Meet Your Neighbor, Marg Draney

Marg Draney looks forward to dinner every night. The food from The Summit dining team is exceptional, but it’s the friendships made that really make each night special.

“At dinner, I love that it’s a very sociable time. You’re just meeting new people all the time and I truly enjoy that,” she said. “Everyone has such wonderful stories to share.”

Marg, who already lived in Wyndhurst, moved into an apartment with a patio facing The Summit Lake in August. The patio gave her the chance to continue growing herbs.

At 86, she decided the time was right to become part of an extended community. “I feel like I have a lot of living to do and I just wanted to do it in style.”

Marg and her husband, Ed, were married 62 years before his passing five years ago. She has three children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

“My family is very involved and in touch. They are a wonderful part of my life,” she said.

Since moving to The Summit, she has joined the book club. “I like meeting people and this is a very caring and loving community,” she said. “It’s just the perfect place to be at this time in my life.”

Her husband was a salesman for an electronics company and before moving to Lynchburg 20 years ago, Marg worked at the University of Mary Washington. The couple enjoyed traveling, golf and attending live shows.

Marg stays active by walking and swimming at the Jamerson YMCA, a few blocks away. Once The Summit’s campus expansion is complete next year, she looks forward to swimming in the new wellness center. “It’s an exciting time to move here with all of the building,” she said.

She also volunteers at St. Thomas More Catholic Churchin the food pantry and other ministries.

Marg said Director of Marketing Brenda Dixon and the rest of the team were very helpful with her transition. “Every part of my transition, they really took the worry out about making the move,” she said.

She often sees the team members in the halls. “They didn’t forget about me,” she said. “They are around all of the time. I feel like they are certainly my friends and they always seem to have time for me.”