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107-year-old DC resident Virginia McLaurin honored by city council

Teta Alim | talim@wtop.com

December 21, 2016, 12:34 AM

Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker helps Virginia McLaurin, 107, with her jersey on the field before the Nationals' baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park, Thursday, May 26, 2016, in Washington. McLaurin gained Internet fame for her impromptu dance with President Barack Obama in February during a Black History Month reception at the White House and said afterward that she could finally die happy. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker helps Virginia McLaurin, 107, with her jersey on the field before the Nationals’ baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park, Thursday, May 26, 2016, in Washington. McLaurin gained internet fame for her impromptu dance with President Barack Obama in February during a Black History Month reception at the White House and said afterward that she could finally die happy. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais
FILE — In this Feb. 22, 2016, file frame grab from video shows Virginia McLaurin, left, in Washington. McLaurin, who gained internet fame for her impromptu dance with President Barack Obama has received a temporary photo identification card after her lack of a birth certificate stymied her earlier efforts to get one. (AP Photo/Rick Gentilo, File)
AP Photo/Rick Gentilo, File
“I love the way we can get along with each other,” said Virginia McLaurin, answering a question posed by one the dozens of kids who entertained her over a more-than two-hour event at the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus in March 2016. (WTOP/Rich Johnson)
“I love the way we can get along with each other,” said Virginia McLaurin, answering a question posed by one the dozens of kids who entertained her over a more-than two-hour event at the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus in March. (WTOP/Rich Johnson)
WTOP/Rich Johnson
The video of Virginia McLaurin dancing for joy as she met President and Mrs. Obama last month went viral. But the people of Southeast D.C. have known about ‘Grandma Virginia’ for a long time. And hundreds gathered Friday to celebrate her 107th birthday. (WTOP/Rich Johnson)
The video of Virginia McLaurin dancing for joy as she met President and Mrs. Obama in February went viral. But the people of Southeast D.C. have known about “Grandma Virginia” for a long time. And hundreds gathered in March to celebrate her 107th birthday. (WTOP/Rich Johnson)
WTOP/Rich Johnson
“I love the way we can get along with each other,” said Virginia McLaurin, answering a question posed by one the dozens of kids who entertained her over a more-than two hour event at the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus. (WTOP/Rich Johnson)
“I love the way we can get along with each other,” said Virginia McLaurin, answering a question posed by one the dozens of kids who entertained her over a more-than two hour event at the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus in March. (WTOP/Rich Johnson)
WTOP/Rich Johnson
Virginia McLaurin displays the White House napkin she got when meeting President Obama and the First Lady. Video of the 106-year-old dancing with the first couple garnered (at publication) 59,570,733 views on the White House Facebook page. (WTOP/Kristi King)
Virginia McLaurin displays the White House napkin she got when meeting President Obama and the First Lady. Video of the then-106-year-old dancing with the first couple garnered millions of views on the White House Facebook page. (WTOP/Kristi King)
WTOP/Kristi King
The White House dancing video has earned Virginia McLaurin rock star status when out in public. "I'm so impressed with her dance moves," says Dana, on the far right. "This is the most exciting thing to happen to me all week!" (WTOP/Kristi King)
The White House dancing video has earned Virginia McLaurin rock star status when out in public. “I’m so impressed with her dance moves,” said Dana, on the far right. “This is the most exciting thing to happen to me all week!” (WTOP/Kristi King)
WTOP/Kristi King
Virginia McLaurin
Virginia McLaurin, 106, breaks into dance with President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama at the White House in a video posted in February. (Courtesy White House video capture via Twitter)
Courtesy White House video capture via Twitter
(1/12)
Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker helps Virginia McLaurin, 107, with her jersey on the field before the Nationals' baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park, Thursday, May 26, 2016, in Washington. McLaurin gained Internet fame for her impromptu dance with President Barack Obama in February during a Black History Month reception at the White House and said afterward that she could finally die happy. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
“I love the way we can get along with each other,” said Virginia McLaurin, answering a question posed by one the dozens of kids who entertained her over a more-than two-hour event at the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus in March 2016. (WTOP/Rich Johnson)
The video of Virginia McLaurin dancing for joy as she met President and Mrs. Obama last month went viral. But the people of Southeast D.C. have known about ‘Grandma Virginia’ for a long time. And hundreds gathered Friday to celebrate her 107th birthday. (WTOP/Rich Johnson)
“I love the way we can get along with each other,” said Virginia McLaurin, answering a question posed by one the dozens of kids who entertained her over a more-than two hour event at the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus. (WTOP/Rich Johnson)
Virginia McLaurin displays the White House napkin she got when meeting President Obama and the First Lady. Video of the 106-year-old dancing with the first couple garnered (at publication) 59,570,733 views on the White House Facebook page. (WTOP/Kristi King)
The White House dancing video has earned Virginia McLaurin rock star status when out in public. "I'm so impressed with her dance moves," says Dana, on the far right. "This is the most exciting thing to happen to me all week!" (WTOP/Kristi King)
Virginia McLaurin

WASHINGTON — The D.C. Council honored one of the city’s best-known residents, 107-year-old Virginia McLaurin, with a ceremonial resolution Tuesday.

Known also as “Grandma Virginia,” the D.C. resident has lived in Ward 4 for 77 years and has dedicated her time to volunteer work. She gained national attention after showing off her dance moves when she met the Obamas in the White House in February.

Council members honored McLaurin for her community service by declaring a ceremonial resolution in her name.

The ceremony at city hall brought her to tears. “I didn’t think I’d ever live to get a chance to get in the White House, but I am so happy about it. And I didn’t think I’d ever get a chance to come this [far] … I’ll sure enjoy every bit of it,” McLaurin said.

She is a foster grandparent and volunteers her time at Roots Public Charter School in Northwest D.C.

Watch her White House visit below.

WTOP’s Megan Cloherty contributed to this report.

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Teta Alim

Teta Alim is a Digital Editor at WTOP. Teta's interest in journalism started in music and moved to digital media.

talim@wtop.com

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