Celebration of Leadership Fellows praying over Steve McAlilly and Christie Vance in preparation of their Leadership transitions.
It is with great honor and profound gratitude that I assume the role of CEO, recognizing the trust placed in me by our Board of Directors and the entire Methodist Senior Services organization. Having been part of this community for the past 26 years, I have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the impact of our mission and commitment of our team, residents, families, and donors. Each day, we are charged with God’s work of serving older adults in the Spirit of Christian Love. This is our foundation - our past, our present, and our future. Transitions are a natural part of any journey, but our commitment remains the same. We will stay faithful to our mission, keeping it at the forefront of all we do now and in the years to come. The legacy of who we are and how we love will guide us forward.
As it is written in Leviticus 19:32:
“Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.”
This verse serves as a guiding principle for our work, reminding us of the respect and honor we owe to those who have come before us. They have dedicated most of their lives to laying the foundation on which we now serve, and it is a privilege to build on their work with a strong commitment.
To our residents and families—thank you for entrusting us with your care and confidence. To our team members—your passion and dedication are the heart of this organization. To our generous donors and supporters—your contributions make a lasting impact on the lives of so many.
I look forward to working alongside each of you as we carry our mission forward. The future is bright, and I am excited for all that we will accomplish together. With gratitude,
Senior Services Statistics
Number of Units: 1,429
% of Occupancy: 93.6%
Total Residents: 1,411
December Sunday Fund Assistance: $43,141
Gov’t Rent Assistance Residents: 403
Outreach Service Recipients: 143
Total Served by Senior Services: 1,554
Total Employees: 939
Our Mission: to serve older adults in the spirit of Christian love
Our Core Values:
• Servant ministry
• The dignity of elders
• Compassion for those we serve
• Equity and empowerment
• Operational excellence
• Innovative service
Our Vision: to ensure Mississippi elders and our team members are safe, secure, supported and loved
Announces Transition of the President/Chief Operations Officer Role
Steve McAlilly
Mr. McAlilly has served as the Methodist Senior Services (MSS) CEO since 1994. Prior to joining MSS, Steve practiced law in Meridian, MS, for 14 years. He served on the community
volunteer board for Aldersgate Retirement Community, a part of the MSS family of retirement communities, where he developed a passion for serving elders. McAlilly was then selected to succeed Bill Carroll, founding President, at the helm of MSS. In the 31 years under McAlilly’s direction, the organization has flourished and revolutionized Eldercare not only in Mississippi, but worldwide.
McAlilly retired on March 1, 2025 and Vance was named his successor. She is just the third person to lead the organization in 63 years!
Christie Vance
Ms. Vance has served in the MSS ministry for more than 25 years. She began as Director of Accounting, was promoted to Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and most recently has served as the Vice President for Operations and Chief Operations Officer. Prior to joining MSS, Vance was an accountant with Watkins Ward and Stafford, CPA, where she was involved in auditing MSS for four years. Vance has led the MSS financial services through several transitions during her tenure. She has been directly responsible for ensuring financial stability of the organization and for growing its mission of serving elders in Mississippi.
In January 2024, McAlilly announced his intention to retire by March 2025. Thus MSS embarked on a 14 month journey to ensure institutional knowledge was passed to the current Leadership Team and ensure a smooth transition when Steve departed. The Board of Directors determined that Vance was a natural fit to succeed McAlilly and began steps to prepare the organization for this momentious change.
In the following pages, we will explore their early careers, achievements, plans for the future and much more.
A Legacy of Service
Steve McAlilly Retires After 31 Years at MSS
After more than three decades of dedicated leadership, Steve McAlilly is retiring from Methodist Senior Services (MSS). His journey with the organization has been defined by vision, innovation, and a deep commitment to serving Mississippi Elders in the spirit of Christian love.
From Law to Leadership
Before joining MSS, McAlilly was a lawyer in Meridian, Mississippi. He first connected with MSS when the organization expanded into Meridian. He worked closely with leadership and even served on the Aldersgate Board of Directors. When the CEO retired, McAlilly felt called to step in, and the rest is history.
As only the second CEO in MSS’ history, McAlilly’s 31 years of leadership helped shape the organization into what it is today. His business acumen and strong connection to MSS’ mission of service have led to an environment of innovation, compassion, and excellence.
A Visionary Approach to Senior Care
One of the most transformative projects McAlilly championed as CEO was the introduction of Green House® Homes. This innovative approach to long-term care de-institutionalizes senior care by providing residents a more personal, home-like environment.
“At the time, it was a big idea,” McAlilly reflects. “Now, we can look back and say we really did move the needle in a big way.”
It’s this kind of bold thinking that defines his tenure at MSS. “We’re going to change the world,” he often said, and his leadership proved that real change is possible when you’re willing to challenge the status quo.
A Smooth Transition
As McAlilly steps into retirement, he has nothing but confidence in MSS’ future under new CEO Christie Vance, a seasoned leader who has been with the organization for 26 years.
“She knows the financial details, the vision, the mission. She’s got the smarts and the talent to take us into the infamous ‘next level,’” McAlilly says.
The Road Ahead
Retirement doesn’t mean slowing down. Having just celebrated his 70th birthday, McAlilly looks forward to new adventures. His plans include traveling the country in his RV, spending more time with his grandson, and staying involved with MSS by volunteering at Traceway in Tupelo - where he might even start a coffee club.
With a love for landscaping, cooking, and the great outdoors, McAlilly is ready to embrace his next chapter with the same passion and purpose that defined his career.
MSS thanks Steve McAlilly for his extraordinary years of service, leadership, and unwavering dedication to Mississippi’s Elders. While he may be stepping away from his official role, there’s no doubt his influence will be felt for years to come.
A New Chapter in Leadership Christie Vance Takes the Helm
After 26 years with Methodist Senior Services (MSS), Christie Vance is stepping into the CEO role. As only the third CEO in MSS’s history, Vance’s transition is a testament to the organization’s stability and strength as she leads it into serving the next generation of Mississippi’s Elders.
A Career Built on Passion and Purpose
Vance began her career in public accounting where she was introduced to MSS as part of the audit team. Growing up with grandparents who could have benefited from affordable senior housing, she was drawn to the organization’s work.
“I never dreamed of working in senior living, but once I saw the impact of what MSS was doing, I knew this was where I wanted to be,” Vance said.
From her first role as Director of Accounting in 1999, Vance quickly proved adept at navigating challenges. One of her earliest projects was transitioning MSS to Y2K-compliant financial software, requiring skill and ingenuity. She was also instrumental in obtaining the Medicare and Medicaid certifications for the Martha Coker Green House® Homes in Yazoo City. Over the years, Vance took on increasing responsibilities, serving as CFO and COO before moving into the CEO role.
Leading Through Change
Vance’s leadership was tested when she took over as COO in March 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic began reshaping the senior living industry. By navigating staffing challenges, restructuring sales and marketing efforts, and strengthening community relationships, she helped MSS emerge stronger than before. Under her leadership, MSS’s census climbed from 83.3% pre-pandemic to approximately 94% today.
Her approach? A people-first mindset.
“Senior living isn’t just a job; it’s a calling,” Vance said. “You have to be truly committed to serving elders and the teams who care for them.”
Vision for the Future
As she steps into the CEO role, Vance is focused on balancing innovation with the operational excellence for which MSS is known. She recognizes the evolving needs of the next generation of seniors and emphasizes the importance of adaptability.
“We’re at a turning point. The baby boomers are changing expectations for senior living. They want personalized services, but at an affordable price. Our challenge is figuring out how to meet those needs sustainably,” she says.
Vance is also passionate about leadership development, promoting programs that empower employees at all levels. That includes the Beth and Henry Brevard Celebration of Leadership Academy MSS launched in 2019. Modeled after LeadingAge’s national leadership program, Vance believes this initiative will shape MSS’ future by investing in emerging leaders.
“It’s been phenomenal because it’s put care partners who are the essential foundation of the team at a table they wouldn’t necessarily be at otherwise. It brings so much joy to watch the participants start to open up and think about bigger possibilities.”
A Leader with Heart
Beyond her professional life, Vance is deeply rooted in her family and community. She and her husband, Cory, have been married for nearly 30 years and have two daughters. A proud supporter of all things Ole Miss, she’s also active on her local school board and church finance committee and has spent the past decade helping to run the concession stand at her daughters’ high school softball games.
Vance’s personal journey, including the loss of a child, has reinforced her belief in the importance of community and support.
“The people here have been with me through life’s highs and lows. That’s what makes MSS special - it’s truly a family.”
With her hands-on experience and forward-thinking approach, Vance is well-positioned to lead MSS into a new era built on dedication, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to those she serves. Under her leadership, MSS is poised to continue its legacy of excellence and shape the future of senior living in ways that will benefit future generations.
MSS LEADERSHIP TEAM
“Great things in business are never done by one person; they’re done by a team of people”
- Steve Jobs
In its 60 years of ministry, Methodist Senior Services has had many amazing leaders who have moved its vision forward. We wanted to take a moment to reintroduce our current Leadership Team and welcome you to reach out to any one of them should you need assistance.
ALDERSGATE
Robyn Stephens robyn.stephens@ mss-aldersgate.org
TRACEWAY
Jerone Lacking jerone.lacking@ mss-traceway.org
Jim Zuelzke VP of Finance/CFO jim.zuelzke@mss.org
VICE PRESIDENTS
Merrin Cantin VP of Human Resources merrin.cantin@mss.org
CAMPUS EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
DUGAN/HENRY CLAY
Allison Arthur allison.arthur@ mss-dugan.org
TURNER-DUVALL
Lisa Crager lisa.crager@mssturnerduvall.org
FLOWERS
Monica Jennings monica.jennings@ mss-flowers.org
WESLEY MEADOWS
Jamie Cliett jamie.cliett@msswesleymeadows.org
REGIONAL DIRECTORS
Jennifer Thompson South Region Director/ Wesley Manor Executive Director jennifer.thompson@ mss-wesleymanor.org
Shelley Tuggle North Region Director/Trinity Executive Director shelley.tuggle@mss.org
MARTHA COKER
Jennifer Bowman jennifer.bowman@ mss-marthacoker.org
RIGGS MANOR
Wendy Welch wendy.welch@mssriggsmanor.org
Brittany Cuevas VP of Philanthropy brittany.cuevas@mss.org
SEASHORE HIGHLANDS
Rick Lee rick.lee@mssseashorehighlands.org
MSS DIRECTORS
Sonja Jenkins
Legal Counsel and Corporate Risk & Compliance Officer sonja.jenkins@mss.org
Jennifer McClanahand Senior Director of Sales & Marketing jennifer.mcclanahand@mss.org
Teresa Baker Director of Clinical Support teresa.baker@mss.org
Bill Reid, PMP Director of Information Technology bill.reid@mss.org
Renee Reid Director of Communication & Creative Services renee.reid@mss.org
Cathy Coleman Director of Annual Giving & Donor Relations cathy.coleman@mss.org
Tim Barber Director of Construction & Property tim.barber@mss.org
Gina Hobby Director of Accounting gina.hobby@mss.org
Alicia Smith Director of Human Resources/Diversity & Inclusion Advocate alicia.smith@mss.org
Receiving Care Leads to Giving Care:
It’s not unusual to meet Elders in our communities who come from far away places and have incredible stories of life, struggles and victory to tell. That is the case with Mrs. Ilsa Bateman who currently lives at Aldersgate Retirement Community in Meridian, Mississippi. Mrs. Bateman grew up in Germany during World War II. Below are her memories of her journey here.
It was January 1945 in Graditz, Germany. Due to growing dangers from the war, her family needed to leave their home when Ilsa was only twelve years old. Her Mama, Anastasia Licha Grutzner (Anna), packed Ilsa and her siblings up for flight. A big vehicle came after midnight and stopped in front of their house. Anna and her children, Inge (14), Ilsa (12), Magda (10), and Gerhard (8), were loaded up by the Government/Red Cross and taken to Czechoslovakia along with many other refugees fleeing their hometown. They were dropped off in an empty schoolhouse where they slept on mattresses on the floor. Ilsa’s father, Ernst Paul Grutzner, had been in Kiel working in the ship industry and had been sent to France during the time his family escaped the war.
While at the schoolhouse, Ilsa was diagnosed with scarlet fever and sent to the hospital in Benesov, Czechoslovakia. She remained in the hospital for several months with two other young girls she became friends with. Gisela was also 12 years old, and Sigrid was only 4 years old. The three girls were inseparable during their hospital stay.
The hospital kept the children safe and protected them from the outside world. The hospital provided them with warm meals and a bed to sleep in. When bombing sirens went off, the children were told to grab a blanket, get the little ones, and run to the bunkers as fast as possible. They stayed there until given the signal it was safe to come out.
Right before the war ended, Ilsa’s sisters Inge and Magda rode the train to visit her in the hospital again, but they never made it. May 1945 saw the end of the war, and everyone got separated during the mayhem that followed. Anna and Gerhard ended up in Passau, West Germany which was occupied by the Americans. Inge and Magda made their way back home to Graditz, Germany where they found their father.
Gisela, Sigrid, and Ilsa wondered why their mothers didn’t come to pick them up since the young girls’ health had returned to normal, but they weren’t aware of the chaos that was going on outside of their protective hospital. In June, the hospital had no alternative but to send them on to Prague with instructions to go to the Red Cross unit to care for them until their families could be located.
It was dark when the girls arrived, and they couldn’t find the camp. Ilsa asked a man where the Red Cross was, but he wouldn’t give her an answer because she was a German. Another man came along and sent them to a hut where they told the girls all they could do was take them to where other Germans were being held. The three girls were marched to a refugee camp by a man who was carrying a machine gun. It had been a hotel and was filled with hundreds of very sick people.
The Russian soldiers would come in at night with their flashlights and take the older girls away screaming. Two older girls asked the young girls to help them hide from the soldiers. The older girls would lie on the floor, then the girls would put a blanket over them and lay on top of them so when the soldiers looked in, they would only see little girls and would leave them alone.
Aldersgate Elder survives WWII to become a nurse in the US
The refugees were moved to the Sokol stadium in Prague. All the girls stayed together including the two older girls they had protected. They lived in horrible living conditions for two weeks with only water soup to eat. Then one day, it was announced they wanted people to take a job. The girls volunteered and went to the Russian camp to clean the dining room for the soldiers. They would sneak any leftovers from the soldiers’ plates to have something to eat. At night they returned to the stadium.
Two weeks later there was an announcement over the loudspeaker for all Germans who wanted to go back to Germany to get in line. Thousands got into line because everyone wanted to go home. The refugees went to the train station and were loaded onto the cattle train. We thought we were going to Germany, but the Russians took us to Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia to a camp. It was a concentration camp. It had been a holding camp for Jews. Upon entering the camp through the big gate any belongings, pictures, wedding rings anyone had where thrown on a big pile. The soldiers took whatever they wanted. If a person had gold fillings in their teeth, they were taken out also. The men were whipped as they entered the gate. Next, all men, women, and children stripped down and threw their clothes on a pile and went to the shower house together. As they came out two men sprayed them with powder. The soldiers were nasty, laughing, and making fun of the scared refugees. Ilsa and the girls were there for six months from June to December.
A few days before Christmas some people came to take all the children with no parents. They started reading names off a list. They called Ilsa’s name. Gisela was not on the list, and the girls screamed and cried that Gisela was with them and had no one either. They let her go with them so all three girls remained together.
Ilsa later learned that Uncle Premysl Pitter a Czech and Tante Olga Fierz, who was Swiss, got permission to go into Theresienstadt to get the children with no family. Later Tante Olga told her the drivers were told to load up the children as fast as possible and get out of there before someone changed their mind and wouldn’t let them go.
The children were loaded on to two big trucks. It was dark and no one knew where they were going. The girls were afraid and didn’t want to go. The trucks stopped and bags of bread and lunch meat were loaded. Everyone was so hungry “we were like a pack of wolves” remembers Ilsa. Everyone got sick because their stomachs couldn’t handle all the food after not having any for such a long time.
The children arrived and were given a bath, food, and a down feather bed. “We were in heaven,” recalls Ilsa. It had been dark when they arrived but, in the morning, they had breakfast and could see where they were. It had snowed and they were in a beautiful castle – Olešovice. It was like a fairytale. The castle belonged to a German Barron who left Czechoslovakia before the Russians came. The children were quarantined for two weeks after arrival to make sure they did not have any diseases. Tante Olga who later told Ilsa they put a sign at the front gate that said, “Quarantined because of typhoid, Stay Away!” The children really didn’t have typhoid, but they did this to keep the Russians out. The girls stayed there until spring.
The girls were then moved to the next castle, Štiřín, also in
Czechoslovakia. Tante Olga and Uncle Premysl came by and checked on them. Ilsa remembers someone playing Heidenroslein on the piano. She told her she could just make up her own dance, so Ilsa danced while she played the piano. The children also put on plays. They performed Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs where Ilsa played Snow White, but she refused to be kissed by the prince. After several months the children were moved again to a very big castle in Czechoslovakia called Kamenice.
Tante Olga and Uncle Premysl would get information from the children and try to find their families. Ilsa had written several letters home. Slowly, parents were found. Gisela and Sigrid found their families. Ilsa was one of the last children to find a family member.
On her 14th birthday Ilsa finally got a letter from her Mama that said her father had been killed by the Russians and that she was in Passau, Germany and everything was going to be ok. She wrote that Magda & Inga made it out of the Russian sector too.
Ilsa went to a convent close to the train station in Prague to wait for transportation to go back to Germany. Ilsa was put on a train going to Furth im Wald, Germany. She was dropped off and spent the night in an orphanage. “I remember having a good time playing with the other children there.” The next day was her 15th birthday. Anna and Magda came to pick up Ilsa. “I started to run toward a woman I thought was my Mama then stopped. I thought this woman was too small,” said Ilsa. “I didn’t realize I had grown the years apart.” They cried, kissed, and hugged. Ilsa was finally reunited with her family after being apart for 2 years and 7 months. January 1945 to Aug 28, 1947
Ilsa’s family went to live in Passau in St Nikola Kloster (Monastery) which had been turned into a refugee camp. The rooms were big, and there were 16 people living in one room.
Ilsa went back to school in Passau and graduated. She went to Nurnberg for nursing school. Ilsa became interested in nursing while she was in the hospital with scarlet fever. “Some of the older children, myself included, helped with taking care of the younger ones, and I decided this was what I wanted to do.” Ilsa married an American soldier, Charles Stanley Hamilton, stationed in Germany and moved to America in October 1958 where she worked as a nurse. The couple had two children, Paul Marcus Hamilton and Regina Kay Hamilton.
“I can’t begin to thank Tante Olga and Uncle Premysl for all they did in rescuing me and 809 other children through Operation Castles,” said Ilsa.
Later in life, Ilsa’s husband passed, and she was alone. She developed a terrible case of Shingles, and it became clear she once again needed her family close. Her daughter decided to move her to Aldersgate Retirement Community so she would be close to her. Mrs. Ilsa counts herself as fortunate to have survived such difficult times and will tell you she has lived a great life. It is because of her optimism that she has been able to persevere and overcome so many obstacles. She says she is “happy to have three hot meals a day and a nice bed to sleep in with people looking after her”. Mrs. Ilsa Bateman lived through so much and is appreciative of the life she has been given and the wonderful care she receives at Aldersgate.
SEASHORE HIGHLANDS DEDICATES READING NOOK
Inspired by Lucimarian Roberts’ Passion for Reading and Service
There are seemingly small conveniences in life that make an immense impact in our wellbeing. A cup of coffee on the back deck. A chance to sit by the pool in the shade on a hot, summer’s day. A place to lose yourself in a good book.
For Lucimarian Roberts, a good book was one of life’s essentials. The mother of famed ABC and ESPN anchor Robin Roberts felt so strongly about having a quiet place to read that she imparted that love of books to her four children, including daughter Dorothy.
“Mother was of the generation where a formal living area was important for entertaining guests,” recalled Dorothy. “So a reading nook, a quiet place away from the hustle and bustle of family life and entertaining, was essential for someone who loved to read.”
As a way of honoring Roberts as a former Assisted Living resident, Seashore Highlands, a Gulfport senior living community, created a reading nook for residents.
Steve McAlilly, Sally-Ann Roberts, Missy Buchanan, Dorothy Roberts and Brittany Cuevas helped dedicate the Lucimarian Roberts Reading Nook.
“It would mean the world to our mother to have a reading nook dedicated in her name,” said Dorothy Roberts, whose sister has also made financial contributions to Seashore. “She would have seen it as extremely important for the elders at the community.”
Lucimarian Roberts’ passion for reading lives on at Seashore Highlands in Gulfport, where her legacy now enriches the lives of residents through a dedicated reading nook. Nestled within the community, this serene space offers a haven for residents to escape into the pages of a book, just as Lucimarian cherished.
The creation of this reading nook not only honors Lucimarian’s memory but also reflects her belief in the importance of quiet moments amidst the bustle of life. For her daughters Robin, Dorothy, and Sally-Ann, who carry on her love for literature, this tribute is a testament to Lucimarian’s enduring influence and the value of creating meaningful spaces for elderly residents.
Retirement Community receives a piece of headstone by Stevensville Stone Supply
When Wendy Welch came to Riggs Manor in October of 2023 as the new Executive Director, she had a vision. Not just a vision for the senior living community’s future, but a vision for its resident military Veterans.
Welch wanted a Wall of Honor to commemorate all of Riggs Manor’s Veteran residents’ service to their country.
“I come from a military family. My grandfather was career Navy. I understand the sacrifices military members make for their country, and I always want to see that honored,” said Welch.
Less than a year later, Riggs Manor had its Wall of Honor. Each resident who served in the military now has their photo and bio on the wall as a small homage to their service.
“People gravitate to the wall when they visit our community. It’s become a focal point,” says Welch.
But Welch knew she could do more to honor the current veterans of Riggs Manor while also welcoming new ones, and she turned her eye to a flag display featuring an American flag as well as each military branch’s flag.
In November of 2024, Riggs Manor hosted a Veterans Day car show to raise the money to make the military flag display a reality. Now when you pull up to the community, the flags are there to greet you, as well as the prayer garden underneath it.
“It’s a place I can feel a deep sense of pride,” said resident George Hittle, who served in the U.S. Air Force. “It reminds me that our sacrifices are remembered.”
Welch didn’t know it, but she had one more trick up her sleeve.
When headstones at Arlington National Cemetery become damaged, they get replaced. What happens to the broken pieces? They get sent to stone vendors around the country. And that’s how Jackson Stone found themselves with a piece of Arlington National Cemetery.
“When Jackson Stone called to see if we wanted the Arlington headstone piece, I didn’t even have to think about it. I knew what it would mean to the residents, and I was just so honored that they thought of us,” said Welch.
April 12, 2025 Wesley Meadows Green House Anniversary Celebration
April 12, 2025 Traceway Easter Egg Hunt
April 15, 2025 Wesley Meadows Easter Egg Hunt
May 2, 2025 May Your Health Bloom at Flowers (Health Fair)
May 22, 2025 Trinity Golf Tournament
May 30, 2025 Seashore Highlands Jeepin’ through the Generations
June 13, 2025 Traceway Fathers Day Car Show and Block Party
June 28, 2025 Wesley Meadows 4th of July Party & Fireworks
July 4, 2025 Riggs Manor Rockin in America Fireworks Show
July 31, 2025 Riggs Manor Blessing of the Backpacks
August 14, 2025 Wesley Meadows Summer Celebration Party
August 28, 2025 Flowers Boston Butt Fundraiser
September 19, 2025 Wesley Meadows Annual Golf Tournament
Check Out Our Campus Facebook Pages For Additional Events & Activities
Aldersgate Retirement Community selected as a Grant Recipient for the 100+ Women Who Care of East Mississippi Program
Aldersgte Retirement Community was awarded a $500 grant from the 100+ Women Who Care. The 100+ Women Who Care is a non-profit organization run by women, operating under the Community Foundation of East Mississippi. Their mission is to use the power of collective giving to make a difference in East Mississippi communities.
