Plus, bring your plant to Ardmore fall plant swap.
 
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71º | 70% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:04 a.m. | Sunset 7:25 p.m.
 

Legends are made in Winston-Salem

Famous people who live(d) in Winston-Salem
WStoday: Photo portrait of Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou hosted Oprah Winfrey at one of her homes on Valley Road in Winston-Salem. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Stars aren’t just made in Hollywood. Our city is home to many celebrities and personalities that have made great impact not only nationally, but also globally. Think actors, best-selling authors, artists, influencers, prominent business starters — the Twin City has them all.

While some called Winston-Salem their home at one point of their lives, a handful were born and raised in the city. Without further ado, here are some of Winston-Salem’s most famous alumni:

Maya Angelou | The poet, author, and civil rights activist was a professor at Wake Forest University and lived at 3240 Valley Rd. where she would often host her grad students for dinners.

Dr. Gary Chapman | The famous author who currently lives in Winston-Salem has sold over 20 million copies of his book “The 5 Love Languages.” The book has been translated in 40+ languages.

Richard Joshua Reynolds | The founder of the second-largest tobacco company in the US started the business in the town of Winston in 1873. Camel cigarettes became the highest-selling cigarette in 1913, making Winston-Salem a prime location for business trades.

WStoday: RJ Reynolds photo portrait at age 32

R.J. Reynolds, founder of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, chose Winston-Salem as the headquarter for the business because of the easy access to railroads.

|

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Chris Paul | The Winston-Salem native attended Wake Forest University and led the Demon Deacons to a school record of 27 victories during his sophomore season. The 12-time NBA All-Star was named among the 75 greatest players in NBA history.

Burgess Jenkins | The actor has starred in movies like “One Tree Hill” and “Blue Ridge.” Born in Winston-Salem, Jenkins came back to his hometown where he turned the iconic Summit Street Pharmacy building into a charming cafe and bar — The Remedy in West End.

Nia Imani Franklin | The composer, actress, conductor, and singer was crowned Miss America 2019 and attended UNC School of the Arts. Her EP, “Extended,” and her orchestra piece “Chrysalis Extended,” has amassed nearly four million views on her TikTok profile.
5 more celebrities
Full Life Counseling & Recovery
 
Events
Monday, Sept. 16
  • Shag Dance Class | Monday, Sept. 16 | 6-7 p.m. | Mary Alice Warren Community Center, Lewisville | $15+ | Wear smooth bottom shoes and learn the techniques behind the fast footwork dance — no partner is needed.
Tuesday, Sept. 17
Wednesday, Sept. 18
  • 4 UR LP | Wednesday, Sept. 18 | 7-9 p.m. | The CMPND | Free | Come ready to share an album/EP that has moved you or changed you, followed with an open discussion.
Thursday, Sept. 19
  • Green Career Expo | Thursday, Sept. 19 | 10:30-1 p.m. | Project Space 411 | Free | Job seekers and community members can connect with leading green employers and sustainability professionals in our region.
Friday, Sept. 20
  • Innovation & Cinema: “Barbie” | Friday, Sept. 20 | 7-10 p.m. | Bailey Park | Free | Grab your skates and watch the movie under the stars — bring a blanket and lawn chair.
Saturday, Sept. 21
  • 2024 Ardmore Fall Plant Swap | Saturday, Sept. 21 | 11 a.m. | Ardmore United Methodist Church | Free | Bring a plant or two to swap with other gardeners, plus join a talk on gardening best practices.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
Biz

💸 This local program grants minority-owned bizzes up to $25,000
A group of minority business owners who received grants stand on stairs in Winston-Salem.
Applications + grant information are also available in Spanish. | Photo provided by Greater Winston-Salem Inc.
Looking for a way to boost your (or a friend’s) local biz?

Applications are open through the end of September for the Minority Business Enterprise Grant Program, a local initiative that provides Black and Latinx-owned small businesses in Forsyth County Grants up to $25,000.

Businesses with 25 or fewer full-time employees and under $1 million in gross annual sales are eligible to apply.

60+ success stories and counting

Since launching the program in 2020, Greater Winston-Salem Inc. and an advisory committee of local minority business leaders have distributed 60+ small business grants, with an average amount of $10,000+.

The goal? Improving long-term business success, job retention, and job creation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Needless to say, it’s worked out splendidly — fueling significant growth within the minority-owned business community in the four years since.

If you have anyone in mind, send them this way.
Start an application
News Notes
Civic
  • Got ideas on how the city should manage parking downtown? Attend one of the two DOT public hearings on parking meter upgrades on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at Kaleideum from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. + Monday, Sept. 23 at the Benton Convention Center from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Real Estate
  • Carolina University president Charles Petitt plans to build an 80-home subdivision in southeast Winston-Salem. The 39.85-acre lot is located on Furman Drive, off the 4100 block of Thomasville Road. (Triad Business Journal)
Community
  • Help Historic Bethabara Park restore the roof of the Buttner Brewer’s House, the earliest known distiller’s house in the US. Purchase a $5 ticket to be entered in a raffle to win prizes. The drawing will be held Dec. 7 during Christmas at Bethabara.
Seasonal
  • Ready for a gourd time? Fall on the Farm starts this weekend at Smith Hollow Farm in Kernersville. Hop on hay rides, explore corn mazes, and play in the pumpkin patches every Saturday and Sunday through Nov. 2 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. — tickets start at $15.
Eat
Arts
  • Behind every great art exhibition is a curator who spent hours handpicking each object + narrating its unique story. On October 16, join Reynolda deputy director and exhibition curator Phil Archer for a guided tour of Reynolda’s newest exhibition, “Founder’s Vision.” Registration is required.*
Number
  • 22%. That’s how much auto insurance rates have increased over the last year. Stop overpaying + find a better rate when you get a free, no-obligation quote from Savvy.*
 
Asked

This one is for the insiders

Asked: Unwritten rules of Winston-Salem
WStoday: Winston-Salem skyline featuring major buildings downtown
There are some things only residents could know. | Photo by @tim_hutch
Whether you’re a Winston-Salem native, a newcomer, or somewhere in between, there are certain unwritten rules that every Winstonian knows to be true.

For instance, you might know that most locals refer to Winston-Salem as Winston or that parking meters are free on weekends. These are the kinds of insider tips that only those who live here truly understand.

Here’s what one WStoday reader shared with us:

“You can tell how long someone has lived here based on what they call the hwy through downtown: Old 40, Business 40, or Salem Pkwy.” — Lydia I.

Let us know your unspoken tips + need-to-knows for the chance to be featured in an upcoming newsletter. Think: specific city knowledge, trends, and colloquialisms.
Give us the scoop
The Buy

The Buy 9.16.24 (Affiliate)
A candle warmer. Ditch the matches and opt for this contemporary lamp that will evenly burn your candles, sans smoke.
More worth The Buy
 
The Wrap
 
WStoday: Kellina Wanteu

Today’s edition by:
Kellina
From the editor
If you want a deeper dive on pioneers with ties to our city, check out the Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Memorial Walk of Fame online. You can nominate yourself or someone (like, for example, your favorite WStoday City Editors) to be added to a future list when nominations open in January 2025.
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