A Place to Call Home: The Story of Roxana CHEER
Located in southern Sussex County, the Roxana CHEER Center is a testament to community spirit and enduring support, thriving in a place with a unique history. Roxana, one of the few communities in Delaware to be unincorporated, was a town for just 12 years before its citizens decided the costs of governance were too high. It was originally called Centreville and renamed after two cousins, Roxie and Ann Wilgus.
Despite its unincorporated status, the community became the site of a remarkable act of philanthropy. Edward W. Pyle, a wealthy house painter, left a will in the 1930s to support social services for poor children and the elderly in Sussex County, an area he loved. His bequest became a reality four decades later. In July 1973, Governor Sherman W. Tribbitt broke ground for the Edward W. Pyle Center, acknowledging that construction was only possible because of the bequest. The center officially opened in October 1974.
Meanwhile, just a few months earlier, in August 1974, the Roxana CHEER had already begun. The sixth CHEER center to open, it started in the social hall of the Roxana Methodist Church with 20 new members. By 1975, the center had moved into the Pyle Center, where it would continue to grow.
A Growing Family of Services
Over the years, the Roxana CHEER Center expanded its membership and services. In 1991, a Senior Outreach Advisory Resources (SOAR) counselor began visiting to answer questions about Medicare and supplemental health insurance. By 1995, under the leadership of Patsy Bennet Brown, who directed the center for 30 years, the center offered a wide variety of programs, including a walking club, line dancing, day trips, and essential health services like flu shots and blood pressure checks.
The center celebrated its 25th anniversary in May 1999 with an open house and a health fair. In 2002, Delaware Attorney General M. Jane Brady gave a presentation on fraud against senior citizens, demonstrating the center’s commitment to protecting its members.
The community’s dedication was further highlighted in 2015 when the center celebrated the contributions of Franklin and Minnie Singletary, who had been volunteers for 24 years. “It kept us busy,” Minnie said, “and when we would go home, we wouldn’t get on each others’ nerves.” In 2016, a fundraiser for Meals on Wheels was held at the center, offering a special dinner for just $5.00. Later that year, on July 19, the Roxana CHEER Center celebrated 45 years of service with a special luncheon and live entertainment.
A Positive Attitude and Enduring Spirit
The center is a place of incredible dedication, as shown by Larry Kovacs, a Meals on Wheels volunteer since 1996. He was honored with a WBOC Jefferson Award in 2018 for his extraordinary public service. An outreach worker at the center described his positive attitude, saying, “He always has that personality of ‘We can do this,’ not, ‘Well, what are we going to do?’”
In 2019, the center hosted Beebe Healthcare’s “Life…Be Proactive” program and continued to be a place for fun and fellowship, with activities ranging from chair Zumba to gospel singing. The annual Thanksgiving celebration with other CHEER centers in Georgetown became a cherished tradition for members. As Norma Jones, a member for ten years, said, “I thank God that we all get together once a year.”
When the coronavirus pandemic forced the center to postpone all activities in March 2020, the community’s spirit endured. Like a healthy family, the members and staff got through the difficult period and have since reconnected, welcoming old friends and making new ones.
For over 50 years, the Roxana CHEER Center has been a mainstay of the community, and it plans to continue serving for many years to come. Stop by and say “Hi.”