Grace Lee McClure Smith, a 94-year-old former bus driver at Madison County School in Alabama received her diploma from Hazel Green High School in a special ceremony on Wednesday.
In 1942, Smith dropped out of Hazel Green High School at 16 years old to marry her sweetheart, who went to fight in World War II shortly thereafter.
“She came back and for more than 30 years, she drove a school bus in Madison County, she served our students and got them safely to school and safely home for 30 years,” said Tim Hall, Director of PR in the ceremony.
79 years later she wears a hat and gown for her honorable achievements.
“I feel like I don’t deserve it,” Grace said. “There’s a lot more people that are much more deserving than me. I’m just doing my job, love it. I love most of it most of the time. Good times!”
“Growing up when I was in school, I actually rode her bus to and from school,” said Erin Wilson, who is Grace’s granddaughter, a teacher at Legacy Elementary School, and the mastermind behind the graduation ceremony.
“She was a role model for a lot of kids and she’s always telling the stories,” said Wilson. “She may not remember faces, but she will remember names and addresses of where she picked them up and dropped them off.”
Watch the video to learn more about this heartwarming and inspiring story.
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