OLNEY,Md.(AP) — Virginia McLaurin, the centenarian who danced excitedly with President Barack Obama and first girl Michelle Obama throughout a 2016 White Home go to, has died. She was 113.
McLaurin’s son, Felipe Cardoso Jr., mentioned Tuesday that she died early Monday at her house in Olney, Maryland.
“Relaxation in peace, Virginia,” the Obamas wrote on Twitter. “We all know you’re up there dancing.”
McLaurin visited the White Home for a Black Historical past Month reception in February 2016, when she was 106.
“Hello!” McLaurin squealed as she was launched to the president.
“You wish to say hello to Michelle?” Obama requested.
“Sure!” McLaurin mentioned, shifting rapidly to provide the primary girl a hug.
“Decelerate now!” the president mentioned. “Don’t go too fast.”
The ladies then held arms as they went into an impromptu dance, the president holding McLaurin’s arm.
“I believed I'd by no means reside to get within the White Home,” she mentioned. “And I inform you, I'm so joyful.
“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 rapidly unfold on-line, garnering worldwide information protection. After the temporary assembly, McLaurin informed reporters: “I may simply die joyful.”
Deborah Menkart, a pal who helped prepare McLaurin’s 2016 go to, mentioned it dramatically modified her life. She mentioned McLaurin was residing “very frugally” on the time however her fame spurred folks to donate to a care fund for her.
“She acquired a brand new wig, she acquired new tooth, she was in a position to transfer to a greater condo,” Menkart mentioned.
Later that yr McLaurin appeared at a Washington Nationals baseball sport and was offered with a group jersey on the sector.
McLaurin additionally used her fame to assist others.
Born March 12, 1909, in South Carolina and not using a beginning certificates, McLaurin had been unable to get an ID card. Shortly after the White Home go to, Menkart advised they contact the mayor’s workplace and the Washington Submit, which interviewed her and revealed a narrative.
Washington metropolis officers quickly issued her a brief card and introduced new laws giving residents 70 and older extra choices to get IDs.
“It modified her life for not solely herself, but in addition the clout she had,” Menkart mentioned.
A sharecropper’s daughter, McLaurin spent many years upon retirement doing volunteer work at colleges. In line with the Obama White Home 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 3.
“She beloved and cared for everyone,” he mentioned. “She undoubtedly had an enormous coronary heart for the children.”
Cardoso mentioned funeral preparations had been pending.
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