Central Bank Awards Judy Reynolds Citizen of Quarter
Central Bank presented Judy Reynolds with the Central Bank Good Citizen Award to honor her for the immense impact she’s had on Payson’s senior citizens. Reynolds received the award on Thursday, September 18 at a small open house at Central Bank in Payson.
Judy Reynolds spent many years caring for elderly members of her immediate family. In 2002, when her mother moved to Payson to live with her, Reynolds wanted her to have opportunities to make friends and to feel comfortable in her new community so she took her to Payson’s senior center to get her signed up. While at the center that day, she decided she wanted to work there with the seniors and spent the next 11 years doing just that.
Reynolds spent the first three years as a part-time employee at the center and worked full-time as the senior center director for the following eight years. During that time she spent countless hours planning trips, organizing parties and meals, and arranging activities like ceramics, bingo, wood carving and line dancing to name a few. Reynolds also took great care and notice of the seniors outside of her duties at the center by making sure to pay hospital visits, send flowers to those grieving the death of a spouse, or by dropping by a senior’s home with a treat to brighten their day.
“I became very close friends with many people down at the center—it was my home away from home,” said Reynolds. “My love of the seniors is very strong. There are so many that really do need help and I feel like I did my part to make them happy and make them feel good.”
Reynolds says her husband of 44 years, Paul Reynolds, a Payson native, helped her accomplish much of what she did at the senior center. From making little repairs at the center, to helping shop and cook for events, Reynolds said Paul was always very involved and willing to serve.
“Paul was my right-hand man the whole time. I couldn’t have done half of what I did without him,” said Reynolds.
Reynold’s is the proud mother of six children, and is enjoying the addition of 16 grandchildren. Though there were many times in her 11 years at the senior center that she missed out on things with her own family, Reynolds said she knew what she was doing there was very important and she’s grateful for the opportunity she had to help out.