‘It’s Never Too Late to Learn,’ Says VGCC GED Recipient, 73
Bill Wortham Sr.’s story is a familiar one … up to a point.
He dropped out of Henderson High School in the 10th grade because, “I didn’t want to study, and I wanted to get a job and buy a car.” So he did, and he got a job at the old cotton mill in North Henderson, about a block from where he grew up.
More than 55 years later, Wortham, now 73, got the opportunity to get his diploma, and he took advantage of it. He earned his General Education Development (GED) high school diploma from Vance-Granville Community College on Sept. 1.
Wortham worked at the cotton mill until 1959, when he lost his job because of the strikes that disrupted Harriet & Henderson operations. After selling insurance several years, her returned to textile manufacturing with Americal and worked with that hosiery company 34½ years before retiring. Retirement didn’t last long, because Americal asked him to come back to work.
“I was laid off four times, but they kept calling me back, and I kept going,” Wortham said. “I’ve always been an active person so when Americal called, I’d go back.” The final layoff came in July 2003 when the company cut its workforce way back in preparation for closing.
Although he likes to play golf, Wortham wasn’t happy being at home all the time. He received a letter from the Employment Security Commission telling him he could go to school under the Trade Act for displaced workers. “So, at age 72, I made the best decision of my life and returned to school at Vance-Granville,” he said.
While studying the basic math, reading and writing skills necessary to earn a GED, Wortham also took Human Resource Development classes in computers and said he has enjoyed it all. He gives a lot of credit to GED instructor Jeff Finch, who Wortham said has been a “tremendous help” to him in his quest.
Wortham’s family, which includes four children and two stepsons, and 13 grandchildren, have been very supportive of his educational efforts. So have his younger classmates. One young woman in his class said, “Bill has set a good example for all of us.”
Bill Wortham said when he passed his last test on Sept. 1 to earn his GED, “I was so thrilled I could hardly talk. All my classmates clapped and hugged me, and it was a very emotional time.”
“Throughout my work career, I always arrived early and applied myself fully to my job, ” Wortham said. “I followed the same practice at Vance-Granville, and it paid off. The GED means a lot to me. It’s something I can show my grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and it may be an incentive for them to study hard and accomplish their goals.”
Jeff Finch has a saying posted in his classroom that says: “If you think you can, you can.” Bill Wortham said, “He’s right. I thought I could and I did it.”
Wortham also give a lot of credit to God. “The Lord has been very good to me. He supplied me with the tools I used to accomplish this.” Although he’s not interested in going back to work and starting a new career at his age, Bill said he plans to keep studying as long as his health allows. He had double-bypass heart surgery in 1995, and he suffered a heart attack on the golf course three years later. He said he feels great today and looks forward to every new day as a new opportunity to learn.
Wortham is a big fan of Vance-Granville Community College. “I’m glad it’s here. I have met a lot of nice people. The instructors have been very helpful, and they are committed to helping you learn. You’re never too old to learn, and I’ve learned a lot since I’ve been here.”
Bill Wortham Sr., 73, works a math problem in the classroom where he recently earned his GED at Vance-Granville Community College.
