Vickie Parker offer supports, companionship as Madison Senior Center director

Vickie Parker works as director of Madison Senior Center. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Vickie Parker is one of those rare people who looks forward to coming to work every day. She works as director at Madison Senior Center.

“I’m proud to serve the seniors here at our center,” Parker said. She started working there as a part-time activities coordinator in 2000.

At that time, she had no experience working with senior citizens. However, Parker “quickly found out that it was my ‘true calling.’ I loved it from day one. The seniors have so much life experience and are eager to share it with others.”

Previously, she had worked at Russell Corporation in Alexander City while her husband Michael attended Auburn University.

The Parkers moved to this area when he accepted a job with MICOM (later AMCOM) and eventually moved to Madison. “I love the Madison community and am amazed at the growth it has experienced in recent years,” she said.

As director, Parker is responsible for the center’s daily operations. She acknowledged help “from an incredible staff who are always willing to assist me with any task,” she said. “We work great together as a team.”

“Being with the seniors and sharing their joys and sorrows” fulfills Parker. “I feel like I know some of them better than their own families. (Many) have left friends when they moved here to be closer to their children and grandchildren.”

For some senior citizens, the transition is difficult. “We try at our center to make that transition easier by making new friends,” Parker said. The staff “helps someone who has a need.”

Today, Madison Senior Center “offers many more activities to keep up with the changing senior population. There’s something here for everyone,” Parker said.

The center’s average daily attendance is 50 seniors.

Parker earned a bachelor’s degree from Athens State University in personnel psychology. Husband Michael retired from AMCOM and mostly recently from the University of Alabama in Huntsville as a database administrator.

“We have a four-legged son … a spoiled-rotten, rescue miniature schnauzer named Hoppy,” she said.