Senior Center Spotlight — Bryant

March 24, 2026

Two familiar faces greet visitors at the Bryant Senior Center—Bingo and Duke, a pair of laid-back “guard dogs” who prefer belly rubs to barking.

“They’re our guard dogs,” Steve Smith jokes as the dogs lounge on the porch, their tails thumping against the concrete as a guest stops to pet them.

Bingo and Duke belong to Marie Schrudder, 88, who lives across the street and walks over regularly.

“They’re just two big babies,” she says. “I enjoy coming here and being with other people instead of just sitting at home.”

That sense of connection is exactly what the Bryant Senior Center provides. Located near the Tennessee and Georgia state lines, the small community is home to about 3,600 residents—many of whom rely on the center for meals, activities and fellowship. Tanya Pearson took over as the center’s manager just last month.

On a recent morning, a group gathered for a devotional led by Denese Nash, 65, who first came to the center more than 20 years ago with her mother.

“There’s a lot of family history and memories here,” Denese says. “Back then, it was about keeping Mama active. Now it’s me—you have to keep yourself active.”

After years of managing the center, Denese now enjoys leading devotionals and staying involved.

For many, the center is part of a daily routine. Charles Nash, 79, appreciates both the food and the convenience.

“This is my main meal of the day,” he says. “And I don’t have to wash dishes.”

Louis and Beverly Gilmer, 82 and 84, have been attending for a decade and have deep ties to the center.

“My parents came here when it first opened and loved it,” Beverly says. “We’ve seen a lot of changes, but it’s still a special place.”

Like many senior centers, Bryant saw attendance drop during the pandemic. But with new leadership, participation is beginning to grow again.

“We’re glad to have Tanya here,” Beverly adds. “She’s getting things going again with activities like bingo and the penny auction.”

Tanya is focused on rebuilding both attendance and programming.

“People here look out for each other—it really feels like a family,” Tanya says.

It shows when Paul Vandergriff, 85, walks in with his usual greeting: “It’s good to see everyone this morning.”

Each day, Tanya says the center serves 17 hot meals, with volunteers delivering another 15 to homebound residents. Activities like cards, bingo, chair yoga and crafts give participants plenty of ways to stay engaged.

“We’d love to get back to having 40 people here at one time,” Tanya says. “That’s our goal.”

One challenge is transportation. She’s considering a fundraiser to buy a van.

“If we had a van, more people could come,” she says. “That’s something we hope to work toward.”

For regulars like Marlin Hill, 85, the center offers something simple but meaningful.

“It’s somewhere to go instead of sitting at home,” he says. “And the food’s good, too.”

Barbara Day, 75, the center assistant, agrees.

“I enjoy all of it—the people, the meals, everything,” she says. “We’re just glad to be back together.”

The Bryant Senior Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Anyone interested in learning more can call 256-597-2119 or visit 1315 County Road 262.