OLNEY, Md. — 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., stated Tuesday that she died early Monday at her residence 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 stated, shifting shortly to offer the primary girl a hug.
“Decelerate now!” the president stated. “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 stay to get within the White Home,” she stated. “And I let you know, I’m so completely satisfied.
“A Black president. A Black spouse! And I’m right here to have a good time 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 informed reporters: “I may simply die completely satisfied.”
Deborah Menkart, a good friend who helped prepare McLaurin’s 2016 go to, stated it dramatically modified her life. She stated McLaurin was residing “very frugally” on the time however her fame spurred folks to donate to a care fund for her.
“She bought a brand new wig, she bought new tooth, she was capable of transfer to a greater house,” Menkart stated.
Later that 12 months McLaurin appeared at a Washington Nationals baseball recreation and was introduced with a crew jersey on the sphere.
McLaurin additionally used her fame to assist others.
Born March 12, 1909, in South Carolina with out a start certificates, McLaurin had been unable to get an ID card. Shortly after the White Home go to, Menkart steered they contact the mayor’s workplace and the Washington Put up, which interviewed her and revealed a narrative.
Washington metropolis officers quickly issued her a short lived 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 stated.
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 stated. “She stated 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 stated McLaurin adopted him when he was 3.
“She liked and cared for everyone,” he stated. “She positively had an enormous coronary heart for the children.”
Cardoso stated funeral preparations have been pending.
