When 96-year-old Tommie Thompson landed in the hospital in Jasper, Alabama, she had no idea that a short rehab stay in Birmingham would lead her and her daughter, Carol Savage, into an entirely new and vibrant chapter of life.

It was in January of 2018 that Tommie got sick at age 96 and landed in the hospital for 10 days in Jasper, Alabama. On a Friday afternoon, the hospital was having difficulty locating a rehab community for Tommie’s continued recovery. As they waited the weekend in the hospital, Carol reached out to her daughter in Birmingham, and she contacted Fair Haven. The community had just built a new rehab center and had a room available. Tommie and Carol arrived at Fair Haven in the late evening the following Monday, and thus began a rapid journey that would see both women become happy, settled residents of a Methodist Home. 

Until that illness, Tommie lived independently, active in her church and community, so it was no surprise that Tommie’s recovery went well. After a couple of weeks of therapy at Fair Haven, it was almost time for Tommie to go home, and a family meeting was called. Carol had home health all lined up and ready to go back in Jasper. But Tommie said, “I want Carol to find me an apartment, I’m going to move over here.” Carol canceled the home health and called the movers that day.

As lifelong Methodists, Tommie (now 103 ½) and Carol (82) remember well when denominational leaders were visiting the churches in 1960 and letting everyone know about the new Methodist Home. Carol even has a letter from Jasper native who was thrilled to move there not long after it opened. They remember occasionally passing by Fair Haven, and seeing the beautiful chandelier through the front window, though they had never been inside.

“We were the last of the family in Jasper,” Carol recounts. “So I said, well mom, I’ll sell my house and I’ll sell your house and I’ll find a condominium or a small house or something to rent in Birmingham.”

Carol chose an apartment in assisted living for her mom and began preparations.

“I obviously didn’t get everything that she wanted, but I wanted it to be set up so it was comfortable when she came out of rehab. We made a picture and I sent it to a friend or two,” Carol said. ”She’s sitting in the chair with a big smile on her face.”

Three days after leaving rehab, Tommie is pushing a buggy through Target to find some more items that she needed, and Carol snaps a picture. Her mother made a remarkable recovery with amazing resilience. 

Carol began the process of looking for a place nearby to rent for herself, but then she thought of the potential benefits of moving into Fair Haven as well. “I told mother, I said, ‘I’m going to go down and talk to Earnestine and see if they have a 2-bedroom available, and I said, I just might live over here, and move here.’” Earnestine Thompson is Fair Haven’s long-time residential administrator. They did indeed have an independent living apartment available and Carol talked with family members and made her own moving plans. 

While Carol was waiting to move in to her new apartment, Tommie’s condition and confidence improved well enough that Fair Haven’s lead residential nurse recommended that Tommie move out of assisted living and choose an apartment in independent living, which she did. 

When Carol arrived on campus as a resident, she quickly became involved in the community. Mary Margaret Tomlin, a former administrator of Fair Haven, was president of the auxiliary at that time and sought to enlist this new, active resident as a volunteer in the gift shop. 

“The summer I moved here, Earnestine said she wanted me to meet Mary Margaret Tomlin. She wanted to know if I would volunteer in the Gift Shop,” Carol said. “I told her that I don’t do cash registers, and she said, ‘Well, go in on Tuesday and see Lilly Sanders.’” Lilly was another resident volunteer. “So I walked in there … and I said, 'Mary Margaret told me that you would show me how to work the cash register.’ Lily looked at me, and she turned around and she said, ‘Well, if it gets locked up on you just pick it up, turn it over and knock it twice and it will probably come open!’ I got tickled then! They hadn’t been using that cash register probably in about 20 years. All they used it for was the drawer to keep the money in.” 

It turned out that the gift shop was a perfect fit. “That was a way for me to get to know people,” Carol added. 

Mary Margaret was also the person who introduced Carol to the Fountain of Love Fund. Carol learned that the Fountain of Love provides financial assistance to residents in a Methodist Home whose own funds run out. The assistance is given in a manner that is discrete and private, so that only a few staff members know who is receiving assistance.

“I just thought, that is a good way to handle something like that because anybody could get in a situation where they might need some help,” said Carol. “We think we’re covered with things, but then we may not.”

Carol is no stranger to fundraising. In 2000 she became the first executive director of the Walker Area Community Foundation, but when more flexibility in her schedule was needed, she moved to become its community involvement person in 2007 until her retirement in 2011. 

“I had worked for a foundation, so memorial and honorariums were near and dear to my heart,” Carol affirmed. “On special occasions or when someone passes away here, that’s the fund that I give to. I think it’s just wonderful.”

The Foundation, however, was certainly a long journey from where Carol began right out of school as an airline stewardess for Eastern Airlines. Next she enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom, and co-owned a gift shop with some friends. She later worked in the advertising department for a local paper, then worked for the Walker County Department of Human Resources, helping people go from welfare to work. It was from there that she was asked to work for the Foundation. 

“I was still volunteering at the Foundation and was still serving on two boards when I moved here.” Carol mentioned. “I only recently stopped going.” She had started the volunteer program at the Bankhead House & Heritage Center and continued to volunteer there once a week. 

As for Tommie’s background, she grew up in Haleyville in Winston County, Alabama. While her husband was off to war, Tommie worked for the Office of Price Administration distributing rations for scarce goods during the war. After her husband came back from the war, he returned to his job with the Alabama Power Company and the family moved to Montevallo, then later to Tuscaloosa. 

Tommie’ work life included working for Alabama Gas Company, Alabama Power Company, and working as a secretary in the office of a postal inspector. Later she became the interim postmaster at two small post offices in Winston County.

“I met a lot of people who knew of my family because my parents were from Winston County,” Tommie said. As the interim postmaster, she did whatever was required, from raising the flag to mowing the lawn. Finally, she was ready to retire and spend more time with family.

When asked about life at Fair Haven today, Tommie said she has continued her love for reading. “I’m not as social as Carol,” Tommie replied. She has a reputation on the Fair Haven campus for spending her time with books. But to call Tommie an avid reader is a bit of an understatement. She has kept meticulous journals of the books she has read, along with her own summary of each. Carol thinks there must be at least 2000 books in that record. After quickly exhausting the grand supply of books in the Fair Haven library, another resident suggest that she call the Jefferson County Library about their books-by-mail service. This robust program keeps Tommie well supplied.

Carol, on the other hand, was age 75 when she first arrived at Fair Haven, and she has remained active and made many friends. She still volunteers in the gift shop as well as in the independent living garden. She also serves as one of Fair Haven's Ambassadors, a small group of residents who take on the responsibility of greeting new residents and orienting them to all aspects of life in the community.

Even with her deep roots in Jasper and a fulfilling career behind her, Carol was surprised by what she found at Fair Haven.

“I don’t think I ever thought I would have this many new, close friends at this time in my life,” said Carol. “That’s been the most amazing thing. We all have different interests, but we look after each other.”

When asked about what it is like living in the same community with each other, Carol said, “I think we’ve done pretty well, living this close to each other.” Tommie added, “We knew not to try to live together.” 

The two eat lunch together almost every day, and also try to watch Wheel of Fortune together every evening. They occasionally joke about moving back to Jasper when they get frustrated with one another. But in truth, neither regrets the move.

“It has worked out well,” Carol confirmed. “I think you’ve just got to find the place that suits you…It’s been a good move.”

Two women, two generations, and two apartments—each filled with laughter, memories, and a strong sense of belonging at Fair Haven.

While Carol and Tommie may never need the financial assistance offered by the Fountain of Love Fund, for those who do, it is a lifeline. Learn more about the Fountain of Love Fund and how your church can hold an offering in support of residents in a Methodist Home who find themselves in need. The Fountain of Love program is available for residents at Fair Haven (Birmingham), Wesley Place on Honeysuckle (Dothan), Wesley Gardens (Montgomery), Wesley Haven Villa (Pensacola). and Mathison Retirement Community (Panama City), and is supported by a generous endowment, as well as gifts from foundations, churches, businesses and individuals.