Edwana Fikes Retires from Senior Center

The Olney Senior Cub Center overflowed with laughter, hugs, and heartfelt tributes as the community came together on July 11 to celebrate the retirement of one of its most beloved volunteers: Edwana Fikes. Balloons floated, banners dangled from the ceiling—cheeky messages like “Retired, Not Expired,” “Congratulations, Quitter!” and “Stop Asking Me to Do Stuff ”—all in honor of a woman whose warmth and work ethic have been the heartbeat of the Center for nearly 20 years.

At nearly 90 years old—her birthday was just days after the party—Edwana decided it was time to take a step back from her volunteer duties to spend more time with her husband Wade, who at 94 has also been a longtime supporter of the Center and a former board member.

“She has been here so long she’s like Mom to everyone,” said Cub Center Director Angela Lockard. “She is an absolute blessing—she and her husband both. Edwana has done everything from answering phones to checking folks in and serving meals, all with a bright smile and fun attitude.

We’re so grateful for her and we just wanted to celebrate her today as she begins this next chapter.” That chapter, according to Edwana, will still include daily visits to the Center. “I think everybody ought to get up, get dressed, and get out,” she said. “They don’t know how much better they’d feel.”

It’s that combination of joy and determination that has endeared Edwana to generations of local seniors and staff alike. Edward Furr joked, “She can retire if she wants to—she’s old enough!” while Sylvia Furr added that she appreciated Edwana’s positive attitude, “She always made you feel welcome.”

Tinker Barker, who met Edwana just a few years ago, said she quickly made an impression. “She is a sweet, sweet lady. I’m going to miss her because every morning she came in ready to work. Whether she was at the desk, on the phone, or in the kitchen, she was all in. She has the most amazing work ethic I’ve ever seen.”

Edwana began volunteering at the Center after her stepmother passed away and she moved her father into her home. “I brought him here every day,” she recalled. “It kept him going. That was so good for him.” And soon, it became good for her, too. Nearly 20 years later, she has become a fixture at the Center, a steady and cheerful presence.

Retirement, though, doesn’t mean slowing down. She plans to keep playing golf, a passion she picked up in the 1960s as one of the first members of the Olney Country Club. “There were several of us who joined,” she said. “I loved it so much I just taught myself. It got in my blood.” Even recent hand surgery hasn’t dampened her enthusiasm for the sport.

As for the future of the Senior Cub Center, Edwana remains hopeful despite concerns over potential federal funding cuts. “I just pray that we get to keep it,” she said. “It’s kind of in limbo now. I just want to be able to keep it because it’s such a wonderful place.”

Olney Senior Cub Center Director Angela Lockard thanked Edwana Fikes for her gentle presence and service to the center during a July 11 retirement celebration.

Photo by Will Sadler