BLUEFIELD, W.Va (WVVA)- A member of the Bluefield High School Hall of Fame celebrated her 100th birthday Wednesday.
Centenarian Virginia Hebert has lived through
everything from the Civil Rights Movement to 2 World Wars. But she was born and
raised in the same house she lives in today.
At that same house Wednesday morning, she started getting birthday wishes via phone calls and personal visits from 7:30 AM on. She said she was "very tired" but that she enjoys sharing these moments with them.
"I love people," she said, but only had one complaint: "I would have liked to make this a quiet day with my immediate family." But she understood others' need to help her celebrate.
In her 100 years, she has seen many presidents take office, wars be fought, and even the Civil Rights Movement. She takes pride in the history she has experienced, but she is also thankful for the life she lived.
"I have enjoyed a wonderful life," she told WVVA. She makes sure we view the photo of her husband, Edward, and herself taken after they were married in 1940. They were together for 50 years before his death.
Hebert taught school in Bluefield for over 40 years, working at Bluefield High, Park Central, and Genoa High. She remains very proud of her students and what they have accomplished since they sat at the desks in her classroom.
"Many of my
students are doctors and lawyers and ministers, and they write me and tell me
the things I demanded of them helped them in some way. And that makes me feel
like I've been of some help to somebody," she said.
Some of those students call her "The Legend" because of her experience and her wisdom she has been able to share with them over the years.
