Elizabeth Farmer, 96, who graduated from Limestone College in 1946, is presented with a cap and gown Oct. 15 by Teresa Bratt from Limestone's Extended Campus program. Farmer was unable to afford to purchase a cap and gown when she graduated five decades ago. Patient and diligent in her studies, 96-year-old Elizabeth Farmer never thought she would wear a graduation gown when she finished earning her degree at Limestone College.

It was simply an accomplishment for Farmer to complete her education while living through the Great Depression and World War II years.

She grew up on a farm outside Campobello and enrolled at Limestone College in 1930 to pursue a teaching degree in four years. Hard economic times in the Great Depression made it difficult to afford the $420 college tuition.

Farmer managed to complete enough courses in two years so she could begin teaching. She continued taking classes after school hours until she finished her education degree in 1946.

“It was very difficult to afford the tuition even with a $100 scholarship. She had to work and save her own money so she could go to college. This is why it took her so long to graduate,” said Teresa Bratt, Upstate area coordinator for Limestone’s Extended Campus program. “When she graduated, she couldn’t afford to purchase a cap and gown.”

Half a century after graduating from college, Farmer was given her own cap and gown Oct. 15 following a motivational speech to Limestone students at an open house in the Greer National Guard Armory. The armory is one of many sites statewide where Limestone provides evening classes for working adults to get their degrees.

Farmer taught school for 43 years, including 29 years of second grade at Inman Elementary. She remembered teaching 52 first grade students in one class at Holly Springs early in her teaching career.

Farmer drives herself around in a motorized scooter. She wrote the speech she delivered to the Greer students.

“One thing that amazed me is she is a pack rat. The purple sweater she wore to the ceremony belonged to her mother,” Bratt said. “At the age of 96, she still goes to Inman Elementary and reads stories to elementary students every week. She is an inspiration.”

Limestone College learned about Farmer’s story from social work student Halley Wilson. Wilson is a caregiver at the Camp Care nursing home where Farmer resides in Inman.

“We thought it would be great for students to hear her story about how she got her college degree. She never gave up and is an inspiration to students,” Bratt said. “This is a fulfillment of a lifetime goal for her to get a cap and gown. We hope to get her back on Limestone College campus for a tour.”