Well-known Charleston piano teacher to celebrate 100th birthday this weekend

CHARLESTON, SC — Charleston native, Thelma Sumpter will celebrate her 100th birthday on Sunday.

Over the span of seventy-five years, Mrs. Sumpter taught over five hundred children across the tri-county area how to play the piano.

Her piano teaching days didn't end until she turned the tender age of 97.

She was also a preschool teacher for over sixty years before retiring in 1995.

Sumpter says she desired strongly to educate and push her students to "be somebody" by being strict, loving and showing Christian values.

Among her career highlights, Mrs. Sumpter had the distinguished honor of accompanying gospel music legend, the late Mahalia Jackson.

She also traveled as far away as New York and south Florida to play special events.

She is currently the oldest member of Mt. Zion AME Church located in downtown Charleston.

Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg has proclaimed Sunday September 29, 2019 as ‘Thelma Brown Sumpter Day’ in the city of Charleston.