Member Highlights

Mrs. Rubie Ella Nixon Schumpert

Mrs. Rubie Ella Nixon Schumpert

I, Rubie Greene Nixon Schumpert, was born in Richland County in Pine Grove Community on November 22, 1917, about 12 miles from Columbia, South Carolina.  I was the third oldest child of nine children.  There were six sisters and two brothers, one with a twin sister who died at the age of ten.  This was a sad time for my family.  My mother, Ella Bell Nixon, was a housewife and my daddy, Sumter Nixon was a skilled carpenter, who worked in Columbia who was a carpenter builder for Columbia Lumber Company.  He was the only man in the community with a car.  I guess you can call it a car.  It was a stripped down T model.  That vehicle got a lot of attention.  When my daddy would start it with a crank, the kids would get a big “kick” out of it.  This T model not only got attention but served a more important role and that was providing transportation to the individuals who needed to get to work in Columbia.  However, most of the neighbors farmed for their livelihood.

My family attended a little white ANE Church at the top of the hill where my daddy constructed and designed the pulpit in the church.  As a child, I remember there were many celebrations held there such as the summer picnics that consisted of parades with kettle drums, base drums and horns.  In the parade the king and queen, followed by all the children, would march around the church and there was another part of the picnic where everyone ate good food, but better that that, there was the lemonade from a big wooden barrel.  Everyone brought their own teacup from home and a man with a dipper would fill everyone’s cup to the brim with the best lemonade.

Another activity was the Easter egg hunt that was held at the church where every child had to do an Easter recitation.  The hunt was fun for everyone, but for some of the kids, the recitation part was a struggle.  Of course, I had no problem.  I always had a long one and I would proudly stand up and recite my speech with much expression.

Growing up at home was fine until I started growing and growing and I was the largest child, but not the oldest one.  By being the largest, I was expected to do more work and that I did not like at all.  Every chance I got, I would slip off to my grandmother Suber’s house to visit her and my unmarried aunts.  There I was the youngest and was given special treatments.  My only married aunt who live in Baltimore, Maryland wanted me to live with her and my uncle.  At age 7, my daddy agreed with much hesitation to let me go live with them.  My aunt, Aline, was a poor hairdresser and kept my hair looking good.  I was so surprised when she finished to see that I had long hair down my back.  You see, in the country down in South Carolina, my hair had never been done like this.  I lived on N. Estaw Street.  My school experiences were fantastic because I was exposed to so much, some positive and some negative, but I focused on the positive.  In school, believe it or not, I was just as smart as the other students at Bittle Street Elementary School.  With my pretty dresses and dolls, I thought I was living a dream.  Unfortunately, my dream was ended.  I had to return to South Carolina because my parents felt that I needed to be back with my siblings.  When I returned, my parents agreed that I pack all my pretty dolls and clothes away because they wanted me to fit in the fold and be like everyone else.  I tried to fit in with my siblings, but I had changed, I seemed to desire to do the best or should I say, “the sky is the limit.”  In school, I succeeded in everything I did.  I was on a roll.  I attended Harbison where I excelled in all my classes and was the valedictorian of my senior class.  After which I received a scholarship to Barber Scotia Junior College in Concord, North Carolina.  After graduation from Barber Scotia, I continued my education at Benedict College because at the time, SC Department of Education allowed individuals to teach while pursuing a bachelor’s degree.  After receiving my degree, I started working in Irmo, South Carolina.  Subsequently, I took the NTE for District I and I made the second highest score in the district.  I was quite elated to get that information.

Later, I married Barton Schumpert who worked with family as the superintendent of Schumpert Lumber Company.  We were blessed with two girls, LaVerne and LaMorris and we lived near Schumpert Lumber Company and Broad River.  I endured it, but it was certainly not my choice.  Being the type of person I am, I started early making plans for the kind of house I wanted and where I wanted it to be.  But while living there, I earned my Master of Education from South Carolina State College in Orangeburg, South Carolina.  In addition, I was certified in English, Mathematics, Social Studies, French and Guidance Counseling.  Another milestone was when I accepted a teaching position at C. A. Johnson High School in District One.  I was head of the Math Department and after that, I accepted the position of guidance counselor and during the summer, I did further studies at Wake Forest and the University of South Carolina.  While working at C. A. Johnson, I was one happy lady because my dream home that my husband and I built was completed.  As a matter of fact, my daddy did the carpentry work and framing, etc.  We moved to our dream home in 1959.  It was a brick home sitting on top of two elevated lots.  The best thing of all was that we had no mortgage.  We paid for it in full upon completion.  New dream house with no mortgage that was really “living”.  Unfortunately, two years after moving into our home, my husband passed in the spring of 1961.  This was devastating.  However, I was able to educate both daughters, one is now a retired teacher and the other is a retired registered nurse supervisor.  After my husband’s death, I moved my membership from Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Chapin, South Carolina to Saint John Baptist Church because it was closer to my house.  I found the congregation as well as the Pastor, Reverend Roscoe Wilson to be very congenial.  While there, I worked in many ministries over the years.  I was a member of one of the family units.  My family unit had our Christmas Celebration at my home for many years.  My favorite scripture is Psalm 23 which I learned as a child that lifts my spirits even today at 103 years old.

Saint John has been very inspirational to me under the leadership of Reverend Jamey O. Graham, as well as the deacons and members.  I am not only impressed with my church family; I also care dearly about my family and enjoy gatherings with them and as a result, I initiated the first Family Reunion at my home.  This was the beginning of a tradition.

A few years after my husband’s death, I with an officer’s widow, traveled the world every summer – Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America.  All the things I had read about came to life.  As a result of my travels, I received credits from South Carolina Education Department for a scrapbook of my travels.

After retiring from C. A. Johnson High School, I accepted a position as a math professor at Benedict College until my second retirement.  During the years, I have been honored with celebrations that I have sincerely enjoyed: 

  • My 97th birthday with the theme: “Around the World” at my home given by my granddaughter Bartina
  • My “100th Birthday Celebration” given at Trinity Education Conference Community Center given by my daughters and granddaughter Bartina
  • My 103 Birthday Celebration” with a “ride by” given by the University Women and my granddaughter.

As I look back on my life, I see a wooly hair girl from Pine Grove Community --

  • Who had an enlightening experience living in Baltimore, Maryland as a child with my aunt and uncle.
  • Was valedictorian of high school
  • Was awarded a scholarship to a private junior college.
  • Received a bachelor’s degree
  • Made second highest score on NTE in Richland County School District One.
  • Married and had two daughters, four grands and five great grands
  • Traveled the world
  • Earned my master’s degree.
  • Certified in six areas and taught in all areas.
  • Was able, with husband, to build my dream house with NO mortgage.
  • Husband died at early age.
  • Educated both daughters
  • Taught a total of 50 years.
  • Taught on elementary to college levels.
  • Sa first African American President.
  • Saw confederate flag moved from State House grounds.
  • Lived through the depression
  • Have a retired nurse/neighbor, Mrs. Louise James, along with Andrea Hampton and my immediate family care for me.
  • Witnessed first black female vice president-elect.

I thank God for my blessed and wonderful 103 years.

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