Media

Dena Stephenson enjoys decorating the family's two-story historic colonial home in Hartselle for Christmas. [JERONIMO NISA]
Three decorated mantles and 15 Christmas trees transform the home of George and Dena Stephenson during the holidays. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Dena Stephenson says decorating her home for Christmas requires "a lot of work, but it makes me so happy, because of the warmth and love the decorations bring.” [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Christmas decorations in the Stephensons' home in Hartselle. [JERONIMO NISA]
The Christmas tree in the "Auburn room." George Stephenson played football for Auburn from 1976-80. [JERONIMO NISA]
The Christmas tree in the "Auburn room." George Stephenson played football for Auburn from 1976-80. [JERONIMO NISA]
A Christmas tree lights up a bedroom in the Stephenson home. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Will Stephenson relaxes with his cat, Weagle, next to the Santa Claus-themed tree. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
An elf-themed tree, left, and Santa Claus tree, right, decorate one room. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Gold is the theme for this tree in the Stephenson home. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Each of the Stephensons' 15 trees has a theme. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
The theme is clear for the tree in the "Auburn room." George Stephenson played football for Auburn from 1976-80. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Photos are the theme at the stairwell bannister in the Stephenson home in Hartselle. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Martha Newman uses hot glue as she works on a jewelry tree at her home in Decatur. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Donated jewelry fills trays in Martha Newman’s house. Newman's husband, Tommy Newman, removes the backs from earrings, broaches and pins. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Some of Martha Newman’s finished jewelry trees. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Martha Newman works on a jewelry tree at her home in Decatur. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Dorothy Woodruff's holiday cooking tradition involves making the same Christmas dinner that her mother made, including multiple meats and cakes. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Charlotte Wilson makes the same Coca-Cola Cake that her grandmother cooked for the holidays. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Sweet Mexican empanadas by Maria Lomeli. [COURTESY PHOTO]
Line judge Erick Pratt takes note of the time of a score at Finley Stadium in a game between Chattanooga and visiting Mercer in October. [MATT HAMILTON/CHATTANOOGA TIMES FREE PRESS]
Line judge Erick Pratt awaits a kickoff during a Southern Conference game between the University of Chattanooga and Mercer University on Oct. 22 at Finley Stadium. [MATT HAMILTON/CHATTANOOGA TIMES FREE PRESS]
Line judge Erick Pratt of Decatur explains a situation to Mercer coaches during their Oct. 22 game at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga. [MATT HAMILTON/CHATTANOOGA TIMES FREE PRESS]
Erick Pratt keeps in shape for football officiating by taking a training run in his Southwest Decatur neighborhood this fall. [BRUCE MCLELLAN/LIVING 50 PLUS

Bracelets created by Leigh Ann Hurst. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Bracelets and earrings created by Leigh Ann Hurst. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Necklaces created by Leigh Ann Hurst. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Leigh Ann Hurst polishes an earring to give it a matte finish. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Leigh Ann Hurst uses a rolling mill to create a pattern on a piece of silver. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Earrings created by Leigh Ann Hurst. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Leigh Ann Hurst uses different materials to imprint patterns on metal. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Leigh Ann Hurst works in her studio as Sofia keeps her company. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Stewart Roby is the Value Stream leader for Line 2 and has worked 45 years in the GE Appliances Decatur refrigeration plant. [COURTESY PHOTO/DUSTIN STRUPP]
Mike Seal works with the coordinate measuring machine (CMM), which ensures refrigerators made in Decatur meet specifications. [COURTESY PHOTO/DUSTIN STRUPP]
Mike Seal programs the coordinate measuring machine (CMM) where he measures refrigerators to ensure they meet specifications. [COURTESY PHOTO/DUSTIN STRUPP]
Dale Higdon, senior manager of supplier quality for GE Appliances in Decatur, was 18 when he was hired at the plant in 1977. [COURTESY PHOTO/DUSTIN STRUPP]
From left, Jimmy Dobbs, Stewart Roby, Mike Seal and Dale Higdon have worked at GE Appliances’ Decatur plant since it opened in August 1977. They’re standing with the first refrigerator model made at the company’s top-freezer refrigerator plant in Decatur. The four just celebrated their 45th anniversary with the company. [COURTESY PHOTO/DUSTIN STRUPP]
Mindy Padgett, left, helps Tom Cruse at the Morgan County Revenue Office in September. Residents turning 65 or homeowners who moved into the county when already at least 65 can apply at the office for homestead exemptions available to seniors. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Nancy Fortune's mountain dulcimer features a pouch to hold her picks. [CATHERINE GODBEY/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Janis Johnson, a new member to the dulcimer group, is learning how to play the hammer dulcimer. [CATHERINE GODBEY/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Nancy McCarthy, or "Red Nancy," as she is known at the Decatur-Morgan County Senior Center, plays "Old Joe Clark." [CATHERINE GODBEY/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Alece Alexander, 76, started playing the mountain dulcimer at 61. [CATHERINE GODBEY/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Alece Alexander, left, and Nancy Fortune, or "Regular Nancy," play "Oh, Susannah" on their mountain dulcimers. [CATHERINE GODBEY/LIVING 50 PLUS]

Bob Cameron bought and began restoring his 1948 Cadillac convertible 21 years ago. It wasn't in one piece when he bought it and didn't have a left door or top. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
The chrome spears on the back quarter panels of Bob Cameron's 1948 Cadillac convertible were custom made after he was on a waiting list for more than a year. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
A sign hanging in Bob Cameron's garage/workshop lists many of the more than two dozen classic and muscle cars he has owned. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
The 1934 Buick was used in the wedding of Bob Cameron’s son, Zach, and daughter-in-law, Candice. [COURTESY PHOTO]
The 1934 Buick was used in the wedding of Bob Cameron’s son, Zach, and daughter-in-law, Candice. [COURTESY PHOTO]
The 1934 Buick was used in the wedding of Bob Cameron’s son, Zach, and daughter-in-law, Candice. [COURTESY PHOTO]
The right fender on Bob Cameron's 1934 Buick. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Bob Cameron's youngest son and daughter-in-law, Zach and Candice, left their wedding in his 1934 Buick 67 series. As a 67 series auto, it didn’t have a built-in trunk like a regular car. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Bill Trail walks with his dog, Chloe, through some of the features that he built in his backyard from scratch. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Bill Trail stands on a deck he built behind his house. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Bill Trail collected the stones for his Stonehenge replica from Swan Creek in Tanner, Seven Mile Post Road in Athens and Indian Creek near Lookout Mountain. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Bill Trail built a pergola and several water features in his backyard with materials he either traded for or found. “I didn’t buy anything,” he says. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Bill Trail built a Stonehenge replica on his Harrison Street Southeast house’s front yard in Decatur. He said the miniature of the famous prehistoric monument in England took him almost two years to complete and it’s not only built to scale, but also has the exact same geographical orientation as the original. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Bill Trail has used many rocks with fossils like this one to build some of the features in his backyard. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Kurtistyne White has worked with children at Decatur Youth Services for the past 18 years. She says it's her calling. [JOHN GODBEY/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Kurtistyne White serves dinner to guests during Operation Thank You at Ingalls Harbor in 2017. The event was an effort by Decatur Youth Services and the Decatur Police Department to give back and thank the community for supporting officers. [FILE PHOTO]
Decatur Youth Services' Kurtistyne White, left, and Kesia Benford put school supplies into backpacks in 2020 as they prepare for the organization's annual Back 2 School Jam. [JERONIMO NISA/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Kurtistyne White's community involvement has included coaching a youth basketball team. [COURTESY PHOTO]
Kenneth Stuart has worked in the jewelry business since the late 1950s. [MICHAEL WETZEL/LIVING 50 PLUS]
Kenneth Stuart, 81, sizes a ring in his Priceville store. He advises other seniors to stay active. "Do something instead of sitting there and watching the box," he says. [MICHAEL WETZEL/LIVING 50 PLUS]

American Legion honor guard members — from left, James Larsen, Charles Anglin, Bob Train, George Marsh and Bill Cole — practice before performing at a veteran's funeral in Courtland in May. [MICHAEL WETZEL]
The honor guard prepares to leave the American Legion Post 15 building on U.S. 31 South in Decatur on its way to a funeral in May. [MICHAEL WETZEL]
Belletete
Cole
American Legion Post 15 in Decatur. [MICHAEL WETZEL]
An M-50 tank sits in front of the American Legion Post 15 building on U.S. 31 South in Decatur. [MICHAEL WETZEL]
Carol Shaw helps Raiden Sivley during a math class at Frances Nungester Elementary School. Sivley's grandmother Laura Graham says of Shaw: "Her patience with children is just phenomenal." [JERONIMO NISA]
Carol Shaw uses a camera and a projector in her math class at Frances Nungester Elementary School. [JERONIMO NISA]
Carol Shaw teaches a math class last month at Frances Nungester Elementary School. Shaw, 63, announced she was retiring at the end of May after working for Decatur schools for 39 years. [JERONIMO NISA]
Betty Koval began taking classes in UAH's OLLI program in 2016. She now leads a course and serves as the institute's travel chair. [CATHERINE GODBEY/DECATUR DAILY]
Betty and Bill Koval at Mount Rushmore. The OLLI program at UAH offered a trip to visit northern national parks in 2019, and the Kovals joined the group. [COURTESY PHOTO]
Bill and Betty Koval traveled with OLLI at UAH to Grand Teton National Park in 2019. [COURTESY PHOTO]
Haruki Yokochi started swimming competitively after recovering from cancer. [JERONIMO NISA]
Haruki Yokochi trains at the Aquadome pool. He spends much of his training time at the Dublin Park pool in Madison where he works out with the Madison Titans. [JERONIMO NISA]
Haruki Yokochi swims laps in freestyle at the Aquadome pool. He is a two-time cancer survivor. [JERONIMO NISA]
Haruki Yokochi, right, stands with Madison Titans coach Roger von Jouanne at the Southeastern Zone Masters Championships in Auburn. Yokochi finished second in his age group at the meet, and the Titans were the team runner-up. [COURTESY PHOTO]
Haruki Yokochi trains at the Aquadome Recreation Center pool. The 70-year-old typically swims 10 to 15 hours a week. [JERONIMO NISA]

Rico Pickett chats with spectators during Decatur Youth Services' playoff games at the Aquadome Recreation Center. [JERONIMO NISA]
Two teams battle it out during Decatur Youth Services' playoff games at the Aquadome Recreation Center. [JERONIMO NISA]
On the cover: Rico Pickett surrounded by the members of one of the Decatur Youth Services' basketball teams. Front, from left, Camoris Hullett, Jaquan Sweeney and JuJu Long. Back, Antonio McCall and Trent Harris. [JERONIMO NISA]
Rico Pickett jokes with volunteer referee Ricky Barrett during halftime of one of Decatur Youth Services' playoff basketball games. [JERONIMO NISA]
Rico Pickett and Estella Davis operate the scorer's table during Decatur Youth Services' playoff basketball games at the Aquadome Recreation Center. [JERONIMO NISA]
Rico Pickett chats with spectators during Decatur Youth Services' playoff games at the Aquadome Recreation Center. [JERONIMO NISA]
Balloonist Brian Dial. [JERONIMO NISA]
Susan Hines slides a pizza in a box for a customer. [JERONIMO NISA]
Susan Hines adds a piece of wood into the oven. [JERONIMO NISA]
Elvis Presley tribute artist Bobby Hollis performs in the Hartselle High gym during halftime of a game between the home team and Decatur High. Hartselle High Principal Brad Cooper said his school's students love watching Hollis perform and will even go on stage to dance with him. [JERONIMO NISA]
Rico Pickett chats with spectators during Decatur Youth Services' playoff basketball games at the Aquadome Recreation Center. Pickett spends much of his life helping those much younger as Youth Services' sports coordinator. [JERONIMO NISA]
Rico Pickett's son, Rico Pickett II, right, volunteers to referee Decatur Youth Services' basketball games. "I teach him to give back," the senior Pickett says. [JERONIMO NISA]

Crewe O’ Ye Crooked Goat participates in the 2016 Carnegie Carnival parade. [FILE PHOTO]
Crewe O’ Ye Crooked Goat participated in the 2015 Carnegie Carnival parade. [FILE PHOTO]
Kathy Manning walks with Crewe O’ Ye Crooked Goat during the 2018 Carnegie Carnival parade. [FILE PHOTO]
Kathy Manning and Michael Manley work on Crewe O’ Ye Crooked Goat’s pirate ship. [COURTESY PHOTO]
Kathy Manning and Michael Manley install the steel frame for Crewe O’ Ye Crooked Goat’s pirate ship. The crewe rebuilt the ship last year. [COURTESY PHOTO]
Ronnie Dukes, 73, estimates he’s run between 44,000 and 48,000 miles since taking up the sport in 1979. [JERONIMO NISA]
Ronnie Dukes believes running benefits him physically, mentally and spiritually. [JERONIMO NISA]
Ronnie Dukes stretches before his morning run at Point Mallard. [JERONIMO NISA]
Ronnie Dukes says he’s learned to appreciate the beauty of nature on his runs. [JERONIMO NISA]
Carol Rea, right, and Kathy Helton prepare food for homebound seniors at Turner-Surles Community Center. [JERONIMO NISA/DECATUR DAILY]
NARCOG bus driver Claude Stevenson loads meals onto his bus at Turner-Surles Community Center. [JERONIMO NISA/DECATUR DAILY]
Rick Henry’s paintings fill the walls and the ceiling of his home studio. [JERONIMO NISA
Rick Henry’s paintings fill the walls and the ceiling of his home studio. [JERONIMO NISA]
Two paintings by Rick Henry hang in the home of Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling. One is of the city’s historic railroad depot (top) before its renovation, and the other (left) shows a portion of Bank Street that still has rails and bricks in the roadway. [COURTESY PHOTO]
When Rick Henry paints in his home studio, he always sits on a chair that belonged to his great-grandmother. The table on the left is where his grandchildren paint. “I use that space to encourage them to paint and to appreciate art,” he says. [JERONIMO NISA]
Rick Henry painted this view of Paris’ roofs from his hotel window during a vacation in the French capital. [JERONIMO NISA]

Wayne Holliday wraps up in his Polar Bear Plunge quilt, made out of T-shirts from past plunges. [JERONIMO NISA]
Wayne Holliday at the very first Polar Bear Plunge in Decatur 36 years ago. [COURTESY PHOTO]
Polar Bear Plunge veteran Wayne Holliday participated in the 2019 event. "It’s like taking a cold shower in the wintertime outside," Holliday said. [JERONIMO NISA/DECATUR DAILY FILE]
Wayne Holliday participated in the 2011 Polar Bear Plunge in the Tennessee River. [DECATUR DAILY FILE]
Linda Miller started decorating for Christmas when she moved into her Sherman Street home in Decatur in the 1990s. [JERONIMO NISA]
Linda Miller won first place in 2020 in Albany's Christmas With a Twist category for her Reindeer Games. [COURTESY PHOTO]
To create her tape people, Linda Miller wrapped individuals in clear packing tape, cut them out and arranged the models like they were decorating the home. [COURTESY PHOTO]
Linda Miller's Reindeer Games decorations featured reindeer skiing, sumo wrestling, playing beach volleyball, weight lifting and doing synchronized swimming. [COURTESY PHOTO]
Pat Price of Decatur provides her family with holiday memories through her baking. [JERONIMO NISA/DECATUR DAILY]
Pat Price. [JERONIMO NISA/DECATUR DAILY]
Pat Price's Caramel butter pecan Bundt cake. [JERONIMO NISA/DECATUR DAILY]
Two Bundt cakes made by Pat Price: chocolate chip mint ice cream cake, top, and caramel butter pecan cake, bottom. [JERONIMO NISA/DECATUR DAILY]
Cheese and sausage balls made with Tabasco sauce. [JERONIMO NISA]
The Festive Cheese Ball includes raisins, dates and pecans. [JERONIMO NISA]
The lines in Tiger Butter, by Christy Jordan, can be drawn with a toothpick or knife. [COURTESY PHOTO]
Mint hot chocolate truffles, by Ashley Smith, can be used for holiday gifts. [CATHERINE GODBEY/DECATUR DAILY]
Filling for the cherry blintzes, by Paula Laurita, includes sour cream and cherry pie filling. [DECATUR DAILY FILE]

With the profiles of four U.S. presidents, Mount Rushmore has become a symbol of patriotism. [CAMERON REEDER PHOTO]
The Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota, has a Moorish Revival facade with corncob veneer and murals formed from corn colors. [CAMERON REEDER PHOTO]

Edith Garner helps sisters Lenyx, left, and Seara Smith with their math homework at the Maxine Ellison Decatur Youth Enrichment Learning Center. [JERONIMO NISA]
Edith Garner teaches a child to read at the Maxine Ellison Decatur Youth Enrichment Learning Center. [JOHN GODBEY]
Maxine Ellison uses flash cards to help Sweyne Womack, 5, with his reading skills at the Decatur Youth Enrichment Learning Center. [JOHN GODBEY]
Maxine Ellison works with Sweyne Womack, 5, at the Maxine Ellison Youth Enrichment Learning Center. [JERONIMO NISA]
Stella Marshall helps Chloe Bumpus at the Maxine Ellison Youth Enrichment Learning Center. [JERONIMO NISA]
Stella Marshall works with Chloe Bumpus, 7, at the Maxine Ellison Youth Enrichment Learning Center. [JERONIMO NISA]

Conley Brannon. Cover photo for issue #2 of Living 50+ Magazine. [JERONIMO NISA/DECATUR DAILY]

Philda Starks works in the greenhouse at her home's garden in Decatur. [JERONIMO NISA/DECATUR DAILY]
Philda Starks pots some of the first flowers of the season at her home's garden in Decatur.[JERONIMO NISA/DECATUR DAILY]
Philda Starks plants a bulb in her home's garden in Decatur.[JERONIMO NISA/DECATUR DAILY]
Philda Starks plants a bulb in her home's garden in Decatur.[JERONIMO NISA/DECATUR DAILY]
Philda Starks plants a bulb in her home's garden in Decatur.[JERONIMO NISA/DECATUR DAILY]