Senior Services

AT A GLANCE: SENIOR SERVICES

St. Philip’s has provided programs serving its elderly neighbors for over three decades. In addition to Meals on Wheels, our elderly neighbors take part in a weekly transportation program, computer classes, health and wellness activities, and social programs.

Cachet Youth Group Adopts St. Philip’s Senior Prom

Cachet Youth Group, a mentoring and leadership program for girls ages 13 – 18 sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, has partnered with St. Philip’s for the last four years. Cachet members meet on our campus monthly for workshops, meetings, and events to assist in building their self-esteem, self-confidence, and leadership skills.

“In return for use of the facility, our ladies do service projects with St. Philip’s, specifically the Senior Prom and Christmas Store,” explains Elizabeth Flash Durham, Cachet Youth Group Committee Chair for the last two years. The members enjoy working with the senior citizens. According to Mrs. Durham, raising money for this annual event and planning and implementing it helps the youth develop their hospitality, interpersonal, and customer service skills. “We are happy to be here and serve,” she says.

St. Philip’s created the “Senior Prom” several years ago as a fun, engaging way to recognize and celebrate elders in the community. It’s like most proms, complete with great food, music, lots of dancing, impressive outfits, and yes – a crowned King and Queen! Nearly 100 senior citizens participated in this year’s senior prom, held in April.

2015 Senior Prom King

IN MEMORIAM Mrs. Ruth Lee Carter

A Life Well Lived & Loved

“Mrs. Ruth”, as she was known by the St. Philip’s community, passed away last fall. At 91, she was a great neighbor, well loved and respected by many. Mrs. Carter moved to this South Dallas community in 1955 and resided in a home across the street from St. Philip’s campus. She moved here when the community was still racially and economically mixed and witnessed its transition into blight and even participated in its revitalization as a board member of the St. Philip’s Neighborhood Development Corporation.

She was very pro-education and community minded and was notorious for never meeting a stranger. Mrs. Ruth would talk to anybody and everybody and could find “the good” in anyone. According to her son, Richard, the most amazing thing about Mrs. Carter is she was a true believer in the advancement of ALL people. She believed everybody deserved a chance. She even sent two of her grandchildren to St. Philip’s.

She played the piano and worked at a belt factory early on, however due to her tenacity and personality, she became a trainer. Mrs. Ruth worked as a trainer for Texas Instruments for decades and then retired. Many were beneficiaries of her gift of encouragement and tremendous sense of excellence.

Since her passing, her son misses her smile the most. And what a smile she had! St. Philip’s misses that smile, too, in addition to her laughter, and overall sweet, energetic spirit. Mrs. Ruth had many MAKE GOD SMILE moments with us and for that we are eternally grateful.

Rest in peace our dear loving, kind, cheerful, friend and neighbor.