Lela Babb Burden has been awarded an honorary school diploma at 111 years of age, more than nine decades after she left school.
Schools in the area of Norfolk, Virginia where Lela lived were closed due to a flu epidemic when the little girl was in fourth grade.
Lela never returned to school but her family were in attendance to see her receive an honorary diploma from Booker T.Washington High School last week.
WVEC reported that Booker T. Washington is the school Lela would have attended had she enrolled in high school. Lela earned money by babysitting and cleaning after leaving school and later married a railroad worker named French Burden.
Mrs. Burden has contributed to this community for 111 years,” Samuel T. King, superintendent of schools, said during the graduation ceremony, according to WVEC.
“She made sacrifices, but she never relinquished her commitment to lifelong learning. We are privileged to provide her with an honorary high school diploma, symbolizing the vital importance of a free and appropriate public education for all.”
