Ethel Ernistine Harper

Ethel Ernestine Harper (1903 - 1979) [http://daggy.name/cop/bkofdead/obits-ha.htm] portrayed the Aunt Jemima advertising character during the 1950s. She was also the final "living person" basis for the official Aunt Jemima image most commonly seen in print and on billboards until it was eventually changed to a composite in the 1960's [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=104161433] . She worked as a traveling "Aunt Jemima" on behalf of the Quaker Oats Company, giving presentations at schools, churches and other organizations. Prior to assuming the Aunt Jemima role, Harper graduated from college at the age of 17 and became a teacher. [http://www.prmuseum.com/kendrix/jemimas.html] She also sang with the Three Ginger Snaps and appeared in The Hot Mikado with Bill Bojangles before taking the role. She died of a heart attack in 1979. [http://daggy.name/cop/bkofdead/obits-ha.htm]