‘Never too old to get an education’

Published 11:03 pm Saturday, May 9, 2015

Francena Lewis is an example that no matter how hard life can get, you can still accomplish your dreams, local NAACP president Antoine Simmons said Saturday.

Lewis, who is 70, earned her bachelor’s degree in business management from Dalton State College during graduation on Saturday.

“Today I break a generational curse, or maybe I should say, set an educational standard for children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren,” Lewis said.

Lewis said she dropped out of high school in 1959 to marry and start a family. After raising four children, she wanted to advance her education. She earned her associate’s degree in business administration from then-Dalton Junior College in 1983.

“I was always overlooked for a promotion or my job, so this pushed me to want to finish my education,” she said.  

Lewis said she had had many challenges and distractions since 1983. She said she started a second marriage and was a foster parent to four children. She said she also faced tragedies that forced her to focus on her family. This, she said, prevented her from accomplishing her next goal which was to earn a bachelor’s degree.

“Overcoming these challenges was hard but I made it,” Lewis said. “I made it with determination, concentration and commitment one day at a time.”

Simmons, branch president of the Dalton-Whitfield National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said Lewis’ story shows anyone can accomplish what they dream of doing in the community.

“You have so many people who think you have to get out of Dalton, especially as a person of color, in order to achieve any level of success,” he said. “But she’s living testimony that no, you don’t have to do that.”

The local NAACP branch presented Lewis with an academic achievement award Saturday during a post-graduation gathering at the Mack Gaston Community Center.

“The NAACP holds education in the highest regard, and for Francena to earn this achievement at 70 years old, it’s an example to her children, grandchildren or anybody, that it’s never too late,” Simmons said.

Patsy McDade said she has known Lewis since they first met in grade school.

“I’m am so proud of her, I just think it’s the most wonderful thing,” McDade said. “She’s always been a scholar, at the head of the class, but unfortunate things came up. But she’s always been on the road for education.”

Betty Quinn also grew up with Lewis.

“I think what’s most wonderful is that this is what she wanted to do,” Quinn said. “There was no doubt in my mind that she would get here. She’s always been a brilliant woman and this isn’t her last stop.”

Lewis said her plans are to continue with her education by earning a master’s in business administration and then helping her family with starting businesses.

“People always asked me when I would graduate,” she said. “Well I graduated today, and it is never too late and you are never too old to get an education.”