80-year-old woman earns 4th degree

Claudette Bryant calls herself a life-long learner

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It's the season for graduates, but there will be something extra special about one of the students waiting her turn to get her diploma Saturday afternoon in Jacksonville.

Claudette Bryant, 80, calls herself a life-long learner and is earning her fourth degree.

Bryant said she never had much confidence in her intelligence, but she is preparing to get her doctoral degree.

"I just feel like you just got to get up and do, and God will do the rest for you. I wasn't the smartest kid in school, but I am just thankful in that at 80 years of age, how I could retain and still accomplish a degree a highest degree, so I am just really thankful," said Bryant.

Bryant has a thirst for knowledge that just doesn't stop. She graduated from Tuskegee University in 1962, then traveled to the Congo and Nigeria for mission work and the Peace Corps.

Although her studies took a backseat to domestic life in Jacksonville, until 2008, when she got her master's degree at Zoe University in Arlington in Christian counseling.

Five years later, she got her specialist degree in theology. Now, she'll be getting her doctoral degree in Christian counseling.

As she prepares her graduation robes for yet another round of pomp and circumstance, she has a piece of advice for all those who may be holding back from moving forward.

"I am just hoping and praying that people will realize that age is just a number, really, seriously, and you know, as long as you have reasonable health and strength and sound mind and when you listen to the Lord, because I am a devote Christian, I believe that he will reveal to you things you never thought you could do," she said.

In addition to her studies, Bryant is the president of the alumni association at Zoe University, runs a small ministry called Women of Grace and has a foundation called the Claudette Bryant Foundation. She has also traveled to Cuba two years ago and said she'd like to go back there again to do more mission work.


About the Author:

Emmy-nominated journalist Kristin Cason joined the News 6 team in June 2016.