Best friends Audrey Walker (left) and Marie “Bitsy” Adams (right) at St. James Place
Hometown friends reconnect two doors down at St. James Place
When Audrey Walker left Whitecastle, Louisiana, she never thought she’d be living down the street—let alone down the hall—from her best friend Bitsy Adams again.
The two friends lived half a mile away from each other for some 20 odd years in the rural Louisiana town where they would spend most of their time involved with the church or their children’s school fairs together. Eventually, Audrey and Bitsy started walking together every morning… and the rest was history.
“It was a wonderful way to start the day because we solved all the world’s problems,” Bitsy reminisced.
When Audrey moved to Baton Rouge in 1994, Bitsy missed her but continued walking with friends every day. The two rarely saw each other after Audrey moved.
After Audrey’s husband passed away, her daughter—who worked at St. James Place’s therapy department—helped her move into her new home.
“I ended up at St. James Place because my husband felt like I’d be taken care of here and have something to do,” Audrey said. “I’m not a person to sit at home by myself, and living here has fulfilled my active lifestyle.”
After picking up painting in her early 60s (and having nearly mastered the art), Audrey attends art classes at St. James Place to keep up with her newfound skill and is honing in her talents to learn how to work with oil paints.
“It’s been wonderful; I’ve gotten a lot done here,” Audrey said.
On the other hand, before her children helped her move into Independent Living, Bitsy continued to live alone for a year after her husband’s passing. She considered it an understatement to say she didn’t want to leave her hometown.
But sometimes, miracles happen.
When Bitsy finally took the leap to move into St. James Place, she found herself two doors down from her old best friend, Audrey.
“I don’t know what I would’ve done without her,” Bitsy said. “My wish for everyone who comes here is to find an ‘Audrey.’”
It can be difficult to make new friends after going through loss and moving into a new place, the friends agreed. But they both agree that St. James Place goes above and beyond to encourage residents to get out of their homes and attend activities to make new friends.
From groups of men and women playing cards, to attending mass, and even dining at two on-campus restaurants, Bitsy and Audrey can’t think of anything that is not available to residents. They enjoy doing everything together, including visiting with other friends over wine during Happy Hour at their regular table as well as going to Brain and Balance classes together.
Since their reunion at St. James Place, the two friends can’t imagine living anywhere else. “I’m in the best place in Baton Rouge,” Bitsy said. “There are so many activities available to anyone who moves here—it’s really up to you. You do what you want to do at St. James Place.”
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