Ray Edwards inducted into the Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame

PRATTVILLE, Ala. — Ray Edwards of Valley was among 12 senior adults inducted into the Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame Sunday afternoon in the conference center at the Marriott Hotel in Prattville.

A standing-room-only crowd of several hundred people were gathered inside a large, ballroom-style setting to witness the program. Dedicated senior advocates from every corner of the state were recognized for a lifetime of helping their fellow Alabamians.

Edwards was inducted into the 2024 class along nine other Alabama seniors who were present for the ceremony. Two others were admitted posthumously. Edwards’ class included famed meteorologist James Spann of Birmingham, widely known for his expertise in forecasting the severity of approaching storms. Other members of the Class of ’24 include Rick Courson of Daphne, Dr. Verdell Lett Dawson of Selma, Michael C. Gillespie of Huntsville, Peggy Gomez of Mobile, Thera G. Herring of Prattville, Martha Poole Simmons of Montgomery, Barbara Whitehead of Cullman and Patricia K. Wise of Pinson. Honored posthumously were Martha John Allison of Montgomery and Joan States-Davidson of Daphne.

Edwards was nominated for the Senior Hall of Fame by State Representative Debbie Wood, who was there to witness the induction. Also present were State Senator Randy Price and wife Oline (who’s the Lee County revenue commissioner), Mayor Leonard Riley and Commissioner Debra Riley of Valley, and Lanett Senior Center Manager Sandra Thornton. Members of the Edwards family present for this special day included son Chris Johnson and wife Andrea of Greenville, S.C., son Chad Clark of Daphne, granddaughter Leslie Walden of Valley and her 15-year-old son Gavin, who’s a student at Springwood School.

Nick Nyberg, programs and planning division chief for the Alabama Department of Senior Services, was the program emcee. He read a biographical sketch of each new member and talked about their exemplary work on behalf of seniors in their communities.

“Ray Edwards has committed his life to helping others,” he said. “He started his career working in local stores in the Valley community and navigated a path of being a kind and generous man. He and his wife Jackie opened a thrift store that offered collectibles, furniture and household items. that They decided to allow individuals to pay cash, and for those who needed help, they would arrange payment plans. Edwards believed than everyone should have the opportunity to own nice things.”

Edwards served on the Valley City Council for 28 years. In the 1990s, Governor Bob Riley appointed him as a board member on the Alabama Department of Senior Services. He has been appointed to additional terms by Riley and Governors Robert Bentley and Kay Ivey.  He now serves as the ADSS board chairman.

Nyberg talked about a long-time Edwards family tradition: giving local seniors a Christmas stocking filled with all sorts of goodies. He and family members work all year to acquire the big red stockings and the items to go inside them. They get especially busy the week before Christmas and enlist the help of their friends at Timeless Antiques to fill the stockings. Edwards and great grandchildren Gavin Walden, Ady Morgan and Ky Yates visit senior centers throughout Chambers County to deliver the stockings. It never fails to bring smiles on everyone’s faces.

“In 2023, Edwards secured a grant to offer free weather radios throughout Chambers County and the surrounding area,” Nyberg said. “He recently distributed free weather radios in nearby Randolph County. He is a relentless advocate for senior citizens and relays needs of local senior centers to local, state and congressional delegations. He plans events for senior citizens to meet the local and state civic leaders in their community.”

“Edwards works with Valley, Lanett, LaFayette and Randolph County senior centers to ensure they have furnishings and that games are available,” Nyberg added. “He coordinates special music, hands out gifts that he solicits through donations and recognizes seniors who have birthdays and special events in their lives.”

In addition to inducting 12 new members to the Senior Citizens Hall of Fame, special awards were presented to 26 senior citizens for outstanding service in such categories as Lifetime Achievement, Community Service, Education, Religion, Government, Medical, Performing Arts and Volunteerism. Also recognized were 26 couples who have been married for at least 65 years and 20 individuals who are 100 years or older.

Three of those individuals received loud applause and standing ovations. They are World War II veterans Ben Outland of Montgomery and James I. Sneed of Marengo County. The biggest ovation of all was for 102-year-old Gladys Perkins of Marengo County. She has 12 children, 50 grandchildren and 100 great grandchildren. She’s enormously popular on Tik Tok with more than 2.5 million followers. Her fans call her Maxine the Wordsmith Star. There are videos of her explaining the simple, common-sense ways of doing things the way they were done when she was growing up and the way people could still do them now.

Those honored in the Hall of Fame ceremony were nominated by members of their community and chosen by the Senior Citizens Hall of Fame Selection Committee. The Hall of Fame was created by the Alabama Legislature in 1983 to honor and recognize Alabamians aged 60 and older for their outstanding contributions to the lives of older Alabamians.

“This is the one major event in Alabama each year where individuals are formally honored and recognized for their selfless advocacy and dedication to serving older adults in their community,” said Jean Brown, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Senior Services. “We are proud to celebrate the achievements of Alabamians selected for the Senior Citizens Hall of Fame awards.”

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