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Kernersville Retirement

Life After Retirement

Kernersville is a great place to grow — even as people grow older.

When Eleanor Cole was 69 years old, her husband died. She thought her life was over and she resigned herself to dying. But someone kept telling her that she just might live to be 100.

“I looked at myself,” said Eleanor, “realized that I was basically healthy, and that I could live to be 100. So I got out a notebook and asked myself, ‘What kind of older person do I want to be?’”

Ten years later, at the age of 80, she decided to move to Kernersville.

“Immediately, I sought out the Senior Enrichment Center. It is a God-send for seniors. There are so many active seniors in Kernersville and they are friendlier than the people up north,” Eleanor said.

She decided to try something different. Instead of joining the computer class — as she used to teach computers to seniors in New Jersey — she decided to join the needlework group. The close knit group welcomed her with open arms. They share their lives with each other and share the goods they produce with needy people — such as preemie babies.

Sue Weinheimer, age 72, had a similar experience. She moved here from New York three years ago.

“I didn’t know one soul here except for my daughter, and I was determined to have my own life. So, I stopped by the Senior Enrichment Center and Barbara Hall took me under her wing and introduced me to people,” Sue said.

Now Sue has a full calendar and a meaningful life.

“In two weeks, we’re going to the Barn Dinner Theater and later we are going to Körner’s Folly and the Reynolda House. I want to see everything,” Sue said.

She also plays a northern card game, euchre, once a week. This gives her a chance to spend time with people who formerly lived in Michigan, Indiana, New York, and Ohio.

Through line dancing, Sue has been able to reach out to the less fortunate in the community. Once a month, the group performs for the nursing homes in town.

“At first, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do this. But when I saw how the people perk up and smile and laugh, I knew it was worth it,” Sue said.

Charlie Banks, 62, and his wife moved to Kernersville five years ago. He heard that the Senior Enrichment Center had a beginner bridge group. That got them started.

“Now that we are involved in many things, dancing, traveling, volunteering, Reiki and I realized that we made more friends in Kernersville in five years than we made in 30 years in our old town,” said Charlie.

Lynda Gilley, age 76, has found the same kind of enrichment at the senior center. “When they say ‘go’ I say ‘where’ and ‘sign me up.’ I’ve been to the dinner theater in Virginia, spent three days in D. C. and our line dancing team took the gold at the Senior Olympics,” Lynda said.

Other seniors in Kernersville have won gold medals in the state and national Senior Games.

Peggy Essex Smith, 76, is already training for the Senior Softball National Championship in Louisville, Kentucky. Known in softball as “White Lightening” and “The Rebel,” this grandmother brings with her professional league experience. She is always looking for women over 55 to join the team. Currently the team — the Wannabees — has taken a medal every year since they have began playing in the Senior Olympics in 2001.

“Being part of a team,” said Peggy, “motivates me because I always want to pull my own weight. I do what I can to build my strength and stay fit.”

Mary Turner, age 76, is also an Olympic champion. She has won nine state medals, 21 local medals and takes her games seriously.

She loves to work out and her gym of choice is the YMCA. Mary is #1 in the Fitlinx program, meaning that she has lifted more weight than any other member at the YMCA.

“I call it the Fellowship Club,” said Mary. “People come in, we work out, we talk, and we get to know new people. It is so good to see everyone. It keeps us healthy.”

E.W. and Linda Hooven also work out at the YMCA, though not as intensely as Mary.

“I enjoy the weight room, stretching, the treadmill and the sauna, but mostly I enjoy the people. I believe that every person has a history that I do not possess,” said E.W., “and it is amazing what I can learn from them.”

Eleanor Ross, 78, battles with arthritis and finds that the water aerobics and water walking at the YMCA are the best exercises for her.

“I broke my leg in 12 places,” said Eleanor, “and I was in a wheel chair. Through exercise, I was able to get out of that and now I’m using a cane. My next goal is to graduate from the cane. I think I can do it.”

Not everyone is able to be active so the Shepherd’s Center makes sure that no one is left alone. Through the Telephone Reassurance program, daily calls are placed to older adults to check on their well-being. For those interested in longer visits, weekly Person-to-Person Visitation is available. Also, companion sitting allows a well spouse or caregiver to run errands while a volunteer visits with the homebound person.

Dick Chapin, age 82, sits with a paraplegic man who is six years his junior.

“I compliment him on the way he manages himself,” said Dick.

“He can barely use his hands, but he has his computer rigged up to where he can play cards with people and he can actually see the face of the person he is playing with. He inspires me.”

Mona Dick also volunteers with the Shepherd’s Center. She drives people to their doctor’s appointments. But she does more than that, she takes a personal interest in people, especially those without family.

“One time I had a lady with me,” said Mona, “and after her doctor’s appointment, I asked her if she would like to go with me to Fresh Market. She said, ‘Would you be ashamed of me?’ Her words broke my heart. I said, ‘No. I want you to go in with me.’ It made her day and I really didn’t do anything except include her in my plans.”

Frances Tomlin, age 80, has been a recipient of the Shepherd’s Center’s kindness. She had to go to 33 cancer treatments and the Shepherd’s Center took her to all of them.

“I had to quit driving about a year ago,” said Frances, “ and the Shepherd’s Center takes me to my appointments. They have been awfully good to me. I don’t know what I’d do without them.”

The Shepherd’s Center now offers over a dozen free services to older adults and adults with disabilities. This includes Respite Care, which gives caregivers a few hours of free time or even an entire weekend away. Handypersons ministry provides free labor for minor house repairs and yard maintenance. The Equipment Loan program allows people to use wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, Hoya lifts and many other items for years and all at no cost.

Perhaps the gem of the Shepherd’s Center is Kernersville’s Senior Enrichment Center. As noted earlier, this is not a rocking chair club. It was created for and by active, progressive, and adventurous seniors. It is recognized by the State as a model center and received the only “Center of Merit” designation in a five-county region.

The Center is open weekdays from 8:30 to 4:30 and has over 350 weekly participants and over 1,100 periodic participants. Seniors take computer and Internet classes, learn new dances, trace their genealogy, take aerobics and Tai Chi classes, learn new games, go bowling, watercolor, expand their education, and take extended trips.

“I have more friends right now,” said Elizabeth Norelius, 74, “than I’ve had all the rest of my life combined. This is so different from Miami. I live five minutes from everything and I have everything I want.”

There are plenty of other community opportunities for seniors. Marie Travers, age 77, teaches gymnastics to preschoolers. She demonstrates straddles, squats, rolls, and techniques on the trampoline.

“My son said to move down here where the living was easy and I haven’t sat down since,” said Marie.

Don Thornton, age 74, has been in the computer business since 1955 and he helps disadvantaged children, older adults, or shut-ins adopt orphaned computers so they can pursue education or entertainment from the confines of their home.

Some people are able to give gifts that keep on giving long after they have passed on. One example of this is Harmon Park. In 2002, the late Harmon Linville bequeathed $25,000 to the park. This was a catalyst for thousands of dollars in grants and donations and today the park has a new gazebo (in memory of Leo F. Burks, Jr.) and a peaceful waterscape fountain (in memory of Harmon Linville). The park has now become the new symbol of Kernersville — a symbol of growth, beauty, and rebirth.

A block up the road, in the Historic District, the Paul J. Ciener Garden (by bequeath, donations, and grants) is under construction. It will be a new “gathering place” in Kernersville. Five acres of various garden themes, including oriental, terraced, wetland, formal, and even an old-fashioned vegetable garden, will all be open to the public from sunrise to sunset. An event center hosting weddings and other celebrations, and a fine restaurant will create yet another delightful downtown experience.

Paddison Library, the Town Clock, the Depot, parks, picnic shelters, the Folly — the list goes on and on of projects, and people who cared enough to help others every day of their lives and beyond.

The senior community is the role model population in Kernersville. Though only 10% of the census, retirees are powerful. They live from the heart and remind everyone that relationships are the strength and sinew of a healthy community. Come join the family — come be the difference in Kernersville.