Center to celebrate anniversary
By Lori Mellinger editor@bullardnews.com

Shirley Frigon was biding her time, patiently waiting for Dr. Marjorie Roper Studdard's retirement.

Once Dr. Marjorie did retire, Frigon had plans for her.

"Marjorie once told me her dream - once she retired - was to open a senior citizen's center - a place where seniors could enjoy fellowship, play games and eat."

Frijon is privy to a lot of her customer's dreams as a local hairdresser. But it's not often, she said, that she gets the chance to help realized them.

D r . Marjorie retired about the same time Frigon's church, St. Mary Magdalene, bought the former First Baptist Church on Lynch Drive.

That was almost a year ago, and now Bullard-area seniors are readying to celebrate their first anniversary with more change - a larger meeting facility.

"The church was gracious with us, but the space was limited, and we didn't realize how popular it would be," Dr. Marjorie said.

That was true from the very beginning.

"It was supposed to be three initially who helped out, but it turned into 19," Frigon said.

And when the doors opened for the first time on Dec. 5, 2006, everyone was surprised at the turnout.

About 60 seniors packed into the building set aside for their use.

Everyone brought a "covered dish," and many spent the afternoon playing "42."

"We may have to rethink the space," Father Tim Kelly said at the time.

So that's what the group has done, and it will now meet at Bullard Southern Baptist Church, 716 N. Houston St.

"It just has more room," Dr. Marjorie said. The group meets on Tuesday mornings.

With table games including the domino games of "42" and "chicken foot," the group soon attracted enough people to fill the room.

Senior citizens come to enjoy conversation and a fullcourse meal every Tuesday.

With a larger room and a promise of a good time, the group is inviting all senior citizens to meet in the new location at the Bullard Southern Baptist Church at 9 a.m. on Tuesday Dec.4.

"I'm tickled to death," Dr. Marjorie said. "It's an answer to prayers."

Dr. Marjorie said seniors used to meet behind city hall, but the building was destroyed about 1997 and the seniors' group disbanded.

But the need didn't go away.

Dr. Marjorie said the group is just what she'd hoped for.

"It brings everyone - all different denominations - together," she said.