LEONARDTOWN, Md. — What began as a search for purpose after closing a business and entering a new chapter of life grew into a lasting legacy of service for local seniors.
During a surprise recognition ceremony at the Garvey Senior Activity Center on June 2, the Leonardtown Town Council presented a proclamation honoring Anna Webster for her volunteer leadership and contributions to the Friends of Garvey, a volunteer organization established in 2024 to support the center and senior residents throughout St. Mary’s County.
The presentation was attended by Councilman Nick Colvin, Garvey Center staff, members of the Friends of Garvey and Webster’s daughters, Julia and Maria, who joined in celebrating the recognition.
According to the proclamation, Webster was recognized for her “outstanding volunteerism” as leader of the Friends of Garvey and for helping create opportunities that encouraged seniors to remain active, engaged and connected within the community.
The proclamation noted that Webster created the Friends of Garvey Facebook page, which has grown to more than 1,000 followers and serves as a resource for information about Friends of Garvey activities as well as programs offered through the St. Mary’s County Department of Aging & Human Services.
Under her leadership, the organization hosted monthly membership meetings, organized hundreds of lunches and activities, and helped provide seniors with opportunities for social connection and inclusion. The town also credited her efforts with supporting locally owned Leonardtown businesses through organized outings and events.
Webster additionally helped coordinate Friends of Garvey participation in Leonardtown’s Scarecrow Stroll events and the Gingerbread Lane contest, helping strengthen connections between seniors and the broader community.
For Webster, the recognition marked the closing of one chapter as she prepares to begin another. She and her husband will soon relocate to Melbourne, Florida, following his job reassignment.
Reflecting on her time at the Garvey Center, Webster said one of her favorite memories was the annual Halloween costume party.
“Seeing everybody get into a different persona, get up and dance,” Webster said in an interview with The BayNet. “I always had a perception of senior activity centers being where you walk in and see older people sitting, reading, crocheting and knitting. Coming in here opened my eyes to a whole different community.”
She said the experience showed her that older adults still have much to offer and that the center provides opportunities for friendship, activity and personal growth.
Webster became involved with the Friends of Garvey during a transitional period in her own life.
“My daughters had aged out of me having to take care of them and be the stay-at-home mom that I was,” she said. “I had just closed my business, and I was looking for some way of reconnecting with the community.”
That search ultimately led her to Garvey, where she found a renewed sense of purpose while helping others do the same. When asked what message she would like to leave behind for those at the center, Webster expressed gratitude for the friendships and support she found there.
“Thank you for embracing me in a time of my life where I was unsure of where it was headed,” she said.
The Town of Leonardtown’s proclamation thanked Webster for enhancing the lives of seniors throughout the community and recognized her years of service as an advocate, volunteer and leader.
As Webster prepares for her move south, those gathered at the Garvey Center made clear that her impact on the organization — and on the lives of the seniors she served — will continue long after her departure.
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