It’s National Skilled Nursing Care Week (May 11-17)! We are spotlighting some of our VHS residents at Virginia Health Services’ seven nursing and rehabilitation centers. Our team supports our residents in living their best life as they age with us.
We appreciate their time and the time of their visiting families and friends who all were so open in telling their stories.
Coliseum
Jackie Warren initially came to Coliseum Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for a short-term rehab stay. When her needs for assistance were too great — and without help with the cost of at-home help — she moved to the long-term care unit.
“My plan is not to be here for a long time” she says. “… It’s all right, but it’s not like home. I can’t complain because they take care of me. Every day might not seem like it’s gravy, but it’s all right.”
Having Activity Director Shawn Hill leading recreational therapy helps.
“He does some good stuff for us,” she says. “Best activity man I’ve ever seen. Where I was staying previously, I didn’t involve myself in any activities. I would sit around and talk, but now I get out. Shawn has different churches coming in, there’s dancing – Shawn just does some good stuff. I’m not too much of a Bingo player or movie watcher, but I come and sit down for the nice activities he got going on. There’s always a party.”
Jackie also utilizes Coliseum’s on-site Dialysis Den. It allows her to receive treatments without having to leave the building, and frees her up to enjoy Shawn’s packed activity schedule.
“It’s all right because I know I’ve got to go. I want to live. I go lay in the chair at 5:45 in the morning. I’m back in my room by 8:30 and then I got the rest of the day to myself,” she says.
Her husband, who received dialysis, passed after 25 years of marriage. He worked at Newport News Shipyard. They had twin boys and a daughter.
Jackie is originally from Ivor, but lived in Smithfield after marriage. She worked at Smithfield Foods for 35 years, and moved to Newport News, where she commuted across the James River Bridge regularly. She doesn’t miss the commute, especially in bad weather.
She’s proud of her career at Smithfield Foods — not to be graphic, but she played a significant role in how the sausage (and hot dogs) were made.
“I felt like I had to work hard to make sure (my children) were happy. I was the mother who if I didn’t have, that was fine as long as they had. I appreciate that now. I didn’t want my kids to get bullied because of what they didn’t have. Kept ‘em safe and sent them to school with what they needed. … I didn’t mind not having, but I wanted them to have,” she says.
She’s active in the church and attends services hosted by volunteer groups at Coliseum. Her goddaughter also picks her up for church on Sundays when she can.
“I gotta stay with God because he’s been too good to me,” she says. “Every time I got sick and got down, God picked me back up. … I’m having a better time right now, a beautiful time, living with Jesus.”
James River
Flower lover
Janet Kates loves to make flower arrangements for the team members at James River Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She is at Flower Club with the Newport News Master Gardeners each week to make at least three to distribute.
She has kind words for the nurses, aides and support staff throughout the building.
“These people take good care of me. They know what to do when my blood sugar gets too low,” she says.
Diabetes led her to the role of being taken care of, where early in her career, she took care of others.
Janet says she was a nurse aide, including at James River, about 50 years ago. She shifted to private duty nursing care — it was the same thing, she says, “I lived in people’s homes” — before she wound up working at fast food restaurants.
“Now I’ve gotten to where they all know me,” she says of the James River team. “My roommate looks out for me, too.”
She is originally from Poquoson and says she would like to go home, but doesn’t want to burden her two sons. She speaks with her oldest on the phone and her youngest son is a youth pastor and picks her up on Sundays to take her to church.
Janet says she is hoping for grandchildren.
“I am already 68,” she says. “I can handle grandchildren.”
Interesting professional
Thurman Reynolds started living at James River Nursing and Rehabilitation Center about two years ago. He moved here from another nursing center in Arlington and is pleased with his experience here so far.
“So glad I switched here; this place is much better,” he says. “And I have family here.”
Thurman is from Newport News. He graduated George Washington Carver High School (which is now Crittenden Middle School).
His cousin, a brother — “and my cousin is by brother,” he says. “We grew up together in the same home. I have four cousins who I love them to death. They’re just like brothers and sisters.”
He says he has been married a few times and has four sons, including one who lives in Hampton.
He also has an ex-wife and former fiancé who visit him and “still take care of me,” Thurman says.
And then there’s his caretakers at James River.
“I love my caretakers at James River. They’re very good,” he says. “The nurses treat me so good, they treat me like their grandfather. They treat me real good.”
Thurman says he held a lot of jobs throughout his life. He was a paramedic and a critical care monitor.
“The highlight of my career was when President (Ronald) Reagan was shot,” he says of being a part of the care team. “I was in the operating room with him and James Brady.”
The assassination attempt on Reagan in March 1981 wounded the former president, Brady (who was the White House press secretary), a Secret Service agent and a police office.
Thurman says he was visiting San Francisco when the shooting occurred. He received a call from the hospital to return to Washington, D.C., immediately.
“When I got there, they put me in opposite operating rooms with Reagan and Brady and I went back and forth to both rooms. It was intense,” he says.
He also was a respiratory therapist, which was the last job he held before a stroke prompted his retirement.
“It hasn’t been a cake walk, it’s been rough,” he says. “It’s probably good — the stroke probably saved my life. I was living a crazy life. Stroke saved my life, slowed me down.”
He used to run five miles a day as well. He says he misses running, but is trying to regain his strength and independence working with the physical therapists from VHS Rehabilitation at James River. He also participates in many of the activities offered, including games.
“I’d live my life one more time if I had the chance,” the 76 year old says. “My life is beautiful.”
Lancashire
Jack of all trades
Lancaster County native Robert Laws serves as Resident Council president at Lancashire Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He helps lead the meeting and works with the Lancashire team to address their needs and concerns.
He has resided at Lancashire for about four years, and at one time was a housekeeper and maintenance tech at the community.
“Working here was good,” he says. “There was always a job, something to do. I tried to keep things fixed and trash cleaned throughout the building.”
Robert joined the ROTC in high school, and from there went on to odd jobs throughout his life, including as a cook and fence installer.
He likes playing Bingo, and many of the other activities offered at Lancashire.
“I am doing some rehab work on my own (in the VHS Rehabilitation therapy room) and try to keep myself moving around,” he says.
With a lot of family in the area, he says he gets visitors. His best piece of advice: “Stay out of trouble. Keep yourself safe and everything’s good.”
Loves the team
Joane Waller has been a resident at Lancashire for more than two years.
“I’m from Lancaster County,” she says. “I’m here now, and this is where I’m going to be for the rest of my life. It’s all right. It’s taken me a while to adjust to everything because all my independence has been taken away from me. I was so used to being dependent on myself.”
But she has taken to several members of the clinical team, and loves to participate in activities. Her favorite is Bingo.
“The nurses are very good here. That helps a lot, especially when you want to be at home with your family. I really like my doctor and nurse practitioner,” she says.
Joane uses the VHS Rehabilitation therapy room for leg exercises.
She tends to eat her meals in a family room on her unit so “I can look at my soaps in peace,” she says. “I have told them sometimes, ‘y’all got to be quiet, they’re getting to the good part.’”
She’s a big fan of “The Young and the Restless” and “The Bold and the Beautiful,” and watched all eight seasons of Tyler Perry’s “The Haves and the Have Nots.”
The longest she’s stayed away from home was for three years after graduating high school in the early ‘70s. She, her husband and daughter moved back in 1974 and built a home on land her father gave them. She says she lived there until 2022.
Joane has a sister in the area, a little far away to visit often, but they talk on the phone or text daily. She says she talks to her two daughters a few times a week. She also has six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
“The 2.5 year old, she’s talking in full sentences now,” Joane says proudly of her great-grands. “And the 3 year old, when she’s on her table, she doesn’t hear you.”
She was married to her first husband for 26.5 years. She says he passed suddenly at age 45. She was married to her second husband, who has since passed, for 11 years before they separated.
She says before she retired following a knee replacement, she worked for TriStar supermarket for 17 years.
“I was a jack of all trades,” she says. “I was hired as cashier, but ended up working in all departments. I liked being a cashier more. I liked talking to customers when they came through the line.”
Her daughters always wondered how she heard about things before they told her. “TriStar,” she says, laughing. “Momma always knows.”
She is also a big fan of a cookout, and was slated to celebrate her most recent birthday with one.
“I like going out to eat, going shopping and cooking on the grill. My favorite off the grill? A black hot dog,” she says, cackling. “That’s the best hot dog! Some mustard, onions and relish — girl, don’t knock it until you try it.”
The Newport
Family affair
Amelia Turnage moved into The Newport Nursing and Rehabilitation Center a few years ago. She has family nearby and is involved in all the activities. She spent some time talking about her experience alongside her oldest daughter Connie.
“I’ve enjoyed myself,” Amelia says. “I’d rather be home, but it’s been very, very good. I feel taken care of, and the people I have seen are so very nice. All the residents have been real good to talk to and are friendly. I’ve found it to be very good.”
Connie says her mother can be quiet, and loved to read, now watching her favorite westerns on TV. She entertained while she was home, but it became more difficult to have company over, Connie says. Then they found the community of The Newport.
“The types of things and activities that are constantly available are amazing,” Connie says. “It helps build rapport with staff and the other residents who are here. It’s been a beautiful experience. … Mother loves Bingo. That’s her joy. They provide a lot of music. And music with exercise. I have thoroughly enjoyed that kind of thing. They have pet therapy and bring in other animals. It’s beautiful moments — me as an observer, you can see the connection the animals can build with a person just by touch. To me, that’s a beautiful moment. I love seeing Mother like that. Those things stay with her. She will ask for it again. She likes the arts and crafts, and puzzles. They enjoy it and it also challenges their mind.”
Amelia says she loves Bingo, and knows when Mr. Teller arrives in a snazzy suit, she knows she’s going to her him sing. She also looks forward to being in the courtyard now that the weather is warmer.
“Yeah, there’s not too much just sitting there,” she says with a smile.
She also utilizes the VHS Rehabilitation therapy room to help her regain mobility.
Amelia grew up in the mountains of North Carolina, where her father was a building supervisor during construction of the Biltmore Estate, a mansion now open to the public developed by George Vanderbilt at the end of the 19th century.
She moved to the Hampton Roads area after graduating high school. Her brothers moved to work at Newport News Shipyard and she followed. This is where she met her first husband, who was working at Fort Eustis.
Following their divorce, she says she met “a wonderful, wonderful man.” They were married for about 30 years.
“He was a good, Christian man. He was so good to me. I really miss that me,” she says.
He did maintenance on Newport News Public Schools.
“Mr. Maintenance, is what we called him,” Connie says. “He could fix anything.”
Amelia has three daughters, a step-son, and four grandchildren, with a great-grandchild and another on the way.
“Lord, I love those little things,” she says, as Connie adds, “She calls them that. They’re adults now.”
The family gathers at The Newport for birthdays, holidays and other celebrations.
“We bring our celebrations here for the whole family too. Farthest is North Carolina and Richmond,” Connie says. “We do a lot of the activities here, eat together. You can always have a room for the whole family. It’s been awesome. We’ve never had any problem booking a room. Heavens, by the time we all get together, there’s about 30-40 of us. We’re happy to share. It’s been a wonderful decision for you to be here for sure.
Connie’s work schedule allows her to visit her mother most weekdays.
“It’s been a very, very good place for Mother. A lot of attention, a lot of check-ins,” Connie says. “It’s been a wonderful experience, and no regret at all for you being here. It makes the whole family feel better.”
Longstanding area ties
Keith Grove moved into The Newport in February. The Ohio native retired in November 2024 and was lured to the area by his daughters (and their families).
Keith spent several of his eight active duty years in the Navy stationed here. He spent the rest of his 26.5 years in the Navy in the reserves in Ohio, where he held several jobs including in telecommunications and then as a pastor. (He went to seminary when his daughters were adults.)
His daughter said the family made good friends in the area — going back 50 years — and visited each summer.
“That’s why I love it here. Then I got a job here,” she says, then turns to Keith. “And 20 years later, you’re here now, too.”
Keith says he feels safe at The Newport, and the VHS Rehabilitation therapists are excellent. He enjoys the activities, especially Bingo — “my grandchildren make out with the winnings” — and whatever else Activity Director Aldeen Stupart recruits him to do. He likes chair Zumba and PHIT with Kim Reaves exercise sessions.
“I do enjoy being out here with my grandchildren and my grand-puppies,” he says, and all of them come to visit. “It’s good to have folks that care. And what can I say, the food’s good. I’ve never eaten so much fish.”
Northampton
Nancy Williams is regaining her mobility and strength as a resident at Northampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
She does physical therapy and has a pedal machine in her room she uses when she can. She says she never misses Bingo.
“I would rather be home, but there are very nice people here,” she says. “I keep in touch with residents who have moved out. We have a good fellowship.”
The Farmville native grew up as the youngest of 13 children. While she has survived them all, she has a lot of nieces and nephews who keep up with her.
Nancy worked at a family owned department store in Farmville before moving to Hampton to help one of her sister’s raise her children following her husband’s passing. When Nancy started working at the Sears in Hampton, she met her husband who was an evening cashier.
“He was 12 years older than I was,” she said. He passed in 2016 at age 91 after 50 years of marriage. He was a probation office and they were good at co-parenting, Nancy recalls.
They have two sons and five grandchildren.
Her large extended family has a reunion every five years. She says there’s about 130 when they get together, and there is a book of family history with photos, memories and a list of births and deaths.
Nancy once created beautiful ceramic eggs, but has now turned her creative attention to puzzles. She is sent several by family and enjoys spending time putting them together. A Northampton team member helps her find pieces of cardboard to keep the pieces and completed products on.
“Puzzles keep me out of trouble. I don’t have to bother with anybody else,” she says.
Walter Reed
Mathews County native Nadine Hudgins joined Walter Reed Nursing and Rehabilitation Center as a resident about a year ago. She has been regaining strength since her admittance, and now you can’t keep her away from an activity — especially Bingo!
“I’m having fun,” she says. “I’ve made friends here. I like it here. Got your freedom around here.”
She works with the VHS Rehabilitation team to regain strength.
“I feel well taken care of. Everybody thought I wasn’t going to make until — my roommate talked me into it. Roommate encouraged me. Been going ever since,” she says.
She also has family in Gloucester who visit. She and her sister-in-law are “two peas in a pod,” she says.
She gardened and was a housewife — she had three children. She says she planted vegetables and flowers.
She also landscaped at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown. When that got to be too much in the heat, she moved into Naval Ophthalmic Readiness Activity division at the Weapons Station making eyeglasses for the government. As of 2024, the workers in the division still made 3,000 pairs of glasses a day.
Now, she colors intricate drawings with colored pencils. She says she finds it relaxing and no one disturbs her.
She also likes it when Administrator Bryant Hudgins visits. While he’s no relation, Nadine says she met him before moving to Walter Reed through her sister-in-law.
“I see him all the time! He’s very nice to me. Tells me I’m coming along good,” she says.
York
Ronald Bennett says he has been at York Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for about three years.
The Army veteran trained soldiers on tanks at Fort Monroe. He said they had to adapt to the changes over the years, but he was trained on all tanks and large guns.
Ronald is originally from Olean, N.Y., and has two sons who served in the Air Force with his wife of more than 50 years. She lives in Seaford and visits regularly. He says they have many grandchildren.
She also is busy doing work with their Methodist church, he says.
Ronald says his father was a cook in the service during World War II.
Learn more about us
Virginia Health Services owns and operates seven nursing and rehabilitation centers on the Peninsula, Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck. Each offers skilled care, long-term care and respite care. Coliseum Nursing and Rehabilitation Center features an on-site Dialysis Den, operated in partnership with DaVita Kidney Care. Memory Care is available at Lancashire and Walter Reed Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers.
Learn more about our care options and employment opportunities at vahs.com.
