06/17/2026
Happy 50 years to us! 🎉🎉🎉
LEE COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AT JUNE 6 GALA
Lee County Council on Aging celebrated 50 years of serving the seniors of Lee County at a gala held June 6 at the Bishopville Opera House.
Since its founding in 1975, Lee County Council on Aging (LCCOA) has been dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for older adults and their families throughout the community. What began as a small group of passionate advocates has grown into a comprehensive network of programs and services that touch so many lives each year. From nutrition and wellness programs, to transportation, social engagement, and caregiver support, the Lee County COA’s mission has always remained the same: to empower seniors to live with dignity, independence and joy.
LCCOA Director Laurie Watkins thanked everyone who has been part of the organization’s story.
“This milestone would not be possible without the tireless dedication of our staff, volunteers, board members and generous donors who have carried this mission forward for half a century,” she said.
Bruce Little was Master of Ceremony for the 50th anniversary gala. LCCOA Board member Carl Andrews gave the welcome and shared opening remarks. Rep. Keishan Scott, District 50 S.C. House of Representatives, was the speaker for the event.
Connie Munn, Director of the South Carolina Department on Aging, and Dennis Cyphers, Executive Director for Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments, also shared remarks.
The Lee County Council on Aging was founded in 1975 by a dedicated group of community leaders committed to addressing the needs of Lee County’s growing senior population. The original center was located on Council Street, near the police department. Mary L. Stuckey was the first director of the LCCOA. In the 1980s, Tony Miksch was the director and services were expanded to include home-delivered meals, senior center activities, and transportation for elderly residents.
In the 1990s, caregiver support programs were launched and the center established partnerships with local healthcare providers to offer wellness screenings.
In the 2000s, Director Bessie Davis secured a grant to build a new LCCOA building. Under the leadership of William Frierson, LCCOA moved from Council Street into its current location, 51 Wilkinson Road. During this time, LCCOA opened additional senior centers across the county, including sites in Lynchburg and at the Ebenezer Church on Highway 15. These sites are no longer operating.
In the 2010s, under the leadership of Shirley Baker and Gloria Scott, the Springhill Site opened with Jessie Lloyd as site manager. In the 2020s, COVID caused the Bishopville and Springhill sites to be closed to the public for more than a year. However, staff adapted swiftly during the pandemic with emergency meal delivery and meals distributed with a pick-up option.
The sites returned to in-person services in June 2021. Director Ruby Gibbs-Williams secured a Permanent Improvement Project Grant for expansion of the Wilkinson Road facility. The dining area was expanded; a new kitchen, bathroom, storage and office areas were added. During the time, a walking track and benches were also added.
Upon the retirement of Ruby Gibbs-Williams, Laurie Watkins assumed the director’s position, securing additional funding to complete the expansion of the Bishopville center, completing the project. Funds were also secured to pave the walking track, repave the parking lot, and purchase two new vehicles.
In her “Director’s Message,” Laurie Watkins shared some thoughts about the Lee County Council on Aging. “’Priceless’ is an adjective describing something that is invaluable and precious,” she wrote. “At the Lee County Council on Aging, our motto is ‘Seniors are priceless,’ and our goal is to provide services and opportunities which demonstrate that ideal. This agency has been fulfilling its mission to provide quality services so individuals may live healthy, active and independent lives for 50 years…This milestone represents half a century of unwavering commitment to service, compassion and leadership.”
Watkins said the LCCOA has grown in scope and impact over the years, responding to emerging needs while “remaining true to our core mission. As we embark on the next chapter of our work, we do so with a deep sense of responsibility and optimism. The future holds tremendous opportunity, and with continued support, we will rise to meet it. This gala is not just a celebration of our past; it is a springboard for our future. It is a tribute to the volunteers, partners, donors, staff and community members who believed in our mission and continue to carry it forward year after year. We are energized by the progress we’ve made, but we are even more inspired by the work still ahead.”
