Right on Main Street, in the heart of Rainsville, the city’s Senior Center is located in the Tom Bevill Enrichment Center where a walking trail and other amenities provide additional opportunities for the aging community.

Jim Smith, 82, is a regular on the walking trail.

“Four laps is a mile, and I try to do four to six of them just about every day,” he said. “I enjoy walking.”

Margaret McSpadden, who will be 85 on Nov. 22, said keeping up with exercise is just one of the reasons she enjoys going to the center.

“I walk and do as much exercise as I can because you know, there’s going to come a day when we can’t do these things any longer so it’s important,” Margaret said. “If I had to stay home all day and watch TV where it’s who killed who or people fussing and fighting all the time it would drive me crazy.”

Instead, Margaret joins a group of the ladies at the center where they play games and laugh.

Chicken Foot a Favorite

“We’re a noisy group but we’re the old standbys here,” said Eleanor Ammons, 87, as a fast-paced game of Chicken-Foot Dominoes is underway with Margaret, Gail Benefield, 86, Janice Thomas, 63, and Wilda Wilborn, 91.

Wilda said she’s been going to the center “forever.”

 “Look, I’m learning to drive again,” she said pointing at her new motorized scooter. “I gave up my car keys to get some new wheels.”

Her daughters take turns driving Wilda to the center.

“We all have fun, and we work every day — playing Chicken Foot,” Wilda said with a laugh. “Then we eat lunch and go home.”

A supportive environment

The friendship and laughter at the center helps Janice through the struggles she faces as a caregiver and with her own health.

“I’ve learned so much from this group,” Janice said. “Everyone here has a sweet, compassionate way about them. I just listen sometimes, and everyone works hard to get on each other’s level to communicate. There’s a real sense of spirituality here and it means a lot to me.”

Seeing familiar and smiling faces also helps, Janice said.

Gail said she believes getting out of the house and talking to others is important.

“We like to talk, have fund and act silly,” Gail said.

Music and puzzles

At a nearby table, J.D. Ellis, 87, and J.R. Richey, 80, are working on a puzzle. Wilda said they also have a job.

“Yeah, to tell us to quieten down,” Gail added.

J.D. and J.R. are steadily working on their puzzle strategy. When putting together puzzles at the center, they separate the colors in different cardboard trays. Then they start working to put pieces together on top of a white piece of paper before placing them into the puzzle.

“Hey, I got a piece to fit,” J.D. announced.

Puzzles isn’t all they do. J.D. plays guitar with as many as 10-15 other musicians who turn out on Tuesdays and Thursday.

“We have big crowds on those days,” J.R. said. “I don’t play but I’ll sing along.”

J.D. said he taught himself how to play guitar at the center.

“I didn’t start playing until I was 79,” J.D. said. “I bought a guitar, a book and a CD … but coming here I figured out that learning how to play in a group helps you learn a whole lot faster.”

Playing five hours a week at the senior center is always a highlight for him. The group plays music from 8 to 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday.

Then there’s the games.

“We try to play where we’re needed if there’s not enough people to play a game,” J.D. said.

“And if it gets too quiet, we’ll make some noise,” J.R. added.

Why visit the senior center

Both said they’d like to see more people from the community join the fun.

“Some of us are getting older,” J.D. said.

“Well, we’re not getting any younger,” J.R. added. He said he started coming to the center after he got divorced in 2016.

“Being at home by myself was no fun, so I came by here,” J.R. said. “I think some have a misconception about it that this is a place to hook up, but that’s not what it is at all. We have a good time here.”

That doesn’t mean love doesn’t bloom from time to time.

Jim Smith met his wife Helen, 83 at the center.

“I’ve been coming here a long time, maybe 20 years,” Helen said. “I enjoy being with people. If you don’t associate with people you get to where you don’t want to be with nobody and that’s no way to live.”

She said she and Jim had known each other for years. After his wife died, his daughter brought him to the center to get him out of the house.

Eventually, Helen and Jim became a couple and had their wedding at the center.

A new manager

Denise Sharpley has been the manager at the center since April and already considers all of the people she serves at the center her family.

“For me, this job was heaven sent,” Denise said. “I’m a praying person and I really, really love socializing with the people here. I never thought I’d get so attached but everyone here is so sweet, you can’t help it.”

She’s excited about implementing some changes in the coming year that she hopes will engage more community members to check out the center. She already started by taking a group of 15 to the DeKalb County Health Fair in recent weeks. They had a Halloween party and are now getting ready for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

“We’re looking to do a yard sale with the proceeds going to fund a group trip to the Galaxy of Lights at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens,” she said.

She’s thinking about a painting class and talking with participants about what new activities they would enjoy.

“They are family to me, and we’d like to see our family grow,” Denise said. “Anyone interested or who knows someone who might enjoy the center should just stop by. I will welcome them with open arms and encourage them to join our family.”

A first-time visit

That’s exactly what 80-year-old Peggy Pruitt did on a recent Friday.

“We’ve talked about doing it for so long and just haven’t done it until today,” Peggy said of visiting the center. “We moved here five years ago, and I’ve found it hard to meet people here.”

Her son Michael Hagans, 57, woke up to make it happen on this day.

“I told her today is the day and here we are,” Michael said. He plans to visit with her, much like Wilda’s daughter’s do.

“This is a great resource, especially for people who may not have family in the area,” Michael said.

Peggy said she enjoyed her first visit.

“We met a few people and had lunch,” Peggy said. “I’ll be back.”

Rainsville is a city of 5,000 residents on top of Sand Mountain in DeKalb County.

Denise said anyone interested may stop by at the center, located in the Tom Bevill Enrichment Center, 115 Main St. W, or call 256-638-4343.