Born at the dawn of the 20th century, Virginia Simpson McCarroll embodied strengths that perhaps more accurately describe women of the 21st century. Wonderfully outspoken, strong willed and a fiercely independent non-conformist, Virginia rebuffed the role her times expected of both a Negro and a woman. Choosing not to marry, wear pants with no makeup and educate herself, she was an admirably strong woman who stood 6ft tall and enjoyed physical labor. She fixed her own cars and cultivated her own farm all while sporting short and natural hair styles long before they were fashionable.
Early Years:
Born on December 28th 1916, to Elsie McCarroll, Virginia was raised in Mobile, AL, and excelled throughout primary school. Encouraged by her mother, stepfather and teachers, she was accepted to and attended Howard University Pharmacy School in Washington, D.C. Virginia worked various jobs to pay her way through college, including working as a cab driver. Throughout her time in D.C., she was able to build many lifelong friendships, as well as develop significant social and political views which were the foundation of the woman she grew up to be.
Virginia grew up in an age of great change for Negro Americans. Her formative years included such contemporaries as Zora Hurston, Mary McLeod Bethune and Katherine Dunham. The Harlem Renaissance and many other exceptional cultural movements were in full bloom during Virginia’s years in D.C. Most notably, the first Negro to receive a presidential appointment, the first Negro judge appointed to the federal court system and the first Negro woman elected to the House of Representatives all occurred during Virginia’s college years. Her most proud contributions to these movements were her involvement in integrating the local Woolworth luncheonette. The incident is best described in the book “Scenes from My Life”, written by Annie Dix Meiers:
“Virginia, Elsie’s daughter, had her mother’s courage, compassion, integrity and tact. During the early days of integration, these qualities were in full display in the following incident. In her early twenties, she was working in the Bureau of Census in Washington D.C. The only eating place nearby was the local Woolworth lunch counter. She and her friends, other black women, decided now that restrictions were weakened by the Supreme Court (Gaines vs Canada 1938), it was time for them to go there for lunch. The young women took seats at the counter and waited to be served. The waitress ignored them with indignation. Many others were served and departed. After half an hour, Virginia asked to be directed to the manager’s office. She knocked on the door and was admitted. “What do you want?” the manager asked. Virginia answered courteously with proper deference to his authority. “Thank you sir. You know that Woolworth is the only place in the neighborhood where we girls working in the Census Bureau can come to get our lunch, but the waitress has refused to serve us, although, we waited half an hour, while other customers came and were served. We wonder if you have the authority to manage the store as you wish, or if you are controlled by decisions from higher up?” “I manage my store as I see fit” he replied in a tone that implied that no one should question his authority. Then said Virginia courteously, “would you kindly tell the waitress to serve us? We would appreciate it very much.” He rose from his desk. “Come with me”’ he said.
They followed him to the lunch counter. “Serve these customers” he commanded. The young women thanked him in unison. He nodded in recognition and silently returned to his office. From then on, the Woolworth counter became their regular lunch spot. The waitress served them with courtesy.”
Education and Employment:
Confronted with several obstacles during her time at Howard University, Virginia sought assistance from her uncle and aunt, Major and Valorie McCarroll, who lived in New Jersey. Shortly after, Virginia relocated to New York City, and with their support, attended Astoria General Hospital where she completed a laboratory technician program and became a Certified Laboratory Technician. She remained employed at Astoria General Hospital until her retirement in 1972.
Middle Years:
In 1965, Virginia was one of the hundreds of Americans who were inspired by President JFK’s call to action to volunteer for the newly formed Peace Corps. She was one of the first to sign up and pass the entrance exam. Unfortunately, as Virginia was now in her 40s and they were seeking younger, college-aged volunteers, she was not able to participate in the program. True to her personality, she met this rejection by joining a private group and was soon on her way to Africa. From first landing in Lagos Nigeria, Virginia fell in love with the people, the food, the culture and the Mother Land as a whole. Upon returning to the States, Virginia had become Afrocentric in thought, dress and manner, and become rather passionate about genuinely and appropriately reflecting African culture and values. As “Negro Americans” were now starting to be called “African Americans,” Virginia was very outspoken and intolerant with those who she saw as inauthentic. This lead too many lively dinner conversations between her and others.
Virginia enjoyed many hobbies including foreign travel, listening to her vast music collection, biking, snowmobiling, sewing, knitting, jewelry making, canning, painting and photography. Also an avid gardener, she brought a multi-acre farm in DurhamVille, NY. Naming the farm “My Way Acres,” Virginia referred to it as her “place in the sun” and spent many happy years tilling the earth and growing flowers and vegetables which she sold at her roadside stand. Working at her farm on most weekends with the occasional help from neighbors, Virginia had hopes of being able to live out her retired life at My Way Acres. Unfortunately, as maintaining the farm grew more difficult and expensive, she eventually sold the farm to her next-door neighbor.
Later Years:
In 1972, Virginia retired from Astoria General Hospital and moved to New Jersey where she began her second career as a professional Flea Marketer Vendor. With a penchant for collecting and an apartment teeming with “stuff,” this seemed a fitting business for her. She quickly became a regular vendor at Collingwood Circle, Englishtown, Avenel and Rahway Flea Markets, selling books, campaign buttons, vintage newspapers and magazines, vinyl records, negrobilia, figurines, souvenir spoons, Kente cloth and fine African fabrics.
At the age of 93, after dealing with many health setbacks while living alone, Virginia reluctantly moved to a nursing home facility where she spent her remaining years. Frequent visits from her devoted cousins Jesse McCarroll and Joanne Bonney, as well as many other family members and friends, were the source of her joy.
Virginia will perhaps be most remembered as the family Historian and genealogist. She spent years, and a small fortune, researching our family progenitors, tracking the most reliable earliest descendant to 1779. She was able to use our family to demonstrate a family’s ability to cope and survive the realities of 19th and early 20th century black American life. Separation caused those left behind to become all the more valued. Aunts became surrogate mothers, granduncles became surrogate fathers, and cousins were raised as siblings. Some sent off to live with distant relatives to provide them with better opportunity. These fractures are what made her task so daunting. Since our family tended not to make distinctions, family was cherished as family. No matter how distant the relation.
Virginia deeply believed family gatherings, weddings, funerals and reunions should be treasured. She wrote in the Family Newsletter of April 1992 “Reunions are powerful anchors, especially in these days where the sheer magnitude and swiftness of events tend to dwarf the family. The family that comes together in a reunion, whether it is first or twentieth, finds sanctuary that nurtures all of it. Reunions reaffirm the thread of our continuity, establish pride in self and kin and bring out how much we need to care and love each other.”
Virginia was a loved and valued family jewel. One who brought an abundance of richness and texture to our family. As children we were afraid of her assertiveness and strength; as teens we dismissed her as eccentric; as young adults we admired her independence, focus and determination; and as mature adults we are in awe at all she packed into 98 years.