On Wednesday, April 30th, at 11 a.m., Mayor Magee met with community leaders from organizations providing services to local senior citizens and proclaimed the month of May as Older Americans Month 2025.
“All our seniors are near and dear to our hearts,” Donna Bailey of DJ Transit said during the signing.
Attendees included Donna Bailey and Deshella Butler of DJ Transit, Inc,; Felicia Jackson, Tito Lanier, Nell Carter, and Semeka Seals of the Laurel Housing Authority; Margaret Jones, Nancy McDonald and Deborah Miller of Foster Grandparents of the Pine Belt; Angela McCurdy of the B.E. Murph Sr. Center, and Shundra Walker of Chateau Quality Senior Care Services & Adult Day Center.
Older Americans Month has been observed since 1963, when it was established under President John F. Kennedy and spearheaded by then-Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. The initiative aimed to honor the countless ways older adults contribute to the nation and to spotlight issues affecting them.
This year’s proclamation reflects the city’s ongoing commitment to honoring its senior citizens and encourages the community to celebrate their impact and contributions throughout the month of May.
Pictured with Mayor Magee (L-R): Donna Bailey, Felicia Jackson, Margaret Jones, Deshella Butler, Tito Lanier, Nell Carter, Angela McCurdy, Semeka Seals, Shundra Walker, Nancy McDonald, and Deborah Miller.
The proclamation read as follows:
Whereas, the City of Laurel includes a growing number of older Americans who contribute their time, wisdom, and experience to our community; and
Whereas, communities benefit when people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds have the opportunity to participate and live independently; and
Whereas, the City of Laurel recognizes the need to create a community that offers the support older adults may need to make choices about how they age; and
Whereas, the City of Laurel can work to build an even better community for our older residents by not limiting our thinking about aging, exploring and combating stereotypes, emphasizing the many positive aspects of aging, inspiring older adults to push past traditional boundaries, and embracing our community’s diversity
Now, therefore, I, Johnny Magee, Mayor of the City of Laurel, do hereby proclaim May 2025 to be Older Americans Month and urge every resident to celebrate our older citizens, to help create an inclusive society, and to accept the challenge of flexible thinking around aging.
In witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the City of Laurel, Mississippi, to be affixed this the 30th day of April, A.D. 2025.
