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VALLEY — Valley Senior Center’s Donald Perry Williams Activity Room was a fun place this past Friday. More than 100 seniors, not just from Valley but also from the senior centers in Lanett, LaFayette and Beulah, were gathered for a fish fry and gospel sing. Alabama Department of Senior Services (ADSS) Board Chairman Ray Edwards hosted the event. Also present to free the large gathering were Valley Mayor Leonard Riley, Chambers County Commissioner Debra Riley, State Representative Debbie Wood and other city officials.

Edwards opened the gathering by welcoming everyone, telling them to enjoy the day. “Anyone who knows me knows that God, family and seniors make my life go,” he said. “I want to thank Chief Jim Doody of LaFayette for helping me out in a weather radio distribution we recently had in Randolph County.”

The weather radios had to be programmed before they can be used. They arrived the day before the distribution at senior centers in Roanoke and Wadley. Chief Doody and fellow firefighters worked overtime the day before to have a total of 168 weather radios given out to seniors.

Edwards has previously distributed these radios at no cost to the seniors in Valley, Lanett, LaFayette and Beulah.

He also thanked Council Member Toney Thomas of LaFayette.

“He has helped me with this fish fry,” he said. “He has also helped by driving me around the past few days. I’m still stoved up a little bit after being injured in a car accident in Montgomery recently.”

“I found out that day how much people in Montgomery think of Ray Edwards,” State Rep. Wood said. “I was in Montgomery that day, and I had all kinds of people calling me to ask how he was and if he needed someone to drive him back to his home in Valley.”

“It’s a blessing to be here,” Wood said. “I have so many good friends who are here today. Henry Osborne, who is here with the Lanett seniors, is my mentor.”

Both have served on the Chambers County Commission.

“Keep on keeping on,” she told Edwards, “We need you in our community.”

Edwards recognized Valley Park Manor Director Amber Griggs. “I want to thank her for taking good care of my wife Jackie and all the other seniors at Valley Park Manor,” he said.

“I am glad we have Julia Ann Hyde with us today,” he said. “I think she’s the best DHR director in the state.”

T.J. Wood was also present at the fish fry. He retired from the Chambers County Sheriff’s Department last year to become director of the Alabama Sheriff’s Girls Ranch in Tallapoosa County. He has since become the director of operations for all youth ranches in the state. He told everyone that he was glad to be back home in Chambers County.

“We are a small community, but we have a big heart,” he said. “I recently put something on Facebook that we needed help at one of our boy’s ranches. The people of Chambers County responded better than anyone else. They came through in a big way even though the ranch is nowhere near Chambers County. They know what these youth ranches mean and have a heart big enough to help. Thank you for being as supportive of us as you are. These youth ranches do make a difference, and they do need our help.”

Mayor Riley told the seniors he was well pleased with the turnout and hoped that all the seniors present were having a good time.

“We have a great community, and we want to do all we can for our people,” he said. “I want to thank Ray Edwards for all he does,” adding jokingly, “I bet you didn’t think you’d ever hear me say that.”

That brought some smiles and laughter from everyone there.

Edwards then thanked the mayor’s wife Debra for a big favor she’d done. “She got us the banana pudding today from Sunny’s,” he said. “I hope you all enjoy it.”

“I also want to thank our legislative delegation – Debbie Wood, Randy Price and Bob Fincher for helping fund this.”

Steve Baggett and the Old Rugged Cross did a number of gospel tunes, finishing with “Peace in the Valley.” They were well received by the seniors.

There was a surprise appearance by a Tina Turner lookalike and singalike. She did a lively rendition of “Proud Mary.” It brought the house down.