The Cannon family matriarch Corinne Cannon’s alma mater, Barber-Scotia College, and other local leaders including Mayor Vi Lyles honored the centenarian for her community work at a Kannapolis, North Carolina event, WCNC reports.

Corinne was a staunch supporter of civil rights and was the first Black woman hired at the segregated Cannon Mills Plant in 1963, according to the Independent Tribune.

She withstood the racism of white employees during her employment and her white supervisor who told her to “turn the other cheek” and to report the abuse of her co-workers privately.

Corinne opened the door for other Black women and men to attain management positions at the company.

Author Michael Eury detailed Corinne’s contribution to the civil rights movement in his book Legendary Locals of Cabarrus County, according to Black Enterprise. 

Nick visited his great-grandmother in 2021 to celebrate her birthday in December.