Foremost wishes for 2021
With the start of 2021, the Richmond Free Press invited select city and state officials and leaders to share their foremost wishes for the new year. Following are their responses.
Chesterfield’s Megan Walker has WNBA, international playing career
The offseason for women’s elite basketball talent isn’t much different than the regular season. In the NBA, the average salary is $7.7 million. By sharp contrast, the average WNBA salary is about $101,000. That’s ample reason why many WNBA athletes — like local star Megan Walker — supplement their paychecks with far-away gigs across oceans, mountains and multiple time zones.
Emancipation Proclamation Day service to take place online
With a stroke of a pen, President Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery in the warring South 158 years ago.
Ruby H. Walden, a force for community betterment in Suffolk, dies at 99
“I cannot do everything, but I can do some things. What I can do, I ought to do. What I ought to do, with the help of God, I will do.” Those are the words Ruby Holland Walden lived by until her death at age 99 in her native Suffolk on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020, her family said.
Personality: Victoria S. ‘Vickie’ Oakley
Spotlight on board chair of Dancing Classrooms Greater Richmond
Education always has been a focus for Victoria S.“Vickie” Oakley.
Mayor heading strongly into his second term
Mayor Levar M. Stoney sees bright prospects ahead for Richmond if COVID-19 can be defeated quickly.
Sculpture honors 1st Black president of U.S. college
The first Black president of an American college is being honored with a sculpture installed in the Vermont city where he was born in 1826.
Personality: Kenda Sutton-EL
Spotlight on co-founder and board president of Birth in Color RVA
Kenda Sutton-EL knows that all births aren’t equal in Virginia.
Serving MLK’s ‘dream’ was Dr. Willie Woodson’s passion
On Dec. 4, Richmond lost a good, decent and caring citizen, Dr. Willie Woodson, longtime pastor of First United Presbyterian Church in North Side who came out of retirement to pastor Trinity Ghanaian Presbyterian Church.
Celebrate this holiday with care, by Glenn Ellis
After almost eight months of quarantine, face masks and hand sanitizer, we are now in the middle of two unprecedented events: The COVID-19 pandemic and the first holiday season under measures that have changed how we carry out our family traditions.
Resolutions for the Biden-Harris administration, by Ben Jealous
Electing a new president and vice president was a gift that 81 million Americans gave to ourselves and to one another.
Rashida Jones named first African-American to lead cable news network
MSNBC has named Rashida Jones the first Black person and Black woman president of the network.
Area historian awarded $10,000 grant for documentary on Virginia Randolph
Historian Elvatrice Belsches’ 20-year dream to make a documentary about noted educator Virginia E. Randolph is getting an initial boost with a $10,000 grant from Virginia Humanities to support the research and development of a script.
Capital City Kwanzaa festival to go virtual beginning Dec. 26
Like many other holiday events, the Richmond area’s largest Kwanzaa festival is going virtual and also will provide evening shows online during the full seven days of the holiday that begins Saturday, Dec. 26, it has been announced.
Thomas ‘Tiny’ Lister, an athlete who rose to fame as a bully on the silver screen, dies at 62
Thomas “Tiny” Lister, a track and field champion, professional wrestler and actor, died Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, at his home in Marina del Ray, Calif.
College football losing Black coaches
The ranks of Black coaches in the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision continue to shrink.
West End crew take Seattle Seahawks to victory over Washington
The Seattle Seahawks are a West Coast team with a strong West End of Richmond influence.
Integration of Negro Leagues’ stats into MLB called ‘marketing genius’ by former player
Don’t be surprised if there’s a spike in sales of old Negro League baseball gear— and just in time for the holidays.
Record mail volume and worker shortage lead to USPS delays
The U.S. Postal Service is struggling to deliver gifts, medications and other mail in a timely fashion.
