75 cents
AMERICA
NEEDS
NATIONAL NEWSPAPER WEEK • OCTOBER 4-10,2020
See Opinion/Forum p
See Sports on page Bl
on A4 &5
THE CHRONICLE
Volume 47, Number 5
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.
THURSDAY, October 8, 2020
Virginia Newell turns 103
‘A vote-less people is a hopeless people’
BRIDGET ELAM
THE CHRONICLE
What do you talk about
with a centurion? Most
would think that history
would top the list of con
versation topics. But if
you are talking to Virginia
Newell, you are talking
about the near future - No
vember 3rd to be exact.
On Wednesday, Oct.
7, Virginia Newell turned
103 years old and she is
showing no signs of taking
her foot off the gas pedal.
In a phone interview
with The Chronicle about
her birthday, Ms. Newell
spoke passionately about
America’s political climate
and the need for everyone
who can to get out and
vote.
“I have about 200
families to call. I’m urging
them to get out and vote on
Nov. 3,” said Newell, who
also mentioned she was
wearing a Biden-Harris
t-shirt during our conver
sation. “We need a presi
dent who cares about the
people. I’ve never lived in
a time where the president
makes fun of and mocks
people the way he [Trump]
does. I’m doing what I can
to make sure he is not re-
elected.”
Ms. Newell is origi
nally from Davie County
and relocated to Winston-
Salem at a young age. She
was a graduate of Atkins
High School in 1936 and
in 1977 Newell (along
with the late Mayor Tem
pore Vivian Burke) be
came one of the first two
Black women elected to
the board of alderman
(now city council).
While representing the
city’s East Ward, New-
Photos frow Newell family
Virginia Newell
ell championed for racial
equality through fair hous
ing, equal rights, and qual
ity education for Black and
brown children.
Newell was previously
quoted in The Chronicle
saying, “If I had started
earlier, I think I would have
made it to Washington. I
wouldn’t have been like
Maxine Waters, but some
thing 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.”
Newell hasn’t lost her
zeal for politics.
“A vote-less people is a
hopeless people.” Newell
said, quoting leaders of the
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
Inc.
She says the 2020 pan
demic is like nothing she’s
ever experienced before.
“It’s pretty bad. Eco
nomics is at its bottom
because a lot of businesses
have gone belly up and
a lot of people have lost
their jobs. I don’t think I
ever lived like it is at the
moment. And I never lived
with a president who is as
erratic and so non-con
forming and a person who
doesn’t think about any
body but himself.
“I will be working hard
to get people to vote as
long as the Lord gives me
strength, so that it can be
more pleasant for people,”
she said.
It’s ironic. Newell did
not have the right to vote
until she was 48.
When asked, what
keeps one around for over
100 years, Newell’s re
sponse was full of sound
advice and simplicity.
“Buy pretty flowers,
listen to good music, and
have good friends,” she
said without hesitation.
And of course, she men
tioned some biblical vir
tues as well. “Treat people
like you want to be treated
and love everybody.”
Newell has been
pleased with the phone
calls, cards and flowers
she’s received in honor of
her birthday and expresses
her gratitude.
Because of the pan
demic, Newell will not
have a big celebration. She
is not getting out, but she
is still excited about hav
ing her children visit.
“I’m looking for my
children to come but they
can stay in a hotel,” she
laughed. “Everyone needs
to stay safe and healthy
during this time. We have
to wear masks and keep a
safe distance.
“I think the Lord is
keeping me here for a rea
son,” Newell said answer
ing the question as to why
she thinks she is still here.
“He may be keeping me
here to help us get a new
president. I hope He is do
ing that. I’d like to see a
president who cares about
us.”
Please join The Chron
icle in wishing Virginia
Newell a very special and
very happy 103rd birthday.
Her gift wish list con
sists of one item: GO
VOTE!
Can a Healthy Lifestyle Protect
Older Adults from Memory Loss?
Join the U.S. POINTER Study
We are looking for eligible adults who:
• Are 60-79 years old ■ -
• Are not regular exercisers (generally less than 3 times per week)
833-361-7591 pointerstudy@wakehealth.edu
(LU.S.POIN 1 : I' XX^ Wake Forest"
akbelmer's ^ sirodation Haptist Health
www.wschronicle.com
¥