Gardendale Seniors

By Mack McConnell

The North Jefferson News



As we drift off into autumn, we have so much to look forward to: the cooler, crisper mornings when you can enjoy a cup of coffee on the porch and smell the cool, fresh air.

There’s travel in the countryside as the leaves turn so we can marvel at the beautiful colors the Lord paints for our enjoyment. He has given us the four different seasons so that we won’t get bored with life. We all need to appreciate each season as it comes up on us.

This season at the center we will continue to have Bingo each Monday and Thursday and on Tuesdays, we have musical programs. Yesterday Skip Drake and his outstanding musical makers brought the best in their special style.

Next Tuesday, Harold Freeman brings the Brookridge Drifters back into place with new songs, sounds and expressions. We thank all of you for being so kind to a group of appreciative listeners.

I’ve found some people are easily entertained. All you have to do is sit down and listen to them.

I want to remind you that we have a good program planned for this morning. At 10 a.m., Regional Harris will be bringing us information on planned eldercare. You may say that it’s going to happen anyway. However, if you give some thought to it, you just might be able to have a more enjoyable time as the golden years unfold.

Collette Travel will be with us at 10 a.m. on Sept. 26 to present a video presentation on Travelogue. I’m sure this will be of interest to many of the group.

Then on Sept. 28 at 10 a.m., we will have a Low Vision Support Group meeting for anyone in the community who may be legally blind. The aging process often results in individuals losing vision in one form or another. If you or a family member is headed in that direction, come on in to hear what your options are.



Member of the month

We are moving along in September, and it is time to recognize the member of the month. This month, by acclamation, we welcome to this prestigious group, Wendell Murphree. He deserves this honor, as he has given much to our center. He does most of his work in a quiet manner but is effective in all that he does. One of the biggest thrills in life comes from doing a job well. This fits Wendell to a “T.” We appreciate you, Wendell, and trust the good Lord will bess you as you serve.



Featured senior

Our featured senior this week is an individual who takes great pride in his musical career. He is a recording artist and entertainer. I am referring to none other than Craford Rooks.

Craford was born in Moulton in Lawrence County. Other Alabama towns he has lived in include Speaks, Wren and Cullman. He was over in Columbus, Ga., for a while. He currently lives on Center Avenue in Fultondale.

After graduating from Moulton High School, he began working in cotton mills. He worked for a while for Bibb Manufacturing Company in Columbus and then for Heading Mill in Cullman. Then, it was back to the Birmingham area where he began working for Millbrook Bakery, which later became Merita Bakery. He worked there for a whopping 46 years before retiring.

During that time he and wife, Betty Jane McClanahan, raised a son, Dexter and daughter, Dottie Rooks Tucker. Now with 57 years of marriage so far, Craford and Betty are enjoying grandchildren, Brandon and Shandie Tucker.

In addition to his family, and his love of God, Craford’s passion has always been music. He started at a young age, learning to play the guitar at age four, and the mandolin at age nine.

He and his group of buddies formed The Fultondale Bluegrass Band that not only plays at our center, but travels all over the state. The band sometimes teams up with “Country Boy” Eddie, traveling with his group and performing in a lot of his shows. We have fond memories of “Country Boy” Eddie back when he and his band had an early morning TV program.

We at the center appreciate the faithfulness of Craford and his group of musicians performing for us every first Tuesday of the month.

Craford and his family have traveled in a number of states. They especially enjoy going to the Smokey Mountains and to Florida beaches.

He says that he enjoys meeting the nice people in our center and that people showing their appreciation of the band’s music makes their day.

We thank you, Craford, for being a member here at the center. We pray God’s blessings on you and your family in the days ahead. Until next week, God bless.