88-Year-Old Former Pastor Finally Graduates From College: 'With God All Things Are Possible'
At the age of 88, a retired pastor finally received his college diploma, achieving a 56-year-old dream.
The Rev. Horace Sheffield first enrolled at Shorter University in Rome, Georgia in 1961 but left without a diploma in 1965 to give way to his own daughters who were entering college, the Rome News-Tribune reported.
He said he wanted to take care of his family first. "I had some daughters that were getting ready to go to college and I couldn't go to college and put them through, so I dropped out with 115 hours," he told WTSP TV station.
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On Friday during the graduation ceremony at Shorter University, the crowd cheered as Sheffield walked to the stage with the aid of a walker to receive his diploma for his Bachelor of Science degree in Christian Studies.
"It's a thrill of a lifetime," he said later, surrounded by his family, consisting of his two children, five grandchildren, and 14 of his 15 great-grandchildren. "I finally made it," he exclaimed.
Sheffield became the first graduate of Shorter's online degree program in Christian Studies.
Jill Worthy Brazier, one of Sheffield's granddaughters, posted on her Facebook page a picture of her granddad on his graduation day, holding a chalkboard sign that says, "With God all things are possible.— Matthew 19:26."
Sheffield was ordained back in 1946, the same year he graduated from Tallapoosa High School.
He spent the next 70 years teaching the Bible, according to CBN News.
Sheffield was a devoted father to his children and husband to his wife Bernice who succumbed to Alzheimer's disease a few years ago. They were married for 68 years.
Following his wife's death, Sheffield decided to do something for himself two years ago: He re-enrolled at Shorter University.
He said he went back to school simply because he wanted to get his diploma. He was further motivated to go back to school after reading a magazine article stating that senior citizens can often attend certain colleges and universities without paying tuition.
"I am living proof that you have no excuses," he said.
