In a nondescript building in the center of Clinton, Miss., Anne Lovelady walks in to hear the lively chatter of a group of retirees from the Living Young program engaging in fellowship. She continues walking into the center of a bright wide open room with beige brick walls, wooden floors and many windows letting in the morning sunlight. Taking a stroll about the many amenities provided for the 150th Kentucky Derby party held in May 2024, Lovelady passes many chairs filling up the usually open space, ready for the Best Dressed and Most Fabulous Hat competition later.
She glances over the red, white and blue decorations on the way to her first stop, a table against the wall that holds snack trays filled with food and a plastic horse, nicknamed Big Red, standing watch. She stops to fill up a plate with fruits and cookies before moving on. As she walks, she stops at each table to greet groups of people playing board and card games. The decorations, the food, the camaraderie at this event combine to create the highlight of Lovelady’s week.
Her destination is the line of chairs across the room spread out for a group photo. She takes her seat amongst the many women in their best Sunday dresses, all different kinds of over the top hats on their heads. Lovelady feels a sense of belonging here that makes this a core memory she will cherish forever.
“What I really appreciate about Chandra and her team is that you can do a job—anybody can do a job—but to do a job from your heart and to put out extra effort because you love what you do, that’s a feeling that comes through when you walk through those doors,” Lovelady told the Mississippi Free Press. “You get that feeling of ‘We’re happy that you are here. We’re doing these things for you. And we want you to participate.’”
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