WASHINGTON — Longtime D.C. resident Virginia McLaurin marked her 109th birthday with a celebration that included the Harlem Globetrotters and local elementary school students.
“I don’t know of anything that made me feel so happy, to be with the children and the Globetrotters,” said McLaurin, also known as “Grandma Virginia.”
“This is really joy — joy to my heart.”
McLaurin, who is a social media darling after she was caught on video dancing with the Obamas in the White House when she was 106, has partied with the Globetrotters before for her birthday. This year, she celebrated with Globetrotters Zeus McClurkin and Swish Young, and Brightwood elementary students in Northwest D.C.
Though her birthday isn’t until March 12, McLaurin was happy to get the party started early. “Everybody I’ve been around has showed me so much love that I didn’t realize that people love me so much. And I love them right back,” she said.
McLaurin is an avid volunteer in her community; she has served in D.C. public schools and as a Senior Corps Foster Grandparent. The Globetrotters also donated 109 tickets in her honor to their March 17 and 18 games in the D.C. area, and most of the tickets will go to students at Brightwood.
