Suzanne Hopkins bids farewell as Senior Center director
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
After more than 10 years of service at the Highland County Rosalie Morgan/N. James Bodenhamer Senior Center, director Suzanne Hopkins is retiring.
Hopkins said that she wants to spend more time with her husband Gary and her 5-month-old granddaughter, and to continue in ministry work and service to God.
“My husband was in a car crash in March that almost killed him,” Hopkins said. “I really began prioritizing things after that. Sometimes, I think, God tries to get your attention, and that was how he got my attention. They say you should live every day as if it were your last. I thought to myself, ‘Where would I want to be if it were my last day? Do I want to be behind a desk in an office? No. I’d rather be with my husband and my granddaughter.’”
Her husband, Gary, who is a pastor, has mainly recovered from his injuries, Hopkins said. The couple plans on spending time riding motorcycles and traveling to Louisville, Ky. to visit their first grandchild, June Apple.
“She was named after an old fiddle tune,” Hopkins said. “I think she is the cutest baby there ever was. But I would think that.”
Hopkins said that the 10 years she has spent at the center have been “a joy” and that she hopes to remain very active.
“We are dues-paying members and I intend to keep spending time here. But now maybe I can spend less time answering the phone and more time at the piano or just sitting and playing cards and enjoying the people.”
The people, Hopkins said, have been the best part of the job.
“We have a wonderful board, and Rosalie Morgan (the center’s first director) has really been a mentor to me,” Hopkins said.
Over the course of 10 years, pinpointing a favorite memory is difficult, Hopkins said.
“The best part about this job is that I had an opportunity to help someone every day,” Hopkins said.
“I will miss being able to do that, but there are so many ways that we can go out and help others. There’s no reason that should have to stop.”
While her retirement will be effective July 1, Hopkins said that she will make herself available to whoever her successor will be. The center’s board has a personnel committee that will be in charge of selecting the next director. It is not certain if a replacement will be selected by July 1.
“I don’t think that this is the kind of job where you can just hit the ground running, so I will be here to help whoever the board chooses,” Hopkins said.[[In-content Ad]]
Hopkins said that she wants to spend more time with her husband Gary and her 5-month-old granddaughter, and to continue in ministry work and service to God.
“My husband was in a car crash in March that almost killed him,” Hopkins said. “I really began prioritizing things after that. Sometimes, I think, God tries to get your attention, and that was how he got my attention. They say you should live every day as if it were your last. I thought to myself, ‘Where would I want to be if it were my last day? Do I want to be behind a desk in an office? No. I’d rather be with my husband and my granddaughter.’”
Her husband, Gary, who is a pastor, has mainly recovered from his injuries, Hopkins said. The couple plans on spending time riding motorcycles and traveling to Louisville, Ky. to visit their first grandchild, June Apple.
“She was named after an old fiddle tune,” Hopkins said. “I think she is the cutest baby there ever was. But I would think that.”
Hopkins said that the 10 years she has spent at the center have been “a joy” and that she hopes to remain very active.
“We are dues-paying members and I intend to keep spending time here. But now maybe I can spend less time answering the phone and more time at the piano or just sitting and playing cards and enjoying the people.”
The people, Hopkins said, have been the best part of the job.
“We have a wonderful board, and Rosalie Morgan (the center’s first director) has really been a mentor to me,” Hopkins said.
Over the course of 10 years, pinpointing a favorite memory is difficult, Hopkins said.
“The best part about this job is that I had an opportunity to help someone every day,” Hopkins said.
“I will miss being able to do that, but there are so many ways that we can go out and help others. There’s no reason that should have to stop.”
While her retirement will be effective July 1, Hopkins said that she will make herself available to whoever her successor will be. The center’s board has a personnel committee that will be in charge of selecting the next director. It is not certain if a replacement will be selected by July 1.
“I don’t think that this is the kind of job where you can just hit the ground running, so I will be here to help whoever the board chooses,” Hopkins said.[[In-content Ad]]