Ada Jo Harper

Ada, or Jody as the family knew her, was born in Wauchula, Florida as the  youngest of the six children of Rev. George Lea Harper and Mildred Jeannette Surrency Harper. Jody lived in Florida for her early years and moved around with the pastoral family. She lived in Bartow, Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando, Mount Dora and finished  High School in Starke. Jody went  on to the University of Richmond in Virginia where she  played Lacrosse and Field Hockey on the Westhampton teams and earned a degree in English.

Jody then followed her lifelong dream of working with animals. Her love of animals led her to work with a veterinarian during several summers during school. She was entranced by the work of Jane Goodall and could not get enough of reading about her work which led her to researching animals all her life. She completed the two-year Zoo Animal Technology Program at Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, Florida.

She worked in a local zoo, then went on to work in various zoos throughout the country. One of her great joys was always giving family members behind-the-scenes tours at the zoos where she worked. At the Norfolk, Virginia Zoo she focused on reptiles. At the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, she worked with chimpanzees, lions, zebras, giraffes, and other animals in her area. There she was even able to help with the live birth of a baby giraffe that was coming out sideways. Her biggest thrill was that she was chosen to be one of the keepers to work on the Jane Goodall project to do the observation and recording for the "Advanced Cognition in the Wild Chimpanzees." She recorded the zoo chimpanzees engaging in many complex behaviors so they could compare them to the wild chimpanzees. She was even able to meet Jane Goodall personally.

She and her lifelong friend and companion, Brenda, later moved to Texas  where both worked in the Dallas Zoo. Jody and Brenda later moved to Florida and provided many hours of loving care to Jody’s mother prior to her passing and hosted a wonderful 80th birthday family reunion for her. Jody moved to North Carolina, eventually moving to the Durham area in 2001. Her health declining, she volunteered at Duke University’s Lemur Center for many years, securing  the Volunteer of the Year Award for several years running. She again gave visiting family inside tours, educating all of them on every kind of lemur that exists. Besides feeding and helping to care for the lemurs, she gave guided, behind-the-scenes tours to visitors and the special guests of Duke Hospital.  She always enjoyed sharing her knowledge and love for animals.

While she loved all animals, Jody was totally dedicated to her dog, Maggie, and cherished each and every moment with her. Maggie came first in her life. Maggie was her strength through any tough day she did encounter. Her love for Maggie surpassed the normal person's love for a pet. Maggie was Jody's world and the love of her heart, whom she spoiled with affection and care.

Jody was energetic and active until her health suffered in her later years. She cherished moments spent in the company of her loved ones, creating lasting memories filled with laughter and love. Jody was a playful prankster who loved to laugh and teased others into sharing her laughter. She loved her books and especially cherished her books on animals.

She was a very strong woman who valued her independence and was a woman of great courage.

Jody is survived by her lifelong friend and companion, Brenda Robinson. Jody would tell people that “Brenda was always with her” and Brenda  would answer “she has always been with me.” Jody is also survived by her four siblings and their families: Thomas Edwin Harper of Allen, Texas; Naina Harper White of Bedford, VA; Jane Harper Lewis of Stanardsville, VA; and David Hampton Harper of Eustis, FL.

Donations may be sent to your favorite zoo or animal conservation project.