Oct. 9, 2016

Groundbreaking for Statue of America's First Woman to Charter a Bank

RICHMOND, Va. - This group proudly prepares to turn the ground to officially launch development of the Downtown plaza where a statue to Richmond pioneering businesswoman Maggie L. Walker will stand. Wielding the shovels are, from left: J. Maurice Hopkins of the Maggie Walker High School Class of 1965; City Councilman Chris A. Hilbert; Mrs. Walker’s great-great-grandson, Diallo Brooks of Washington; Gov. Terry McAuliffe; Mayor Dwight C. Jones; Mrs. Walker’s great-grandson, Johnny Mickens III of Richmond; Melvin Jones Jr., who helped spearhead the statue effort; and Selena Cuffee-Glenn, Richmond’s chief administrative officer. Location: Broad and Adams streets. The city is investing nearly $1 million to create the statue and plaza to honor Mrs. Walker, who, in 1903, became the first African-American woman to found and head a bank in the United States.