Golden Retreat Activity Center celebrates eight years of serving Blackville's senior citizens

Golden Retreat Activity Senior Center in Blackville celebrated eight years of serving seniors and the life of Martin Luther King Jr. on the morning of January 18.

After the introduction of the special guests – life-size cardboard cutouts of Barack and Michelle Obama – the festivities began.

Ethel Faust, executive director of Generations Unlimited (GU), welcomed those in attendance who she refers to as ‘seasoned citizens’ rather than senior citizens in respect to their wealth of knowledge and experience.

"Seniors today are not the seniors of yesterday,” said Faust at the Blackville Town Council meeting held the evening prior to the anniversary event.

At the anniversary event, bingo numbers were called, cornhole bags were tossed, and concentration was played by all participating for a prize of household goods and/or cleaning supplies.

Aside from a guest appearance from the cardboard versions of the Obamas, multiple guest speakers shared their appreciation for the center at the event.

“It makes me feel good in my heart that the school district has given back to the community and there is a place for y’all to come,” said David Corder, Interim Director of Operations at Barnwell County Consolidated School District (BCCSD). “My heart has always been with Blackville, and I am so glad that y’all are enjoying this facility.”

Corder remembers when the fate of the building that now houses the senior center was being decided, and even when it was donated to the district under former superintendent Andy Sandifer in the early 2000s.

Golden Retreat Activity Senior Center was established in January 2015 with the goal to provide programming and services for the county’s elders. However, the building located at 59 Callahan Circle in Blackville was not always used for such.

“The former director asked if I would go before the school board to speak on Generations Unlimited’s behalf to ask to use this building at the school board meeting, and it was approved,” said Gwendolyn Littlejohn, chairperson of Blackville Downtown Development Association.

Once the building was in the hands of GU and partners like the Lower Savannah Council of Governments (LSCOG) Department of Human Services, programming for seasoned seniors was established.

Blackville native Judith “Judy” Richburg is the new director of regional aging programs at LSCOG, and reminded everyone of the importance of speaking your needs into existence.

“We are going to prophetically say these are the things that will be here,” said Richburg. “Remember that Martin Luther King Day is a day to reflect on the progress that has already been made and the progress in the works, we’re still working on it. Remember his legacy and continue his fight, which is our fight, because he was fighting for us.”

Richburg reminded the seasoned seniors in the crowd that their needs and wants mattered, and encouraged them to express these feelings to people who can enact direct change, like Mayor of Blackville, Ronnie Pernell.

“I was saying to myself, ‘Who are the most important people in Blackville?’ and it’s the seniors,” said Mayor Pernell. “You all have wisdom, you have lived life, you have accomplished things our young folks need.”

“Our young folks are getting lost, and we can't get them back without the seniors,” said Mayor Pernell. “Whatever we can do from the Town of Blackville, just let us know.”

Mayor Pernell, Corder, and Faust are all looking forward to partaking in fun events at the Golden Retreat Activity Senior Center when they each reach the age to be considered a seasoned citizen.

“Hopefully I’ll be joining y’all,” said Corder. “I can’t wait to play bingo.”

Golden Retreat Activity Senior Center plans to be a part of the push to increase services in Blackville such as more Local Motion drivers to bring seniors both to and from the center. Also implementing a grant to provide pet care to seniors who own animals in partnership with Dr. Shannan Miller at Dogwood Animal Hospital.

The Golden Retreat Activity Senior Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information on the Golden Retreat Activity Senior Center or to get involved with the many activities and programs offered, call (803) 219-7056 or visit ‘Blackville Senior Center’ on Facebook.