As February, the month of love, winds down, we profile another resident who warms our hearts throughout the year. Meet Gladys Christian whose uplifting spirit and passion for helping others inspires us all.
Gladys has not had an easy life, but you would never guess that on a first meeting. A series of unfortunate events when she was young brought out a rebellious side and resulted eventually in a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress syndrome. Her life turned around when, in her 20s, she met and married the love of her life, Dr. Lawrence Christian, a pastor and gifted man, who saw and believed in her goodness.
Gladys worked for the Social Security Administration in Maryland and eventually served in ministry with her husband in Virginia until his untimely death in 1989.
Gladys shifted her career focus to the field of mental health and moved to North Carolina before being diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive eye disease, in 2004. At the time, Gladys was working for Centerpoint Human Services as a Peer Support Specialist and Certified Wellness Recovery Action Plan Facilitator where she trained more than 400 people in North Carolina, serving as Forsyth County’s only trainer in this field. By 2010, Gladys’ eye condition deteriorated to the point where she could no longer drive, so she signed up for Trans Aid to get to and from work. She retired in 2014.
Gladys began volunteering in the community before she retired, and continues her commitment to serving others in the community. She has volunteered at a girls’ runaway house, served on the Provider Council for Forsyth County, continues to be an advocate for the Advisory Council of Disability Rights North Carolina, and served as a member of the Board of Directors for Horizons Residential Care Center, a position she has held for the past six years. Recently, she travelled by Greyhound bus to Raleigh for an Advocacy Council meeting.
“I am not afraid to travel with my diminished eyesight. I get help all the way—everyone’s aware of my disability. I even get to board planes before first-class passengers,” Gladys says, demonstrating her characteristic good humor.
“Since moving to Arbor Acres, I try to express an attitude of gratitude every day,” she says. “I don’t feel alone. I’ve been embraced by the Sharps & Flats Show Choir and have made lots of friends. I feel safe and secure. Being here is a blessing.”
She adds, “I am a human services person. I love connecting with and educating people about services available to them within the community.
“I know the difference between being happy and sad. Sometimes, in a dry moment, I imagine sitting sit on the dock of the bay as I meditate and reflect, but I don’t stay there for long. I enjoy life.
“I’m getting older gracefully. I want to be a positive contributor to any community, because helping someone else helps me.”