Golden Agers find fun things to do for those over 52
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on October 27, 2004 2:00 PM
MOUNT OLIVE -- Dot Dearen of Calypso is only 60, but the Golden Agers of Calypso have no age limit for members.
She was among about a dozen seniors who met for lunch Tuesday at the Southern Belle Restaurant in Mount Olive. They go out to eat at different places and travel a lot.
Ms. Dearen met the crowd this year when she started visiting the Faison Nutrition Site, where they have "yard sale Bingo." You bring something from home and put it on a table, and the winners get to browse the table and pick a prize.
She started hanging out with the ones who were having the fun. They were members of the Golden Agers.
The Golden Agers started meeting in the mid 1950s in the Calypso Baptist Church.
Myrtle Joyner said she was a member back in the mid 1990s when there were 50 members. People were coming from churches in town and then from Mount Olive and all over.
Busloads of 40 people were taking trips, and people would come to hear about the trips, said Donnie Kennedy of Calypso, who presided over Tuesday's meeting.
"We've had some great times," said Ms. Kennedy. She said the group has been to places like Myrtle Beach and quite a few museums. They've cruised on the Cape Fear River and visited the aquarium in Wilmington. They've been to Clinton to eat and to Goldsboro to visit Old Waynesborough Village.
The group voted unanimously to check out the Charles B. Aycock Birthplace on a day when they serve collard sandwiches.
The group sang "Happy Birthday" to Edie "Toy" Waters of Calypso. She has been married 58 years to Mosley Waters, who was there with her. Her birthday was Tuesday, but she never did say how old she was.
Hazel Roberts said she had her birthday last Tuesday, and the cards are still coming in. "I'm going to keep having the birthday."