May 14, 2026

The celebration featured a tailgate party, pep rally, parade, games, entertainment, food, and a Homecoming court representing communities throughout the region. The annual event, organized by TARCOG’s Area Agency on Aging, serves older adults in DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison, and Marshall counties.

Held at the Alabama A&M Agribition Center in Huntsville, the event opened with the Buckhorn High School JROTC presenting the colors and TARCOG Case Manager Camaryn Ward singing the national anthem.

Executive Director Michelle Gilliam Jordan welcomed attendees and recognized TARCOG’s 39-year partnership with the Madison County Commission in hosting the event, emphasizing the importance of celebrating the contributions and well-being of older adults.

“This truly is the class of forever young,” she said.

District One Commissioner Tom Brandon announced that Senior Fun Fest is expected to return next year to Sharon Johnston Park in New Market, where the event was held for 36 years prior to a weather-related venue change. A new community center at the park will allow for both indoor and outdoor activities.

Andrea Carter of the Elderly Nutrition Program with the Alabama Department of Senior Services spoke briefly about the importance of celebrating Older Americans Month and shared greetings from Commissioner Jean Brown.

Throughout the day, attendees enjoyed vendor booths, Bingo, line dancing, cake walk, a recipe swap, photo booth, classic cars, health resources, and live entertainment from the District One Band, FB & JD, and a Tina Turner tribute group. A group of TARCOG employees also made their singing debut as the “COG Notes.”

The celebration concluded with door prizes and wishes for a happy Older Americans Month from Michelle and Director of Aging Programs Sheila Dessau-Ivey.

Michelle said ticket sales and support from local businesses helped offset event costs. In addition to the Madison County Commission, major sponsors included Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, VIVA Medicare, The Goldton at Athens, Merrill Gardens Madison, and Secure Benefits.

Additional financial support was provided by State Representatives Laura Hall, Rex Reynolds, Marilyn Lands, Phillip Rigsby, James Lomax, Andy Whitt, and Senator Arthur Orr.

See more photos from Senior Fun Fest

TARCOG Executive Director Michelle Gilliam Jordan got a great selfie shot of the crowd at Senior Fun Fest on May 12, 2026.

April 20, 2026

Within the 25,000-square-foot TARCOG building, rooms are more than just spaces—they carry the names of the people and places that built the region.

At the previous office, the large conference room honored longtime Executive Director Bob Culver. In the new building, the largest conference room still bears his name.

Conference rooms throughout the building are also named for the five counties TARCOG serves.

The Marshall County Conference Room is located inside the first-floor Executive Administrative Office. The Jackson County Conference Room sits between the Executive Administrative Office and the Finance Department. The Madison County Staff Lounge is also on the first floor.

Upstairs, more names—and stories—continue.

The DeKalb County Conference Room is located in the Area Agency on Aging Programs section, while the Limestone County Conference Room sits within the agency’s administrative offices.

One of the most personal tributes belongs to Delwyn “Del” Schafer, who marked 50 years with TARCOG in November. The Economic Development & Planning office now bears his name.

Placing the Delwyn “Del” Schafer ED&P Office on the front door ensures his legacy will not be forgotten, said department director Lee Terry.

For half a century, Schafer has been a steady force behind millions of dollars in grants that have shaped communities across DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison, and Marshall counties—funding splash pads, senior centers, infrastructure, community facilities, and emergency equipment.

True to form, Del was reluctant about the recognition—until a last-minute challenge changed his mind.

“If I get this over the finish line, then we can leave my name there,” he said with a laugh, referring to a grant he was asked to completely rewrite for a new project with less than a week before the deadline. And he got it done.

The building tour revealed just how meaningful the names have become. Several visitors paused to find rooms named for their home counties—stopping to take photos along the way.

Another upstairs space honors Nancy Robertson, with the training room bearing her name. Nancy spent 42 years at TARCOG, retiring in 2019 when Michelle took over the executive director’s role.

She started working at TARCOG in 1977 and during her employment she worked in various positions in the Area Agency on Aging until 1984, when she became the Director of Aging Programs, giving direction to services and supports that assist senior citizens in the five-county region. In 2013, she became TARCOG’s executive director upon the retirement of Bob Culver.

Nancy was moved to tears during a private unveiling of the nameplate by Executive Director Michelle Gilliam Jordan.

“This is our new home,” Michelle said. “TARCOG began 58 years ago, and many people helped get us to where we are today. We don’t want to forget them—or the counties and communities we serve. This is one way we can recognize them.”

April 17, 2026

At 85 years old, Philip Anderson still remembers the project that challenged him, surprised him and, ultimately, became one of his proudest accomplishments.

“I’ve enjoyed my adventure with TARCOG,” said the board’s longest serving member. He was first appointed to the board after being elected to the Dutton Town Council in the early 1990s.

More than 20 years ago, Philip was approached by former TARCOG Executive Director Bob Culver with an idea: create a custom, handcrafted wood map of the region. Philip had never done anything quite like it before.

“Bob came to me and asked if I would do it,” he said. “I hadn’t ever done nothing like that.”

With the help of a TARCOG employee who created scaled patterns for each county, Philip got to work—right out of his garage.

“We cut each county to scale, then picked out the wood to make it,” he said.

Each piece was carefully selected and shaped from a variety of hardwoods, including oak, walnut, maple, hickory and poplar. The result was a one-of-a-kind piece where no two counties looked the same, each with its own natural grain and character.

“When you look at it, each county is different,” Philip said.

The project also pushed him to try techniques he had never attempted before, including routing intricate details like river lines into the wood.

“I’d never done routing like that,” he said.

There was one material in particular that stood out. It’s called shittim wood. When he was first telling his wife about the wood, she got onto him for using bad language. His sister-in-law was present and shared that the wood is talked about in the Bible, so it was okay.

Philip said he later learned there is a widely believed local legend that the shittim wood tree, from which was built the Israelites’ Ark of the Covenant, grew in only two places in the world–the Holy Land and our uniquely blessed Monte Sano Mountain in Huntsville.

Aside from the history lesson, Philip remembers working with the unfamiliar wood with a name that caught him off guard—but a finish he never forgot.

“When you start sanding on it, it doesn’t look like much at first,” he said. “But then it turns bright yellow, and when you finish, it’s just beautiful.”

The entire project took about six months to complete.

At the time, Philip wasn’t taking on much work, but the opportunity gave him a renewed sense of purpose.

“I wasn’t doing much woodworking any longer, but Bob wanted it. I’m proud I did,” he said.

Woodworking had long been a hobby for Philip. Over the years, he built furniture for his home, including marble-topped end tables and a TV stand using materials sourced from family connections.

“It was so much fun to build,” he said.

Beyond his craftsmanship, Philip’s life has been defined by resilience. Diagnosed with a medical condition more than 40 years ago, he retired early—but never stopped finding ways to stay engaged.

“If you don’t keep your mind working…” he said, trailing off with a knowing smile.

Today, he reflects on a full life with gratitude.

“Great life. Can’t complain.”

And in the lobby of TARCOG’s new building, right behind the reception desk is a lasting reminder of that life’s work—a handcrafted map, built county by county, piece by piece, by someone willing to try something new.

At 85 years old, Philip Anderson still remembers the project that challenged him, surprised him and, ultimately, became one of his proudest accomplishments.

“I’ve enjoyed my adventure with TARCOG,” said the board’s longest serving member. He was first appointed to the board after being elected to the Dutton Town Council in the early 1990s.

More than 20 years ago, Philip was approached by former TARCOG Executive Director Bob Culver with an idea: create a custom, handcrafted wood map of the region. Philip had never done anything quite like it before.

“Bob came to me and asked if I would do it,” he said. “I hadn’t ever done nothing like that.”

With the help of a TARCOG employee who created scaled patterns for each county, Philip got to work—right out of his garage.

“We cut each county to scale, then picked out the wood to make it,” he said.

Each piece was carefully selected and shaped from a variety of hardwoods, including oak, walnut, maple, hickory and poplar. The result was a one-of-a-kind piece where no two counties looked the same, each with its own natural grain and character.

“When you look at it, each county is different,” Philip said.

The project also pushed him to try techniques he had never attempted before, including routing intricate details like river lines into the wood.

“I’d never done routing like that,” he said.

There was one material in particular that stood out. It’s called shittim wood. When he was first telling his wife about the wood, she got onto him for using bad language. His sister-in-law was present and shared that the wood is talked about in the Bible, so it was okay.

Philip said he later learned there is a widely believed local legend that the shittim wood tree, from which was built the Israelites’ Ark of the Covenant, grew in only two places in the world–the Holy Land and our uniquely blessed Monte Sano Mountain in Huntsville.

Aside from the history lesson, Philip remembers working with the unfamiliar wood with a name that caught him off guard—but a finish he never forgot.

“When you start sanding on it, it doesn’t look like much at first,” he said. “But then it turns bright yellow, and when you finish, it’s just beautiful.”

The entire project took about six months to complete.

At the time, Philip wasn’t taking on much work, but the opportunity gave him a renewed sense of purpose.

“I wasn’t doing much woodworking any longer, but Bob wanted it. I’m proud I did,” he said.

Woodworking had long been a hobby for Philip. Over the years, he built furniture for his home, including marble-topped end tables and a TV stand using materials sourced from family connections.

“It was so much fun to build,” he said.

Beyond his craftsmanship, Philip’s life has been defined by resilience. Diagnosed with a medical condition more than 40 years ago, he retired early—but never stopped finding ways to stay engaged.

“If you don’t keep your mind working…” he said, trailing off with a knowing smile.

Today, he reflects on a full life with gratitude.

“Great life. Can’t complain.”

And in the lobby of TARCOG’s new building, right behind the reception desk is a lasting reminder of that life’s work—a handcrafted map, built county by county, piece by piece, by someone willing to try something new.

At 85 years old, Philip Anderson still remembers the project that challenged him, surprised him and, ultimately, became one of his proudest accomplishments.

“I’ve enjoyed my adventure with TARCOG,” said the board’s longest serving member. He was first appointed to the board after being elected to the Dutton Town Council in the early 1990s.

More than 20 years ago, Philip was approached by former TARCOG Executive Director Bob Culver with an idea: create a custom, handcrafted wood map of the region. Philip had never done anything quite like it before.

“Bob came to me and asked if I would do it,” he said. “I hadn’t ever done nothing like that.”

With the help of Mike Thrasher, TARCOG’s former finance director, who created scaled patterns for each county, Philip got to work—right out of his garage.

“We cut each county to scale, then picked out the wood to make it,” he said.

Each piece was carefully selected and shaped from a variety of hardwoods, including oak, walnut, maple, hickory and poplar. The result was a one-of-a-kind piece where no two counties looked the same, each with its own natural grain and character.

“When you look at it, each county is different,” Philip said.

The project also pushed him to try techniques he had never attempted before, including routing intricate details like river lines into the wood.

“I’d never done routing like that,” he said.

There was one material in particular that stood out. It’s called shittim wood. When he was first telling his wife about the wood, she got onto him for using bad language. His sister-in-law was present and shared that the wood is talked about in the Bible, so it was okay.

Philip said he later learned there is a widely believed local legend that the shittim wood tree, from which was built the Israelites’ Ark of the Covenant, grew in only two places in the world–the Holy Land and our uniquely blessed Monte Sano Mountain in Huntsville.

Aside from the history lesson, Philip remembers working with the unfamiliar wood with a name that caught him off guard—but a finish he never forgot.

“When you start sanding on it, it doesn’t look like much at first,” he said. “But then it turns bright yellow, and when you finish, it’s just beautiful.”

The entire project took about six months to complete.

At the time, Philip wasn’t taking on much work, but the opportunity gave him a renewed sense of purpose.

“I wasn’t doing much woodworking any longer, but Bob wanted it. I’m proud I did,” he said.

Woodworking had long been a hobby for Philip. Over the years, he built furniture for his home, including marble-topped end tables and a TV stand using materials sourced from family connections.

“It was so much fun to build,” he said.

Beyond his craftsmanship, Philip’s life has been defined by resilience. Diagnosed with a medical condition more than 40 years ago, he retired early—but never stopped finding ways to stay engaged.

“If you don’t keep your mind working…” he said, trailing off with a knowing smile.

Today, he reflects on a full life with gratitude.

“Great life. Can’t complain.”

And in the lobby of TARCOG’s new building, right behind the reception desk is a lasting reminder of that life’s work—a handcrafted map, built county by county, piece by piece, by someone willing to try something new.

TARCOG Board Member and Dutton resident Phillip Anderson