AARP Honors Kelly Jo Barnwell for Work with Seniors
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
It’s an award that has been a long time coming.
On Thursday, AARP South Carolina paid tribute to Kelly Jo Barnwell with the inaugural AARP Community Impact Award for her “exceptional dedication to uplifting older adults and young people in Anderson County.”
Over the past two decades, Barnwell has transformed the Jo Brown Senior Center (an organization named after her mother, the late Linda Jo Brown who was the program’s first director from 1981-1993) into a welcoming home for AARP Chapter 3693, coordinating programs that keep older adults engaged through activities such as line dancing, quilting, and bridge. She also relaunched her mother’s signature event, the Golden Years Jamboree, which celebrates older adults while raising funds for local nonprofits including the Cancer Association of Anderson and the Westside Community Center.
“She has been a shining light in Anderson County for many years and deserves this, as well as our thanks,” said Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns. “She makes Anderson County a better place, not only for seniors, but for all citizens.”
Beyond her leadership with older adults, Barnwell has spent more than 14 years volunteering at NewSpring Church, mentoring high school girls and supporting students with special needs. AARP said the award recognizes “her compassion, energy, and belief in service have made her a role model for the community.”
“AARP is proud to recognize Kelly Jo Barnwell for her extraordinary commitment to empowering people to live with purpose and connection,” said Charmaine Fuller-Cooper, AARP South Carolina State Director in a press release.
Barnwell said her mother’s example and influence deserve much of the credit for her life’s work.
“There’s no greater reward that a daughter can have than to be given the privilege to walk in her mom's footsteps,” said Barnwell. “You know, you often hear that you stand on the shoulders of greatness, and it’s true.”
She said her mother would have loved to see the growth that has happened in the seniors program.
“She’d be right in the middle of it,” said Barnwell. “She'd be loving every minute of it. And she would be just as active as the Juanita Richards and the Edie West and the Wanda Walker's. I mean, she would be right in the middle of all of them. And she'd be loving every minute of it. I just know it's the fulfillment of living a full life. And that's, you know, my job description: help people live their fullest lives. Keep them active doing what they love to do. Invest in leaders, leaders who still have purpose and want to give that purpose. to their peers. And that's Anderson County Senior Citizens Program for seniors by seniors.”
Barnwell is one of four inaugural recipients of AARP South Carolina’s Community Impact Award, which recognizes people improving the lives of older adults through community service, kindness and leadership. The other recipients:
Debora Hayes, who rallied Richland County law enforcement to reduce isolation among the county’s older residents.
Bob Zucker of Hilton Head, for his work to reduce hunger in the state’s Lowcountry.
Karen Patterson of Barnwell, for her work as AARP South Carolina’s Driver Safety statewide coordinator.
