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1 BLACK HISTORY MONTH
75 cents
The Chron icee
Volume 45, Number 22
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.
THURSDAY, February 7, 2019
Black History: 100 years of wisdom
Throughout the month of February people across the country will be celebrating the lives and legacies of great
African-Americans who made contributions to society.
Dr. Virginia Newell
Still championing
equality and
education at age 101
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr., Fredrick Douglas,
George Washington
Carver, Harriet Tubman,
and Rosa Parks have
become synonymous with
February and Black
History Month. While it is
important that we lift up
the names and accomplish
ments of the greats every
one knows, it is equally
and maybe even more
important that we highlight
the history-makers right
here in our own communi
ty who paved the way for
others.
And when making a list
of Winston-Salem's Black
History Makers, your list
isn’t valid if it doesn’t
include champion of equal
ity and education, Dr.
Virginia K. Newell.
Originally a native of
Davie County, Newell
relocated to Winston-
Salem with her family
when she was a child. A
graduate of Atkins High
School, in 1977 Newell
and Mayor Tempore
Vivian Burke became the
first black women elected
to the board of alderman
(now City Council).
Newell, who will turn
102 later this year, said her
father always stressed the
importance of voting. She
said when they lived in
Davie County, her father
was one of the few blacks
who were allowed to vote.
Newell said her father
taught her that politics can
affect every phase of life,
from education to job cre
ation and housing.
Newell said she
remembers goihg to the
polls with her father, ask
ing dozens of questions
about the process and what
it all meant.
“He was never elected
to office, but my father was
always involved in politics
Dr. Virginia K. Newell is a living legend and a champion of equality and education.
and when he would go
vote, he would take all of
the children in the neigh
borhood with him so they
could ask questions and
learn about voting,”
Newell said.
During her 16-year
tenure representing the
city’s East Ward, Newell
was known as an advocate
for fair housing, economic
justice, and racial equality.
She is also credited with
leading the effort to build
the East Winston Shopping
Center and founding the
YMCA’s Best Choice
Center. Newell said when
she served the citizens of
East Winston, she made it
her mission to speak out
against things that were not
for the betterment of peo
ple.
Last week Newell told
The Chronicle that
although she never got the
opportunity, she always
wanted to take her talents
to Washington. She said
she’s proud of what she
accomplished during her
time as alderman, but her
dream was to serve in the
U.S. House of
Representatives.
She said, “... If I had
started earlier, I think I
would made it to
Washington. I wouldn’t
have been like Maxine
Waters, but something like
her. I would’ve been like a
Harriet Tubman in
Washington, a Sojourner
Truth in Washington, they
would’ve known I was
there. I would’ve let them
know what was happening
to our people.”
Although she is most
known for her contribu
tions to the city of
Winston-Salem, Newell’s
true passion has always
been education.
After college Newell
returned to her alma mater,
Atkins (now Winston-
Salem Preparatory
Academy), to teach math.
See Legend on A2
Charlie Lentz honored with accolades and mayor’s proclamation
BY JUDIE HOLCOMB-PACK
THE CHRONICLE
Nearly 100 ’people
attended the 100th birthday
celebration for Charlie
Jasper Lentz on Saturday
evening, Feb. 2, at the
Village Inn and
Conference Center in
Clemmons. As guests were
introduced and recognized,
it appeared that they were
all family in some way -
either his children, grand
children, uncles, aunts,
cousins, children and
grandchildren of uncles
and cousins, and one guest
who declared that SHE had
adopted Mr. Lentz as her
uncle and not the other way
around.
The love for not only
Mr. Lentz but each other
filled the room. Family and
friends
away
from as far
Maryland,
came
as
Virginia and New York to
join in the celebration of
his special day.
The mistress of cere
mony, Carolyn White,
described Mr. Lentz as a
“walking miracle,” a
description that was used
throughout the evening.
She mentioned that he has
never had any major hospi
talizations or illnesses and
is always “calm, cool and
collected.”
In his reflection about
his dad, Charlie Lentz Jr.
said, “... I’ve never seen
him get angry or get seri
ously upset with anyone ...
Thank you Daddy for
teaching me how to be a
real man.”
Mayor Allen Joines
also had kind words to say
about Mr. Lentz before he
read a proclamation declar
ing Feb. 3 as Charlie Lentz
Day. As he presented the
proclamation to Mr. Lentz,
there was applause and a
standing ovation for a man
who has obviously and
positively influenced
numerous lives.
Mayor Pro Tern Vivian
Burke was also in atten
dance and spoke highly of
the Lentz family saying,
“We are blessed just to be
in his company. All of us
join the mayor to say ‘This
Photos by Judie Holcomb-Pt
Charlie Lentz with his granddaughter Kimberly
Bunkley, Mayor Pro Tern Vivian Burke and son
Charlie Lentz Jr. at his 100th birthday celebration
on Feb. 2.
is your day!’”
Mr. Lentz’s primary
care physician, Dr. David
Miller of Wake Forest
Baptist, was introduced
and he said that Mr. Lentz
had been his patient for 14
years and noted, “ ... that
seems like a long time, but
when you live to 100, 14
years isn’t very long.” He
said he had looked up his
doctor’s notes from his
first visit with Mr. Lentz
and read: “Mr. Lentz is a
delightful 86-year-old
man.” He remembered ask
ing Mr. Lentz during the
first visit how he arrived at
the office. Did he drive?
No, he answered. Did a
friend or family member
bring you? No, again. He
asked, then how did he get
here and he was taken
aback when Mr. Lentz
replied, “I walked.” He
asked how far that was and
Mr. Lentz said, “About a
mile.” He said that Mr.
Lentz was the “Miracle
Walker.” He mentioned
that at the age of 93 he
finally convinced him to
get a cane, but that another
doctor had done even bet
ter when he convinced him
to get a walker. Then he
added, “I’ve never seen
him use it.”
Dr. Miller said he has
determined, “ ... several
keys to living to 100:
Taking care of yourself and
walking every day; having
a happy heart; honoring the
Lord; and having a great
family.”
Angel (Wyvern)
Anthony gave a brief histo
ry of Mr. Lentz and noted
that he enlisted in the Army
in 1941 during the Second
World War and served until
the war ended in 1945,
receiving seven medals
and ribbons for his military
service. His family moved
to Winston-Salem after the
war ended and that is when
he met his wife, Bernice,
and his children Charles
and Gale were born. Mr.
Lentz served 26 years at
the United States Post
Office on Fifth Street,
where he retired as chief of
security, then he worked
five more years at the
Federal Building down-
town and retired a second
time. He has attended
Goler Metropolitan AME
Zion Church for 74 years.
Rev. Johnny Ruff, pas
tor of Goler Metropolitan,
also praised Mr. Lentz and
said, “There are a lot of
people who are alive, but
are not living. We salute
you today.” Mr. Lentz still
attends church faithfully
every Sunday.
Mr. Lentz did not seem
at all fazed by the acco
lades and attention he
received. When asked what
was the most significant
See Lentz on A2
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