Woman at 91 receives master's degree

Jet, May 27, 2002

Grace Claiborne Johnson-Goodwyn, 91, recently received her master of arts degree in history from Virginia State University (VSU).

This is Johnson-Goodwyn's fourth graduate degree. "I love it," said Johnson-Goodwyn, a former elementary school reading teacher. "Next year I'd like to go for another. One of the teachers said, `Grace, go over there to Richmond and take law.' I would do it if it wasn't for the driving."

Johnson-Goodwyn's journey began when she graduated from VSU with her bachelor's degree in 1946. Since she retired from teaching, she has written a book of poetry and two novels and a fourth book is in the works. She said she decided to be a historian, so she returned to VSU in 1997 to further her education.

Virginia Governor Mark R. Warner spoke at the graduation and characterized Johnson-Goodwyn, a Petersburg native, as a true hero for her educational persistence. "She gives a whole new meaning to the phrase lifelong learning," said Warner, who was honored by VSU with an honorary doctor of law degree.

Joseph Goldenberg, chairman of VSU's history department said, "She's been very persistent. We have a foreign language requirement, and she got through two years of Spanish. It's not easy to learn a foreign language at that age."

Goldenberg said the sight of Johnson-Goodwyn slowly making her way to the classroom with the aid of a cane inspired classmates who were 70 years younger.