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A Legacy of Kehillah at Mid-County Senior Center A Home-Away-From-Home:
BY HALEY WILLIAMS
E leven days before Christmas 1978, Sally Williams noticed an ad placed in The News Journal’s “help wanted” section. The position—executive director of a brand-new non-profit senior center—sounded interesting, and Sally provided her resume. Among her qualifications she included her height, weight, and marital status— because remember, this was 1978 . In her January 1979 interview for the job, Sally ranked high in the “attitude,” “self-confidence,” and “manner of speaking” categories. Among the interview questions: “How do you feel about senior citizens?” Again, it was a long time ago . By winter 1979, Mid-County Senior Center, Inc. was established and running in the basement of a local Episcopal church. Armed with little more than a few tables and chairs, Sally sought to break away from tradition and create a place for older people to remain active, both physically and mentally. Even though she wasn’t Jewish, Sally emphasized many of Judaism’s core tenets— kehillah, mitzvah , and a respect and love for her “neighbors.” These were the principles she brought to her work every day. The next year brought more members and, with them, the need for additional space. In the early 80s, local politicians made a deal with both Mid-County and the Delaware National Guard to coexist in a nearby, recently- closed school. Soon after, Sally Williams and her dedicated band of employees relocated to the former Lora Little Elementary School, then and now a Delaware National Guard building. Sally’s relationship with her building mates, high- ranking Guardsmen, is the stuff of legend. Just last year, upon learning she was my grandmother, a senior Guard member
shared how they used to scare unruly recruits by threatening “to send them down Sally’s way for boot camp.” Don’t get me wrong, Sally was plenty warm and charismatic, but the woman knew what she wanted and got it. The relationship she fostered with the Guard created a strong bond and mutual respect between the two organizations. I am proud to say to this day, she is fondly remembered by them with reverence and awe . . . and a little bit of fear . As a favor to my grandmother, I started at Mid-County on a strictly temporary, part-time basis in 2015—that's what I told myself, anyway. I was there to help them put together the monthly newsletter, create flyers for programs and events, and do anything “computer related.” I was 21 years old, deeply reserved, and rarely spoke those first few months at Mid-County. Sally even had to pull me aside one day and gently suggest that I not hide under my desk when members came into the office. I think you can see where this is going, though. Sally retired in 2016, just a year after I started, and I’m still here at Mid-County 11 years later. My role has evolved and grown over time—I’m now the Director of Information and Design. Think of me as a generalist; I do a little bit of everything to help the wheels of the organization turn smoothly. Through all the changes that have come over time— from new directors and board members to the major facility renovations we completed in 2025—I am proud to stand by Mid- County and help make it the special place many call home-away- from-home.
Photo credit: midcountyseniorcenter.org
I often catch myself thinking, why did I stay through three more executive directors, a pandemic, and the utter daily chaos that comes with running a non-profit with just a few staff members? It’s simple: I truly believe in our mission. Kibud Zekaynim , honor those with more life experience than yourself. Through my work at Mid-County, I have the privilege of helping older adults to “Age Well” every day. Those ideals my grandmother laid at the foundation of Mid- County—valuing community, hard-work, and a sense of respect for all—ring true for me today. To follow in her exceptional footsteps is a bonus. . To learn more about Mid-County Senior Center, visit midcountyseniorcenter.org or call 302-995-6728. About the Author: HALEY WILLIAMS is the Director of Information and Design at Mid-County Senior Center, and has served the organization for 11 years. In her free time, Haley enjoys listening to music and spending time with her family and dog, Kipp.
For over 45 years, Mid-County has been a welcoming and enriching community for adults over 50. We strive to offer social, recreational, and fitness-oriented programs that help members age well, with purpose and dignity. In a society that can feel wrought with deep-seated ageism and ableism, not to mention a general fear of growing “old,” Mid-County remains true to the roots Sally planted all those years ago. Sh’mirat Haguf, guard both the body and the soul. This Jewish value charges us to maintain our health, both mental and physical. Mid-County aims to serve its community as a place to gather, where members can grab a racket to play a game of pickleball and grab a seat for a rousing evening of LCR or bingo. A place to enjoy a low-cost, nutritious lunch and participate in low-impact exercise classes. Like so many others, we know that maintaining your wellbeing as you age is easier done in good company. That's why Mid-County is free to join with no annual membership fees. In fact, over 90 percent of our activities are free! Anyone over the age of 50 can join and everyone is welcome here, regardless of income or circumstances. Many of our members come to us at crossroads in their lives. They’re freshly retired and looking for ways to stay active, their spouse has recently passed away and they long for some kind of connection, they moved to our area to be closer to family and find themselves in need of a new social circle. We provide a safe space for older adults to stay engaged in their community. Kehillah—that warm sense of belonging to something greater than yourself—is at the heart of everything we do.
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MARCH 2026 | JEWISH LIVING DELAWARE | ShalomDelaware.org
ShalomDelaware.org | JEWISH LIVING DELAWARE | MARCH 2026
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