“You all must forgive me,” stated Arlene Johnson, as she choked back tears. “I was not expecting this.”The small group smiled warmly, as Mayor Eddie Favre put his arm around her and gave her a gentle hug.

The group had gathered at the Hancock County Senior Center to witness a presentation of land that Bay-Waveland Habitat for Humanity was making to the City of Bay St. Louis. To Arlene’s great surprise, the land was given in her honor.

The quarter acre plot of land, which is bordered by St. Francis Street and Old Spanish Trail, lies adjacent to the Senior Center.

Habitat donated the land to the City, with the stipulation that it be used exclusively for the Center.

“We’re thrilled to present this land to the Hancock County Senior Center in honor of Arlene Johnson,” commented Wendy McDonald, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Bay-Waveland Area. “Through her selfless leadership and personal sacrifice, this Center has become a well respected and indispensable resource in our community. We deeply appreciate the honor and care she and her staff provide to our community’s senior citizens.”

The Hancock County Senior Center was established in 1972 by May Beyer, grandmother of prominent local community leader, Chuck Benvenutti. Chuck was on hand at the ceremony to present the deed on behalf of Habitat for Humanity and on behalf of his grandmother. “I know she’s right here with us today,” he chuckled.

Eddie Favre was also on hand to accept the deed on behalf of the City of Bay St. Louis. “I’m pleased to be able to receive this gift as one of my last acts as Mayor of Bay St. Louis,” he told the crowd. “People like Arlene Johnson are the reason why Bay St. Louis is a ‘place apart.’”

Jean Larroux III, Pastor of Lagniappe Presbyterian Church in Bay St. Louis, offered a prayer of thanksgiving for Arlene and the Senior Center.

From the Center’s founding in 1972 until 1992, Eve McDonald served as the Center’s director. “We started out in a small classroom in the Valenca C. Jones School,” Eve recalled in a telephone interview. “I had to scrounge for things like tables and chairs. But then later, as we grew, the City gave us more space.”

When Eve retired, Rosine Jushaway was asked to serve as director. Under her leadership, the Center continued to grow in its programs and services. After Rosine’s death in 2001, Arlene Johnson was promoted to Director. “We originally hired Arlene in 1985 to do arts and crafts,” recalls Eve. “But we soon found out she was excellent in everything she did. Over the years, she’s created a very warm, family-oriented atmosphere there. She’s really done a fine job.”

Today, the Center provides transportation services and daily activities to more than 100 seniors in Hancock County. They also serve nutritionally balanced hot meals each day. Activities include painting, quilting, pottery, music and exercise.

After Hurricane Katrina, the Center served as an emergency shelter in Bay St. Louis. For nearly three months, they provided food, shelter, clothes and comfort to more than 175 people. “People slept on the floor and bathed in a homemade shower fashioned from a port-o-let, but we survived!” remembers Arlene.

As part of its commitment to senior citizens in Hancock County, HFH Bay-Waveland Area is building 16 senior villas across the street from the Center. “We chose this location because of its close proximity to the Senior Center,” explained Wendy McDonald. “The Senior Center will provide a wide variety of amenities and services that they will appreciate.”

Habitat’s Senior Villas are part of a larger housing community planned for Union Street in Bay St. Louis. Construction on the houses, funded in part by Mississippi Development Authority, will begin later this year.