Senior Center recognizes Senior of the Month
To honor a group of citizens who are very important to the community, Cathye Garrison, who manages the Senior Center in Russellville, has decided to give away a “Senior Citizen of the Month” award to recognize an outstanding senior who attends the center regularly.
“I just want them to know how special they all are,” Garrison said. “They’re just like family to me and they deserve to be recognized. They’re a great group of people.”
The “Senior Citizen of the Month” award for the month of May went to 94-year-old Mattie Fuller, who is still able to get herself to the Senior Center most every day.
Fuller was born in the Frankfort community in 1917.
She graduated from Belgreen and went on to become a school teacher and taught at a one-room school at Fairview before becoming a second-grade teacher at Frankfort.
Fuller taught school for six years until she met her husband, Percy, while he was visiting his sister. Percy Fuller was in the army, so she moved with him to California soon after their marriage.
After living in California, Fuller also lived in Cleveland, Ohio, and Birmingham before eventually returning to the area after her husband passed away.
She has also made visits to Phoenix and Las Vegas during her lifetime.
Fuller said she has been coming to the Senior Center since she first moved back to the area in 1978.
She only has a second cousin who lives in the area, so she said the people at the Senior Center have become like family to her.
Besides coming to the Senior Center on a regular basis, Fuller said she also enjoys listening to gospel music and attending the Centerview Church of Christ.
“I was excited to find out I had won this award and I am honored to be the first one,” Fuller said.
Garrison said Fuller was definitely deserving of the recognition because she is such an amazing lady.
“Mrs. Mattie is a very nice lady who is always generous and polite,” Garrison said.
“She takes everything in stride and it’s very impressive that she’s still out and about at her age. We’re just glad to have her here.”
If you are interested in the activities and programs offered at the Senior Center in Russellville or for more information, contact Cathye Garrison at 256-332-8780.
