Joyce Lewis
The Athens County Foundation (ACF) and the Athens Jaycees Senior Fund Advisory Board awarded the 2021 Senior of the Year award to Joyce Lewis for her support for senior citizens in Athens County for over three decades.
In her work at the United Seniors of Athens County, Joyce has been serving seniors throughout Athens County for many years. Serving as the Executive Director since 2015, and as the Community Services Director prior to that, Joyce guides the nonprofit agency to carry out the mission of helping senior citizens remain active, independent, and in their own homes as long as possible.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Joyce’s care for seniors extended to mobilizing the agency and partners to provide services such as food distribution to those who are homebound and have no transportation. The agency also provided masks and information about masks and encouraged community organizations and families to give masks to their senior family members.
“Well, if longevity counts, Joyce has it,” Judge L. Alan Goldsberry said. “She has been committed to seniors for many years. She has provided help in many forms, including just plain old listening and understanding. You could always count on her to communicate with a senior and explain how to get the help of whatever kind needed. There are times when she provided the help herself,” he added.
On March 24, 2022, Joyce received the award at Stuart’s Opera House during ACF’s A Celebration of Community.
The Athens Jaycees Senior Fund through the Athens County Foundation awards the Senior of the Year annually to a senior (65 or older) who has provided key leadership in our community, especially related to issues affecting the quality of life of seniors or in the area of philanthropy.
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