Joy Edwards ends 27-year career at senior center

MADISON – Joy Edwards’s smile and outreach has touched the lives of thousands of people during her work. After 27 years, Edwards has retired from Madison Senior Center as Activities Coordinator.

Center members, Joy’s relatives, city employees and her “cruise buddies from church” converged on Madison Senior Center on Feb. 28 in a stand-room-only audience to say goodbye and congratulate Joy.

“I’m healthy, I’m happy, and I’m loved,” Joy said.

Almost 83 years old, Joy has been a Madison city employee for 27 years at the center. “I’ve been through several mayors’ administrations — two of them twice,” she said while naming Ann van Leeuwen, Chuck Yancura, Jan Wells, Sandy Kirkindall, Paul Finley and Troy Trulock.

Joy’s bon voyage party was “a day I will never forget. I couldn’t believe that many people would show up. Wow!”

Since 1991, Joy has seen Madison Senior Center change drastically. The current building was home to Madison Recreation Department, and seniors had one room for ceramics classes. The current auditorium was a basketball gym.

“I picked seniors up in the van, helped the people do ceramics and later drove them home. I worked three days a week,” she said.

When Dublin Park opened, the recreation department moved, giving Madison Senior Center a chance to expand. The late Judy Meiers was hired as Director, and Edwards was promoted to Activities Coordinator.

City Hall wanted to start a meal program but needed 25 participants. Edwards and Meiers ‘bribed’ members to lunch by requiring them to eat lunch to claim prizes from Bingo or cake walks. “We’ve come a long way, baby,” Joy said.

Joy’s son John III and his wife Rhonda of Arlington, Texas are parents of John IV. His children are John V, Wynona and Skylar.

Also residents of Arlington, Joy’s daughter Lynn and her husband Bob have four children: Zachary, married to Shannon; Morgan; James; and Micah. Joy’s son Matt and his wife Michele live in Toney; their children are KaLeigh, Matthew and Will.

Joy is married to Ken Perry.

Joy describes herself as “OCD … Old, cranky and dangerous.”

“I will miss everyone so much, but I won’t miss the ride into Madison from Athens twice a day,” Joy said with a laugh. “The sun has just this week begun to be high enough to be in my eyes as I came to work.”

“Goodbye and God Bless.”