--- title: Coker Alumna receives Honorary Doctorate description: Hellen Jeanette Jackson received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Coker University on December 8, 2023, at Winter Commencement.  image: https://blogs.coker.edu/hubfs/hellen.jpg --- # SEARCH COKER.EDU [![](https://blogs.coker.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/images/coker-logo.png?width=266&height=85&name=coker-logo.png "coker-logo.png")](https://coker.edu/) - [Campus Bookstore](http://bookstore.coker.edu/home.aspx) - [Visit Coker](https://coker.edu/visit) - [Giving](https://coker.edu/after-coker/give-coker) - [Media](https://coker.edu/news-stories) - [Contact Us](https://coker.edu/contact-us) ![Coker University Logo](https://blogs.coker.edu/hubfs/2022%20Images%20and%20Icons/coker-university-logo.svg) - [About](https://coker.edu/about-coker) - [Why Coker?](https://coker.edu/why-coker/) - [Academics](https://coker.edu/academic-programs) - [Admissions & Aid](https://coker.edu/admissions-aid) - [Student Experience](https://coker.edu/student-experience) - 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She lived in Alabama until the age of five when her family moved to Arkansas. After one year in Arkansas, her family moved to Hartsville, South Carolina. Hellen graduated valedictorian of her class, Hartsville High School, in 1947 at the age of 16. Hellen attended Coker College and received scholarship support from “unknown friends” in Hartsville. Hellen’s sister, Lemerle, had begun at Coker two years prior (and graduated from Coker in 1949). Hellen began Coker in 1947 and graduated in 1951, majoring in History and Spanish. Hellen was editor of the Coker College newspaper her senior year. She also served on the May Court in 1951 and has kept her beautiful May Court dress on display as a reminder of her wonderful years at Coker. Following graduation from Coker, Hellen received a master’s degree in History from Emory University in Atlanta in 1953. She also began teaching History and Spanish at Carrollton High School (Georgia) in the fall of 1952. While at Carrollton High School, Hellen was the faculty liaison to the yearbook staff and the student newspaper staff. In 1963, Hellen left Carrollton High School and went to West Georgia College (also in Carrollton) for 29 years. Among other history courses, Hellen taught English History and introduced Women’s History to West Georgia College. While at West Georgia, Hellen completed all of her course work towards her Ph.D. in history at Auburn University and had begun writing her dissertation. She had to stop, however, because of family illness. Hellen retired from West Georgia College in 1992 and stepped down from a teaching career that spanned 40 years. Upon retirement, she received an accommodation from the Georgia House of Representatives recognizing 40 years of teaching. She was also awarded the title of Assistant Professor Emerita by the Board of Regents and honored by the Mayor of Carrollton who proclaimed “Hellen Jackson Recognition Day” shortly thereafter. ### ### ABOUT COKER UNIVERSITY Coker University is a student-focused, comprehensive institution of higher education with a strong liberal arts core, located in Hartsville, South Carolina. Coker combines round table, discussion-based learning with hands-on experiences to encourage active participation in and out of the classroom. A supportive, close-knit community prepares Coker students with the confidence and practical life skills they need to reach their personal best, in college and beyond. Founded in 1908, Coker is a bachelor’s and master’s degree-granting institution and competes in 21 NCAA Division II sports. Coker is included among the "Best Colleges" in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review, and by Washington Monthly as a “Best Bang for Your Buck” college in the southeast. ![](https://blogs.coker.edu/hubfs/2022%20Images%20and%20Icons/coker-university-logo--footer.svg "coker-logo-btm.png")   [COKER UNIVERSITY — 300 E. College Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Coker+College/@34.3765787,-80.0726719,17z/data=!4m7!1m4!3m3!1s0x885575dc095a0ce1:0x26550cd394646c1c!2s300+E+College+Ave,+Hartsville,+SC+29550!3b1!3m1!1s0x885575db8a0db6d7:0x3b89353863175f3d) 1 (800) 950-1908   |   (843) 383-8000 © Copyright 2016   |   Privacy Policy