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The gift of giving personifiedmunique Aiken County teacheBy LIZ KASNERAs the African proverb states, ‘ Ittakes an entire village to raise a child.”In this case, White Pond is the villageand Cora Wimberly is one of its teachers.Mrs. Wimberly is a native of AikenCounty and a longtime resident of theWhite Pond area. Born on what is nowknown as the Savannah River Site,Mrs. Wimberly’s community and family relocated when the plant came totown.“The (Savannah River) plant made adifference, more people got jobs,” shesaid. Other plants came to town andwouldn’t hire blacks but the SavannahRiver Plant did, they gave my peoplejobs,” she added.sfkgmAfter graduating from BettisAcademy as salutatorian in 1942, Mrs. dren and seven great-grandchildren.Wimberly went on to attend college at One of her daughters, Cheryl, remainsAllen University majoring in elementary education. In 1948, she marriedclo§e to home working at the post office and playing the piano in church. “Iher Ezekiel Wimberly at Reverend have raised my children well, they arePatterson’s house in Aiken. Mrs. all active members of the community,”Wimberly continued her education by she said.earning her masters degree at theUniversity of South Carolina.Mrs. Wimberly is perhaps bestIn the summer of 1954, school consol- known for her work at Ebenezeridation, and Mrs. Wimberly’s search for Missionary Baptist Church ina job, began. “I finally found a job five Williston. She has instructed teenagersyears later teaching grades one in Sunday school for the past 50 years.through seven at a one-teacher school,99Her jobs as church librarian, deashe said. Wimberly taught in Hampton, coness, president of the MissionaryBarnwell and Aiken County Public Society, and chief of the Usher BoardSchools for 31 years.keeps her hand in most church activiOf her many teaching accomplishties. She is also an active member ofments, Mrs. Wimberly also served as the executive board of The Stormprincipal of the first Head Start Branch Educational and MissionaryProgram at Kelly Edwards Elementary Association which oversees 23 church-School in Williston. She represented es in that area.the Fro programs at Kelly Edwards assecretary and as president at OakwoodInstead of singing her own praises,Elementary. She also served as secre-Mrs. Wimberly prefers singing thetary of the Barnwell County Educationpraises of the Lord in her church choir.Association.Mrs. Wimberly’s living room wallsOf all of her activities, Mrs.are covered with plaques that com-Wimberly said she most enjoys work-mend her teaching and community ser-ing with young people. I try to empha-vice efforts.size self-worth. I tell them not to be any-Throughout her teaching career,thing for anyone, just be yourself, sheMrs. Wimberly also managed to raise afamily of four children, 10 grandchil-i \, (Please see CORA, next page)I have raisedwellThey arechildrenactivemembers of the communityCora WimbeiAlzheimer’s ischallenging journeyWhen the physician sa;Alzheimer's,” your fambegins a challenging journey.the Mattie C. Hall Health QCenter, we have travelled thijourney before. We know the waWe have learned that caremployees who act as familyfriends bring smiles and peamind. We are devoted topeople. And it is this devotiowhich makes us different.Jacilitieand learn more about our innovitive programs!MATTIELaurensAiken, South Carolina • (803) 649-6264
Newspaper Details
Aiken Standard
Aiken, South Carolina, US
Thu, Jul 11, 1996
Page 26
Full Page
Clipped by
Library O.
USA 17 Jun 2023
Other Publications Near Aiken, South Carolina
Aiken Daily Mail
Aiken County Rambler
Aiken County Register
Aiken County Journal
Aiken Standard
