Minnie Ruth Dandridge Martin celebrates her 100th birthday in pandemic style

The 100th birthday of Minnie Ruth Dandridge Martin was celebrated in grand style Sunday during a drive-by -- of sorts -- event at at Meadow Christian Church in Martinsville. She wore a crown and a sash and was dressed in her Sunday finest, and everyone else wore masks in respect of the novel coronavirus and COVID-19. She watched, surrounded by family members, some nearly as old as she, and well-wishers, as a parade of vehicles looped past the church, led by emergency vehicles from the city and Henry County. She also received proclamations of her day from both the city and the county.