Vincent Orange, fighting Kwame Brown for Gray’s seat, went with a smaller Cadillac SUV than his competitor. What, he couldn’t afford an orange paint job?

The D.C. Council honored Virginia McLaurin, the 107-year-old District resident who famously danced her way to meeting the Obamas earlier this year.

Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd presented McLaurin with a ceremonial resolution, letter of congratulations, and bouquet of flowers this morning for her contributions as a foster parent, school volunteer, affordable housing advocate, seamstress and au pair and “outstanding years of public service” in D.C.

The Petworth resident has been in D.C. for 77 years.

In February, she visited the White House to celebrate Black History Month and danced her way to shake the hands of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. She responded to the president’s pleas to slow down with dancing and infectious joy. “I thought I would never live to get in the White House, and I tell you I am so happy,” she said. “A black president… A black wife… And I’m here to celebrate black history. That’s what I’m here for.”

The next month, United Planning Organization, where she volunteered for over 20 years, hosted a dance party to celebrate her birthday at THEARC in Southeast.

But despite her infectious glee, the longtime District resident has faced her share of hardships—including a bedbug infestation that lasted months. In response, friends started a YouCaring.com page for her, which raised more than $30,000.

And within days of a Washington Post column in April lamenting that McLaurin didn’t have the proper documentation to get a REAL ID, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced new regulations designed to fix the issue for McLaurin and other seniors. The mayor, along with Deputy Mayor Kevin Donahue and DMV Director Lucinda Babers, delivered the news to her personally—along with a temporary ID she could use until a permanent REAL ID was delivered in the mail.

And this morning, McLaurin sat in the Wilson Building grinning as councilmembers and other District residents acknowledged her life’s work.

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