She’s seen it all!
A century of life is a monumental feat, but for Mrs. Virginia Smith, it’s also a celebration of joy, resilience, and history. This past February, just days before turning 100 years old, the Richmond, Virginia native reflected on a journey rich with memory, family, and historical firsts that began in the heart of the Jim Crow South, WTVR CBS 6 News reports.
Born in 1925, Virginia Smith has lived through decades of change, from segregation to the civil rights era, and now into an era where her great-great-grandchildren grow up in a world she helped shape simply by living with dignity and determination. To this day, she still lives independently, doing her own housework and maintaining the life she built.
“Right now I’m 99. In a few days I’ll be 100. I tell you, I have really enjoyed life…I thank God that he has let me be able to walk and do my work because I live by myself and I do my housework,” Smith told reporters.
What makes Smith’s story even more remarkable is the place where her educational journey began: Maggie L. Walker High School. When the school opened its doors in 1938, it became one of only two high schools in Richmond that Black students could attend. Smith was part of its first graduating class—a historic moment that marked a shift in opportunity and access for Black youth in the city.
“Then they came up and said, ‘Oh, they’re getting ready to build Maggie L. Walker.’ I said, ‘Oh my God! I certainly hope it will be ready by the time I get to go.’ Sure enough, 1938, Maggie Walker opened,” she recalled with a smile. “I loved that school.”
From joining the drama club to cheering on the football team during the legendary matchups against Armstrong High, Smith immersed herself in school life and made the most of her four years there. “I couldn’t have asked for a better school, couldn’t have asked for a better principal, and I couldn’t have asked for better teachers,” she said.
Her upbringing was guided by simple yet powerful wisdom passed down from her mother: “Treat people how you want to be treated.” That principle shaped the way she moved through life—quietly breaking barriers, holding onto joy, and uplifting her community.
Now, as the beloved matriarch of a large family that spans generations, Smith celebrated her milestone birthday surrounded by love and legacy. When asked what she planned to do on the morning of her birthday, she offered a quick-witted response: “What am I going to do? I hope to wake up.”
She’s done much more than that. Virginia Smith woke up and walked through history, and now, at 100 years old, she’s still standing—an example of what it means to live with purpose, grace, and pride.
Happy 100th, Mrs. Smith! You are truly blessed!
Cover photo: Elder Virginia Smith Celebrates 100th Birthday by Reflecting on a Century of Life & Legacy/Photo credit: Joi Fultz/WTVR CBS 6 News