Pictured from left to right are Doris Singley, Esther Penny and Gaynelle Moon, retired employees from J.F. Hawkins who came back to enjoy the celebration. Moon was the former social services director, Penny was activities director and Singley was a previous administrator.

The community came together last week to celebrate 50 years of J.F. Hawkins in Newberry.

Dr. Oscar Lovelace shared his experiences with J.F. Hawkins and Springfield place as he’s had family members there.

Mayor Foster Senn spoke at the celebration on behalf of the need that places such as J.F. Hawkins fulfill in Newberry County.

NEWBERRY — J.F. Hawkins has made many positive improvements since opening its doors more than 50 years ago, according to Niki Perkins, director of marketing and admissions at J.F. Hawkins and Springfield Place.

Located at 1330 Kinard St. in Newberry, J.F. Hawkins opened in June 1965 and was named after Sen. J.F. Hawkins. Perkins said Hawkins and the county decided some type of nursing facility was needed in the county and from that idea, the facility was built.

Springfield Place was opened in May 1998. Owned by the same company, Perkins said they try to keep them together as much as possible.

While J.F. Hawkins is all skilled nursing care with 24-hour supervision, Springfield Place is more independent living with some assisted care, but residents have their own apartments.

“They can come to lunches and stuff, but it is not really that skilled nursing care,” Perkins said about Springfield Place. “There has been a lot of updating from where it began.”

Over the past 50 years, Perkins said J.F. Hawkins has gone from having 38 to 50 beds in the facility to the 118 and a locked Alzheimer’s unit it has now.

J.F. Hawkins offers services to residents including 24-hour skilled nursing care including Dr. Michael Bernardo as medical director and patients of Dr. Oscar Lovelace.

“We have a full time activities staff so they have a lot of events going on,” Perkins said.

Denise Marshall, activities director of J.F. Hawkins and Springfield Place, takes residents on outings, on bus rides as well as out to dinner. “She keeps them busy,” Perkins said.

Bingo is an activity everyone seems to enjoy, Perkins said, adding that many church groups and other groups come to provide entertainment and singing. They also do arts and crafts, can take advantage of the pet therapy program, a beauty shop, podiatrist, dentist and eye doctor.

Many patients can come to J.F. Hawkins for short-term rehabilitation, Perkins said.

A lot of residents come to J.F. Hawkins because they cannot take care of themselves at home anymore and want that continuum of care, but a lot of families also look to them for placement, Perkins said.

Perkins said Springfield Place was built because the county felt there needed to be some type of continuum of care for the geriatric population in Newberry and thought it would be easier going from independent to assisted living and into skilled nursing as people needed that extra care.

A celebration was held June 18 for to mark the 50 years J.F. Hawkins has been in business. Mayor Foster Senn and Lovelace spoke on behalf of J.F. Hawkins as well as past and present employees, residents and family members in attendance.

Lovelace, who has had family members at both J.F. Hawkins and Springfield Place, said there has always been a need for places like J.F. Hawkins.

Executive Director Kathy Montgomery welcomed everyone to the celebration and Chaplin Suzanne Ringer and Madeleine McEntire provided music for the celebration.

Perkins said she was thankful to everyone who participated. “It’s (J.F. Hawkins) been here for a long time and we plan on keeping it here 50 more years,” she said.