandmother (sitting on the porch steps, Albert and Anna Gummerson) with my Grandfather (the child on the porch, Ralph Gummerson) and my Grand-uncle (the shoeless boy standing at the bottom of the stairs, Albert Gummerson, Jr). Given the age of my Grandfather, I would guess it was taken in 1899 (he was born in 1895). The 1900 census has them living in Accomac (sic) County in the Metompkin district. Also attached is the 1900 Census page - my great Grandparents are listed as "EVERETT" however, their surname was "GUMMERSON" ("Everett" was my great-Grandfather's middle name).  He owned/operated a ginseng farm in the 1890's in Metompkin.

RHS:  The African Americans in this picture could be from the family(#292) listed next door to the Everitt/Gummersons (#293) in the 1900 Metompkin District, Accomack County, Virginia Census  
James D West  	26
Evoa West 	38
Maggie West 	2
Daisy West 	0
Lizy White 	18
John White 	2
Susa White 	0

1/2/2009:  A.G. -  I, too, got the sense the black woman on the porch was possibly a servant. Although I'm not sure, it's possible her name was Melissa (I have a document - a child's newspaper dated 3/21/1897 that was in my grandfather's strong box with a handwritten note at the top saying "Paper given to Ralph the first time he went to Sunday School. Melissa took him. Nov. 29th 1897). Perhaps "Melissa" is the "Lizy White" listed on the 1900 census record? The age seems right. The black man and woman to the right in the pic could very well be James and Eva West. The woman looks older than the man and, according to the census record, Eva was 13 years older than James.
Al Gummerson, alg0912@bellatlantic.net