‘Young at heart’ 99-year-old graduates

A Bridgetown area woman who waited more than 80 years to receive her high school diploma had her ‘bucket list’ wish granted June 28 at the Bridgetown Regional Community School – to a standing ovation.

Walking with a cane, and helped to the stage by her grandson, Hazel Johnson received her honorary school-leaving certificate to roaring applause from her 58 fellow graduates and the folks in a standing-room-only gymnasium.

Helen Johnson’s life is the thing of movies.

The 99-year-old woman from the nearby community of Inglewood has travelled the world and learned several languages, but back in the early 1930s her father couldn’t afford the price of new textbooks and the smartest girl in her class in Grade 10 was told she couldn’t go back to school.

“We have a 99-year-old youth here tonight,” said Peter Cromwell. “She’s definitely young at heart. Always has been. Hazel Johnson. My mother (Edith Cromwell) was a year ahead of her in school, and in those days you paid for your own books. My aunt, as I said, was just behind my mother. She did well in school, came to Grade 10, the province changed the books.”

Peter Cromwell was a longtime elected member of the former Annapolis Valley Regional School Board and spoke to the crowd to give some context to Johnson’s life.

Teacher Matthew Marshall told the story of Hazel Izabelle Johnson, one of 10 children born to Mary Anne and Jesse Mitchell of Upper Granville May 15, 1919.

See ‘IT SHOWS RESILIENCE’, A3