Virginia
“She was joy.” Family and colleagues remember Nikki Giovanni
BLACKSBURG, Va. (WDBJ) – It’s been nearly a week since the world lost renowed activist and poet Nikki Giovanni, but her memory is still very alive in the hearts of those who knew her.
To the world, Nikki Giovanni was a legend for her written works, words of inspiration and as a recipient of hundreds of awards throughout her career… But those closest to her knew her just as “Nikki.”
“She was just a really cool important Auntie who had really cool things, whose home was a museum, who invited you to go on a cruise to Antarctica,” remembers Lauren Wilkerson, Giovanni’s second cousin. “She was just this larger than life person.”
Wilkerson said Giovanni was there at every family event but her name also popped up in nearly every literature class growing up.
“It happened every semester, for sure . . . No one believed me, especially when you use language like a cousin, people didn’t understand how I had a ‘cousin’ one, that was so much older than us, and two, that was so important,” said Wilkerson.
Saturday, Wilkerson joined others who learned and studied Giovanni’s poetry during a visitation in her honor at McCoy Funeral Home.
“Being here to be with the Tech community, with folks from Blacksburg to get that peek into what her everyday world does feel really special,” said Wilkerson. “[It’s] extra loving to say goodbye to her here in that way.”
And she also got to hear some of the stories from Giovanni’s colleagues who shared the same sentiments about how special she really was.
“Wherever she went, I felt like she was spreading joy,” said Matthew Vollmer, a professor in the English Department at Virginia Tech. “I felt like she was a joyful person and you couldn’t be in her presence for more than 30 seconds without laughing.”
Vollmer and Giovanni worked together for 18 years. He said even in her passing, she will always be celebrated on campus.
“Things won’t ever be the same, but also we want to find ways to honor her legacy and to keep to keep that joy going that she instituted,” he said.
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A skydiver crashed into the Lane Stadium scoreboard before Virginia Tech’s spring football game Saturday.
Virginia Tech officials said on X that the skydiver “was safely secured and is currently stable” following rescue efforts. The incident caused a delay in the start of the spring game.
“Thankful for game days with Hokie Nation and for the Blacksburg and Virginia Tech first responders whose quick actions safely returned today’s parachuter to the ground without injury,” the university said.
The name of the skydiver wasn’t released.
“Our primary focus remains on their well-being,” Virginia Tech officials said in a statement. “We extend our sincere appreciation to the first responders, event staff, and medical personnel for their swift, coordinated and professional response.”
Video footage showed the skydiver’s parachute landing between the “C” and the “H” on the Virginia Tech lettering on top of the scoreboard before first responders rescued him.
CBS News has reached out to the Blacksburg Fire Department for details on the incident.
A much cleaner performance carried Clemson baseball on Friday, as it answered the previous night’s loss with a 5-1 win over No. 9 Virginia.
Michael Sharman set the tone from the start. He kept Virginia off balance all night, working eight innings while giving up just a single run. There weren’t many free passes, and he consistently pitched ahead, which allowed him to stay in control deep into the game. Hayden Simmerson wrapped things up in the ninth without any trouble.
At the plate, Nate Savoie was the difference. He delivered two home runs, including a go-ahead shot later in the game that put Clemson in front for good. His first long ball gave the Tigers an early edge, and he finished with three RBIs on the night.
Virginia managed to pull even midway through, but Clemson quickly responded. The offense strung together quality at-bats, with Bryce Clavon driving in a run and Luke Gaffney continuing his strong weekend with multiple hits. The Tigers created more separation late, adding another run after working a bases-loaded situation.
Clemson moves to 25-15 overall and 6-11 in conference play with the win. The series now comes down to Saturday’s matchup in Charlottesville.
Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A car crashed into the patio at Murphy’s Irish Pub on the Oceanfront on Friday night.
Virginia Beach medics arrived at the scene around 7:54 p.m. at Murphy’s Irish Pub and found several victims, according to police. All were taken to the hospital with injuries ranging from non-life-threatening to very severe.
Medics are still on the scene, according to News 3’s team onsite.
This is an active scene and an ongoing investigation; News 3’s team will continue providing updates.
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