84 Year Old North County Man Named Ageless, Remarkable

Deacon James Joiner, 84, is the current community relations director at Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church.

The North County resident is showing that retirement is not slowing him down. He took on the full-time volunteer position and said he has seen the church thrive under his guidance.

This is one of the reasons St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors System has named him one of its "Ageless-Remarkable St. Louisans."

St. Andrews is preparing its 11th annual Ageless-Remarkable St. Louisans Gala for Nov. 10. At the event, Joiner along with 18 other retirees, age 75 and older, will show why they deserve this honor.

"They are living proof that retirement doesn’t have be synonymous with slowing down," said Mary Alice Ryan, President and CEO of the St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors System. "From traveling the world and embarking on new careers to offering their time and talents to their favorite charitable organizations and lending a hand in their communities, this year’s class of Ageless-Remarkable St. Louisans continues to reshape the face of aging in our region and provides a fresh perspective on what it means to grow older."

In Joiner's case, he uses his time to strengthen his church. His efforts are aimed at helping to coordinate the church's numerous outreach and building projects, which have included a senior housing complex and a $41 million low-income apartment development.

The 2013 group of honorees includes former Ringling Brothers circus performer Elizabeth Herring, who now teaches ballet and dance to young women in area detention centers; St. Louis’ First Lady of Jazz Jeanne Trevor; endurance athlete Edwin Wolfgram, who has participated in 10 World Triathlon Championships; Ken Kranzberg, philanthropist and CEO of TricorBraun Industries; and former United States District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh.

The complete list of extraordinary seniors who will be recognized at this year’s gala includes:

• Marjorie Allen
  
• Sr. Mary Ann Eultgen
  
• Don Gerber
  
• Elizabeth Herring
  
• Anita Hockett
  
• Barry Hyatt
  
• Deacon James Joiner
  
• Dr. Charles Kilo
  
• Rosalyn “Rosie” Kling
  
• Ken Kranzberg
  
• Frizi Lainoff
  
• Stephen N. Limbaugh
  
• Irwin “Irv” Shayne
  
• Harriet Spilker
  
• Roger Stueckel
  
• Peggy Symes
  
• Mary Tillman
  
• Jeanne Trevor
  
• Edwin Wolfgram

Throughout the past 10 years, 280 seniors have St. Andrew’s title. The organization services 8,700 St. Louis seniors each year with the gala being its primary fundraising event. The gala has brought in more than $1.8 million for the agency since its inception.