The ladies shown above are but six of the hundreds of lives affected by the merger of Norfolk & Western Railroad and Southern Railway. They all worked together in the Southern corporate offices in Washington, D.C. until the merger sent them all in different directions in 1983. Around the office they were affectionately known as the BG’s; The Black Girls. After the merger, three stayed with the newly created Norfolk Southern Corp. and three resigned.
Cheryl went to Roanoke offices; Joyce and Sylvia went to Norfolk offices and Sadie, Susie and Val resigned. And even though all went in different directions, the miles of separation did not diminish their friendship.
“It’s been 36 years and it’s time we get back together for a meet & greet,” Susie said. So, recently they all met in Charlottesville VA, traveling from cities in Virginia, South Carolina and Minnesota.
While Cheryl had seen all of the ladies several times in the past 36 years, three had not seen each other since 1983. Over the 3-day weekend they wined and dined, shopped, laughed and told stories of marriage, divorce, children, grandchildren and for Susie, even great grand children. But showing old photos of back-in-the-day and reminiscing about the old Washington, DC party life had the most fun. After many hugs and tears, they promised to get together again in the next 2-3 years.
