Meet Louise Nall, a remarkable 96-year-old Black woman from Montgomery, Alabama, who has been selling The Tuskegee News newspapers for more than 56 years.
Nall began selling newspapers because her son Walter, who was only four years old at the time, wanted to make some extra money.
“So I told him we were going to the news office to get some papers. We went there and got 100 papers. Sold those papers so fast we had to go back and get some more,” Nall told WSFA.
While Walter became preoccupied with school and band activities, Louise’s enthusiasm for selling papers remained unwavering. She now spends two days a week, at the age of 96, outside the local Piggly Wiggly store, selling papers and conversing with customers.
“I’ve never been a sitter. No, not me. Everything life offers, I enjoy it,” Nall said.
Scott Richardson from The Tuskegee News acknowledges Louise’s significance in the community, stating, “She delivers 125-150 papers a week.”
Moreover, selling newspapers also provided an excellent opportunity for Louise to teach her children about money management.
“When you see something you want and can’t afford it now, just get you a job,” said Nall. “Put you a quarter or fifty cents in there every week. You’ll be surprised at how that adds up for you.”
Louise Nall isn’t just about delivering news; she’s a beacon of positivity. Her customers value not only staying informed but also being around her uplifting spirit.
“For about the first 15 years I knew her, it was like, ‘How are you, Ms. Nall? Oh, I’m lovely,’” said Richardson.
That sums up her personality – always smiling, offering words of encouragement, and distributing newspapers to people in need. Nall is outside the Piggly Wiggly shop every Wednesday and Thursday from 10:30 a.m. until her newspapers are all sold out.