CORNELIA — Jerry Hooper, the last elected superintendent of Habersham County Schools and a beloved longtime math teacher at Habersham Central High School, passed away Thursday, October 30. She was 83.
Hooper spent decades shaping young minds in Habersham classrooms, known not only for her sharp instruction and high expectations, but also for her signature spike heels — a sound many former students fondly remember echoing down the school hallway before she stepped into class. She later served as an assistant principal and, in a historic role, became the final person elected to lead the county school system before the position moved to an appointed model.
A Rabun County native and standout basketball player at Rabun County High School, Hooper went on to attend Shorter College, later earning a master’s degree from the University of Georgia. Her career spanned generations of students, many of whom credit her firm guidance, encouragement, and passion for learning with shaping their lives far beyond the classroom.
A ‘classy lady’
Habersham County School Board member and former public school teacher Dr. Robert Barron was one of Jerry Hooper’s students. They later became colleagues.
“Mrs. Hooper was an excellent teacher, administrator, and superintendent. As a student of her math classes from the eighth grade to Senior calculus, she was great. As a result of her awarding me a ‘D’ my last six weeks of my junior year of Algebra 2, I enrolled in a remedial math class at Piedmont. My instructor there firmly believed in the idea that for every hour of class, we needed 2 hours of homework. That solid repetition helped me ace Mrs. Hooper’s senior calculus and with that foundation, I exempted my WCU Trig and Calculus classes.
When I first started teaching, she gave me some great sound advice about the role of a teacher, that most college education classes don’t really teach. She helped me understand my position to be a strong teacher and an advocate for everyone in my classroom.
As a superintendent, she was fair and balanced in her approach to teaching and classroom management. Early in my service as a school Board Member, I went to her with concerns and I believe she really helped me understand my role as a productive member of the school board.
She lived near me, and we would sit on her back porch, and she would drink her coffee, and I would have my ice water, and between us, we would talk for hours about everything. When she would lean across the table and say, ‘You know Robert,’ that meant I needed to really listen and turn on my thinking cap, because she was about to tell me something about my career that really had an impact on my life. And, yes, in her most comfortable attire, she had on her high-heeled shoes just a-clicking.
Her wisdom will be missed! She was a classy lady!”
Private service planned
Even after retirement, Hooper continued to serve her community, especially through her church, where she helped make quilts that were delivered to shut-ins.
She was married to her husband, Hoyt, for 57 years before his passing. Hooper is survived by her son, daughter-in-law, granddaughter, and extended family.
The family is making private funeral arrangements through Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory in Baldwin.
This article has been updated with comments from Habersham County Board of Education member Dr. Robert Barron
