The following photos and story were submitted by the Cobb County School District after a birthday celebration at Rocky Mount Elementary School for Susie Raper, who lives near the Northeast Cobb school community and who just turned 97 years old.
She taught in Cobb schools for many years, including her final 18 years at Blackwell Elementary School, and after retirement was a guest reader at local schools and volunteered at her grandsons’ schools.
Rocky Mount students created birthday cards, and presented Raper with a tiara for the celebration:
Raper’s face brightened when Principal Peggy Fleming presented her with a basket full of handmade birthday cards from Rocky Mount students.
Her sons joked that their mom now has enough cards to read every day for the next year.
“It meant a whole lot to her,” her son Don Raper said. “She talks about her teaching career as much as she talks about anything in her life. This probably brought a lot of good memories for her. It is going to be a good memory for all of us.”
Her son remembers his mother as a very energetic teacher. He had difficulty keeping up with her as child when she taught at Green Acres Elementary School.
“She was relentless,” he added. “She would work whatever hours it took to do her job.”
Media paraprofessional Barb Evangelista, also known as Ms. E to the Rocky Mount students, didn’t want to miss an opportunity to take photos with Raper on her birthday.
“Ms. E.” still remembers Raper from when the veteran educator volunteered in her grandchildren’s class.
After her birthday surprises, Raper was able to visit a class of her beloved first graders, who serenaded her again with the “Happy Birthday to You” song.
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