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Henrietta Lacks Hometown Initiative (HLHI) to Unveil Display at the South Boston-HalifaxCounty Visitor’s Center Honoring Hometown Hero
South Boston, VA — The Henrietta Lacks Hometown Initiative (HLHI) is proud to announce the unveiling of a new display at the South Boston-Halifax County Visitor’s Center honoring Henrietta Lacks, a Halifax County native whose legacy has transformed medicine and continues to impact lives around the world.
The display will be unveiled at the Visitor’s Center (1180 Bill Tuck Hwy, South Boston, VA 24592) on Friday, November 14, at 2:00pm.
Raised in Halifax County’s Clover community, Henrietta Lacks is remembered as the source of the world’s first immortal human cell line, known as HeLa cells. These cells—taken without her
knowledge in 1951—have played a vital role in advancing countless scientific breakthroughs, including the polio vaccine, cancer research, HIV/AIDS treatment, and the COVID-19 vaccines.
“The Henrietta Lacks Hometown Initiative Committee is grateful for the opportunity to continue educating the community about Henrietta Lacks’ global impact in medicine. We are proud to put into active display some of the wonderful works that have resulted from the famous HeLa cells belonging to Henrietta Lacks,” said committee co-chair Barbara Coleman-Brown.
“We are deeply honored to host this beautiful and necessary tribute to the life and legacy of Henrietta Lacks. We invite everyone – from near and far—to visit this display and connect with the story of a Halifax County daughter whose legacy has had a monumental, global impact on human health,” said LaTonya Hamilton, Halifax County Tourism Director.
The display includes photographs, mementos, and educational materials designed to share both the scientific and human sides of Henrietta’s story. It also highlights the ongoing advocacy of the Lacks family and the HLHI in preserving her legacy and focusing on the continuing research related to the HeLa cells.
The unveiling ceremony will take place at the South Boston-Halifax County Visitor’s Center on November 14 th at 2:00pm. The public is invited to join Henrietta Lacks Hometown Initiative, community leaders, and local residents in celebrating Henrietta Lacks’ enduring legacy and her special place in Halifax County history.
About the Henrietta Lacks Hometown Initiative (HLHI)
The Henrietta Lacks Hometown Initiative was established to honor and preserve the legacy of Henrietta Lacks in Halifax County, Virginia. Through education, commemoration, and community engagement, HLHI works to ensure that Henrietta’s contributions to science and humanity are recognized and that her story continues to inspire future generations.
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