Virginia McLaurin, the centenarian who danced excitedly with President Barack Obama and first girl Michelle Obama throughout a 2016 White House go to, has died. She was 113.
McLaurin’s son, Felipe Cardoso Jr, mentioned Nov 15 that she died early Nov 14 at her house in Olney, Maryland, the United States.
“Rest in peace, Virginia,” the Obamas wrote on Twitter. “We know you’re up there dancing.”
McLaurin visited the White House for a Black History Month reception in February 2016, when she was 106.
“Hi!” McLaurin squealed as she was launched to the president.
“You need to say hello to Michelle?” Obama requested.
“Yes!” McLaurin mentioned, transferring shortly to offer the first girl a hug.
“Slow down now!” the president mentioned. “Don’t go too fast.”
The ladies then held palms as they went into an impromptu dance, the president holding McLaurin’s arm.
“I believed I’d by no means stay to get in the White House,” she mentioned. “And I inform you, I’m so glad.
“A Black president. A Black spouse! And I’m right here to have fun Black historical past. Yeah, that’s what I’m right here for.”
Video of the encounter shortly unfold on-line, garnering worldwide information protection. After the transient assembly, McLaurin instructed reporters: “I might simply die glad.”
Deborah Menkart, a good friend who helped organize McLaurin’s 2016 go to, mentioned it dramatically modified her life. She mentioned McLaurin was dwelling “very frugally” at the time however her fame spurred individuals to donate to a care fund for her.
“She obtained a brand new wig, she obtained new enamel, she was capable of transfer to a greater house,” Menkart mentioned.
Later that 12 months McLaurin appeared at a Washington Nationals baseball recreation and was offered with a crew jersey on the area.
McLaurin additionally used her fame to assist others.
Born March 12, 1909, in South Carolina and not using a start certificates, McLaurin had been unable to get an ID card. Shortly after the White House go to, Menkart steered they contact the mayor’s workplace and the Washington Post, which interviewed her and printed a narrative.
Washington metropolis officers quickly issued her a brief card and introduced new rules giving residents 70 and older extra choices to get IDs.
“It modified her life for not solely herself, but additionally the clout she had,” Menkart mentioned.
A sharecropper’s daughter, McLaurin spent many years upon retirement doing volunteer work at colleges. According to the Obama White House archives, she was a foster grandparent and a mentor to special-needs college students, serving to youngsters with studying and social expertise.
“She was simply so carefree,” Cardoso mentioned. “She mentioned her secret to life was to not fear, so she by no means let issues fear her. She simply didn’t pay it no thoughts.”
Cardoso mentioned McLaurin adopted him when he was three.
“She liked and cared for everyone,” he mentioned. “She positively had a giant coronary heart for the children.” – AP
