Published: February 21, 2008 08:05 pm            

Senior center celebrates 30 years

By Noah Chandler

nchandler@cullmantimes.com

COLONY — Despite the early morning rain Thursday, residents came out to enjoy the 30th anniversary of the Colony Senior Center, sponsored by Merchants Bank of Alabama and Cullman County Commission on Aging.

“I am tickled to death because it has been a humongous part of my life,” Senior Center Director Charlotte McCarn said. “I’ve been here for 11 years and I just love it.”

McCarn and other residents enjoyed music from Just Country, a local country group, lunch and giveaways. Mayor Earlene Johnson said the senior center is a key element of Colony.

“It is essential to the community,” Johnson said. “It is a place where our elderly citizens can come together and have fellowship. I really think it is the hub for seniors in our community.”

Director of the Cullman County Commission on Aging Randall Shedd said the anniversary celebration is an important day to remember. He said residents should never forget how the center came to be.

“The No. 1 thing is for us never to forget who provided what the rest of us enjoy,” Shedd said. “It took a lot of people a lot of work and effort to establish the center. It is just such a wonderful community.”

Kay D. Williams-Smith, Cullman County Revenue Commissioner, said she has been going to Colony since she was little. Williams-Smith said she was introduced to the town when her father worked in the Colony area.

“They are very sweet people and I am always glad to come back,” Williams-Smith said. “I can’t believe it has been 30 years. Some of the old timers aren’t here anymore. It’s sad, but the memories will live forever.”

Colony’s second oldest person and former mayor, Elvin Ward was present at Thursday’s celebration. He reminisced with residents about the old days and addressed the future of the center.

“I was chairman of the board who helped build this center,” Ward said. “It wasn’t my plan (senior center), it was the governments. They asked me to work with it, so I did and we got it done. I am hoping that we’ll do good for the next 30 years, but it will take a lot of work to get it done.”

        

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