Submitted by ST. CATHERINE’S VILLAGE
From left: Bennett and Gina Smith with Gina’s parents, Dorothy and David Keith.
When it came time to retire and move to a more carefree and cared for environment, two generations of families found exactly what they were looking for at St. Catherine’s Village. Located in Madison, the all-inclusive Life Plan Community provides the right care at the right time through independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing — all in a protected and picturesque 160-acre wooded setting.
After David Keith retired from BellSouth, he and his wife, Dorothy, decided they were tired of keeping up a yard and all the maintenance that came with their Madison home. They crunched the numbers and realized it was within their means to move to independent living at St. Catherine’s, where they wouldn’t have to worry about landscape chores and everything else that comes with home ownership. Thirteen years later, the couple is still in their “penthouse” apartment on the senior living campus.
Dorothy was excited to come to St. Catherine’s because it offered a more carefree lifestyle, plus a full continuum of senior care. While she may not cook meals daily, Dorothy serves on the food committee and is famous for her banana bread. And while they don’t have to spend their time cutting the grass, both David and Dorothy remain avid gardeners.
Before moving to St. Catherine’s, the Keiths were neighbors with Bennett Smith’s mother, who became close friends with Dorothy. In fact, Dorothy introduced her daughter, Gina, to Bennett, and the rest is history. Bennett and Gina are married and now live at St. Catherine’s too.
Bennett and Gina moved to St. Catherine’s during a difficult time of the pandemic, after living in an historic home in Hattiesburg for 45 years. They were familiar with St. Catherine’s not only from the Keiths but also because Bennett’s mother had lived there.
“When trying to find the best place for Mom, I remember researching retirement communities in Hattiesburg, Jackson and southeast Mississippi,” said Bennett. “St. Catherine’s Village always rose to the top of the list. We became even more impressed when Mom transferred to assisted living, because the care she received was so wonderful.”
When the time came for the Smiths to retire, they hoped they too could find their home at St. Catherine’s. In their 70s, they really wanted a two-bedroom, two-bath independent living apartment overlooking the lake, and they were willing to wait for it — five years, to be exact. In the end, everything worked out perfectly.
“The staff was so kind and helped us develop a plan,” said Bennett. “And we appreciate that we have the opportunity to move to a different level of care if ever necessary.”
Today, the two families live in separate buildings on the St. Catherine’s campus, so they remain close — but not too close. The Keiths are much busier now that the Smiths are their neighbors, and Gina is following in her mother’s footsteps, becoming famous for her homemade bread.
“We’re all excited and looking forward to our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren visiting,” said David of their family. “Maybe someday, they’ll be the next generation to call St. Catherine’s Village home.”
To learn more, visit StCatherinesVillage.com or call 601.856.0123.
