Virginia McLaurin

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Virginia McLaurin
McLaurin during her visit to the White House in 2016
Born(1909-03-12)March 12, 1909
Died (aged 113 years, 247 days)
Other names
  • D.C.'s Favorite Centenarian
  • Grandma Virginia
Occupations
Known forVideo of her dancing with Barack Obama and Michelle Obama at the White House in February 2016
Children2 (1 deceased)
Awards

Virginia McLaurin (March 12, 1909[2] – November 14, 2022) is an American supercentenarian and community volunteer[3] Born in South Carolina, she lived in Washington, D.C., before passing away in Olney, Maryland.

Her husband died in 1939 after a bar fight. She volunteers forty hours a week as a Senior Corps volunteer with the United Planning Organization's Foster Grandparents Program at the Roots Public Charter School. In 2013, McLaurin received a volunteer community service award from Mayor Vincent C. Gray in recognition of her voluntary work.[4]

She gained national attention after a visit to the White House on February 18, 2016 to celebrate Black History Month, after which a video of her dancing with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama went viral on social media.[5]

She celebrated her 108th birthday with the Harlem Globetrotters.[6]

In March 2016, McLaurin received the President's Volunteer Service Award for her work of daily service to schoolchildren in the nation's capital.[7] McLaurin died at her home in Olney, Maryland, on November 14, 2022, at the claimed age of 113 years, 247 days.[8]

References[change | change source]

  1. "D.C.'s Virginia McLaurin is celebrating her 111th birthday". March 12, 2020.
  2. Ives, Mike (November 16, 2022). "Virginia McLaurin, Sharecroppers' Daughter Who Danced With the Obamas, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  3. Maine, D'Arcy (March 15, 2017). "Virginia McLaurin celebrates her 108th birthday with the Harlem Globetrotters". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  4. Sherwood, Tom (December 17, 2013). "104-year-old Virginia McLaurin honored for volunteering in D.C." WRC-TV. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  5. Garunay, Melanie (February 22, 2016). "Meet the 106-year-old who got to dance with the President and the First Lady". Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  6. Pearl, Diana. "Virginia McLaurin, Who Danced with the Obamas, Celebrates Her 108th Birthday with the Harlem Globetrotters". People.com. People. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  7. Samantha Jo Warfield (2016-03-11). "Internet Sensation, 106-year-old Dancing Grandma Receives President's Lifetime Achievement Award for Service". PR Newswire. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
  8. "DC's "Dancing Grandma" Passes at Age 113". WHUR. November 14, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2022.