Sue Whiddon started teaching as a teenager in her hometown of Forsyth, Ga.
Now, as she nears 104, she's still at it -- teaching a Sunday school class at Harlem Baptist Church.
The longtime Harlem resident taught at Harlem High School for 35 years. She also has taught in south Georgia, Richmond County and at Fort Gordon.
Former students and members of Harlem Baptist plan to honor her with a reception Sunday, something she says she would have nixed if she had known about it sooner.
"There's so much to be learned from her life, that I think other people need to know about," said E.G. Meybohm, a former student and organizer of the event. "She's just been a real inspiration, I think. One of the best teachers ever."
"It is just to celebrate and honor her for all the years of service she's given to people in this area," said Joe Jolley, another organizer. "She's just an outstanding lady."
Mr. Jolley said all who are friends of Mrs. Whiddon, former students or feel she has improved their lives are invited to attend.
Mrs. Whiddon's son, Butch, said he appreciates the group honoring his mother, but said he had the difficult task of telling her about the reception and getting her to agree to it. She wasn't initially receptive to the idea, he said.
"If I had known about it when it started, I suspect I'd have tried to stop it," she said. "I don't deserve all of what they are doing."
Mrs. Whiddon taught high school in Monroe County, Yatesville, Orchard Hill and Sandersville, Ga., before moving to Harlem with her husband, Rep Eason Whiddon, in 1935.
By 1937, she was teaching at Harlem High School, where thousands of students passed through her classroom until she left the Columbia County school system in 1972.
"I loved it (teaching in Columbia County)," she said. "Mr. (John Pierce) Blanchard loved me. He was just a wonderful person. ... I just loved (teaching)."
Even though he loved and respected Mrs. Whiddon, Mr. Meybohm said she could be a difficult instructor.
"She was a tough teacher, but fair," he said. "She was very dedicated to anything that she did. She wanted it done right, somewhat of a perfectionist."
Mrs. Whiddon said she often encounters former students and enjoys hearing of their success.
"I produced some good children," she said. "I'm so proud of them. ... A student changes, more than I change, because they have matured. ... Now I'm teaching them in Sunday school. They have become adults."
After teaching two years at the Academy of Richmond County, Mrs. Whiddon retired in 1975. But she didn't stop teaching.
In addition to the Sunday school class named for her at Harlem Baptist, she also served as a test proctor for the Department of Education at Fort Gordon.
"The soldiers who were not high school graduates, I taught them and tested them to be able to get a GED," Mrs. Whiddon said.
With her 104th birthday approaching Dec. 14, she still lives alone, drives herself and plays bridge two or three times a week.
"The Lord has blessed me, because sometimes I wonder why I'm here so long," Mrs. Whiddon said.
Reach Valerie Rowell at (706) 868-1222, ext. 110, or valerie.rowell@augustachronicle.com.
A drop-in celebrating Sue Whiddon will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Harlem Baptist Church.
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