The Chronicle
On March 14, 2025 – Pi Day, fittingly – Dr. Virginia K. Newell passed from this life at the age of 107. That she left this world on a date celebrated for its infinite mathematical value is no coincidence, only confirmation: her life was mathematically precise, divinely appointed, and infinitely impactful. Her passing marked the close of a monumental chapter not just in Winston-Salem history but in American history – and the opening of a new call to action for the generations she inspired.
Her life was not simply long; it was wide, deep, and rooted. A teacher, an advocate, a trailblazer, and a mother to many, Dr. Newell didn’t just live through the 20th and early 21st centuries; she helped shape them. Her story spanned wars, revolutions, scientific breakthroughs, social transformations, and the rise of civil rights – and through it all, she remained a woman committed to purpose. She was a mathematician, educator, mother, councilwoman, and mentor – but above all, she was a servant-leader whose life exemplified the full measure of dedication to God, to community, and to the betterment of others. Her life was the benediction. For anyone seeking a blueprint for what it means to live fully, courageously, and for others, the life of Dr. Virginia K. Newell is worthy of deep study and reverent emulation…