Welcome to

Senior Spotlight 

 This section will shine a spotlight on one of our local seniors and the wonderful person they are and some wisdom that they have learned along the way.

As Union County enters more vividly into the digital world, it only seemed fitting to take this opportunity to highlight some of the best treasures in Union County...our amazing senior citizens!  The most fitting start to spotlight is Mrs. Naomi Thomas.  At 100-years-old, she is the oldest senior we have the privilege of serving daily.

If you heard a whole squad of lights and sirens last June, we were probably part of it.  Union County showed up big to help Mrs. Naomi celebrate her 100th birthday.  Surrounded by family and friends from all corners of the United States, Mrs. Naomi was smiles from ear to ear as the proclamation was made in her honor.

Born in Columbia, South Carolina in June 1921, Mrs. Naomi has seen a lot, been through a lot, and lived a lot.  As she approaches her 101st birthday, there are two things that are strongly evident in her life - faith and family.  The youngest child of five, she has built quite a legacy herself.  She is the mother of eight children, four daughters and four sons.  Her sons are all now in heaven.  She also has 18 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and 16 great-great-grandchildren, spread from Las Vegas to Atlanta.  

Coming to Union County, via South Carolina and Washington D.C.,  Mrs. Naomi has spent more than half of her long life here.  It always intrigues me to see how people land in our wonderful little town and her story did not disappoint.  Simply stated, she said that "God called her here."  That, and following her family, landed her in the area.  One of her sons married a Sturgis girl and she herself has been a Union Countian ever since.

Life in Union County is a little different than the hustle and bustle of the larger city life she was used to before settling here.  One of the biggest things for her to become accustomed to was the lack of transportation.  She commented "with no buses, no cabs, and no public transportation, it was hard to get around."  Although she had given up driving several years ago, getting around town is something that she always noticed.

Technology has not been too big of a hurdle for Mrs. Naomi to conquer either.  She proudly told me about her weekly physical therapy appointments that she does via Zoom and regular telehealth conference calls with her physician.  Her family loves the fact that she FaceTime's with them frequently.  The grandchildren love her to pieces and look forward to the time they get to spend "face to face" with her.  Between the distance of the family and the precautions they all take to keep her safe from Covid, this technology has been an amazing tool for them all.

God calling her here is a call that we are very glad she answered.  Mrs. Naomi is such a bright light to visit on a daily basis.  Most mornings, she is sitting in her chair by the window, ready to share a huge wave as her meal is delivered.  She spoke numerous times about how she is blessed.  Faith and family are extremely important to her and those are virtues that she has passed on to her generations as well.  Mrs. Naomi is blessed with four daughters, who live out of town, but take turns coming to care for their mother a few months at a time.  The testament to caring for and supporting their family, especially their matriarch, is an example for all of us to follow.

When I asked Mrs. Naomi if she had any advice to share, a piece of wisdom to pass along, she had this poignant gem.  "If you speak it, mean it."  She explained that you must always speak the truth, speak with respect and treat others with respect as well.  As someone who has spoken for almost 101 years, I am confident she knows what she is talking about.  I am blessed to have spent some time on a cold March morning learning more about life with Mrs. Naomi Thomas.

Submitted by Melissa Polites, Union County Senior Services

Melissa Polites is nearing her 14th year as the Director of Union County Senior Services.  A lifelong Union County resident, Melissa enjoys spending time with her four children, supporting all things Union County, and traveling when the opportunity arises.  Her years of experience as the director has lead to many opportunities for growth for the senior population of Union County.