Joan Southgate, the 73-year-old woman retracing the steps of a runaway slave along the Underground Railroad, is nearly home in Cleveland.

        Mrs. Southgate, a retired teacher who began her walk across Ohio April 2 in Ripley, is speaking to schoolchildren and visiting Underground Railroad hiding spots along the way.

        On Wednesday, she was in Lakewood, a suburb on Cleveland's west side. Her children, grandchildren and supporters were planning to celebrate the completion of her walk at Citizens' Academy, a charter school at Cleveland's University Circle.

        “She never, never, never ... got discouraged,” said her son, Daniel Southgate of Cleveland. “That's not even Joan Southgate. Once she has something in her mind, it's done.”

        He said his mother experienced no health problems along the 300-mile route.

        Mrs. Southgate started her journey at the historic John Rankin House, a recognized Underground Railroad layover station in Ripley, and originally planned to complete the walk on May 23. Weather and route revisions put her behind schedule.

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