Print Issue: March 14, 2002

Love Knows No Age; Personal Care Home Residents Take Matrimony Vows

By Erika Anderson, Staff Writer

RIVERDALE-Rodgers and Loyce Graddy are on their honeymoon. They act like most newlyweds. They hold hands. They steal glances at each other across the dinner table. Their eyes sparkle with newfound happiness.

Their wedding was simple; the blushing bride wore a periwinkle dress, the groom a handsome navy pinstriped suit. Their matching carnation corsage and boutonniere took the place of a fancy bouquet.

Rodgers Graddy, right, 84, and his new bride Loyce Hollis Camp, 73, stand at the altar of the St. Teresa Manor chapel following their March 4 wedding among their family, friends and volunteers of the personal care home.

It seemed appropriate. After all both Rodgers and Loyce had done this before. Three times each, actually. And neither ever dreamed they would marry again. But, on March 4, after a whirlwind romance of only a month, in the sight of their families and fellow residents of St. Teresa Manor Catholic Personal Care Home, Rodgers, 84, and Loyce, 72, became husband and wife.

Nearly 48 hours later the couple is still basking in their newly-wedded bliss as they sit down to dinner and talk about what brought them together.

Rodgers said he was immediately drawn to Loyce, who moved into St. Teresa Manor Jan. 28. He had lived there for two years, but no one had quite struck his fancy like she did.

"I fell in love with her the first time I saw her," he said. "I saw those beautiful eyes and I said, 'She's for me.'"

Loyce laughs at her husband.

"Aren't you sweet," she said. "He's been telling me this every day and I think he's finally convinced me."

For Loyce, falling in love with Rodgers was a little more gradual.

"He was a perfect gentleman and so considerate and kind, but I never thought I would marry again," she said. "But the more I was around him, the more things I saw we had in common."

Both Rodgers and Loyce are Georgia natives who share a love for God, as well as gospel and country and western music. Each had also been widowed three times and knew the pain of loss in their lives.

Loyce was born in Bremen and grew up in Riverside, just outside of Atlanta. When she was just 17 years old, she married her first husband. He died at the age of 45, after 26 and a half years of marriage. The couple had six children together. Each of her next two marriages lasted six years with the death of her husbands.

In contrast, Rodgers didn't marry for the first time until he was 37. He grew up in Macon, and served in the Army in World War II. His first wife died after 12 years of marriage. His second wife also died after 12 years, and his third wife died after 14 years, four and a half of which Rodgers spent taking care of her.

Both Rodgers and Loyce had experienced the true meaning of "til death do us part." But there was an unmistakable bond that brought the two of them together.

Their courtship was simple-television in the parlor, arts and crafts in the common room. After a short time, others became aware of the spark between them.

Diane Ross, director of St. Teresa Manor, said she "somehow wasn't surprised" when she found out the two were getting married.

"I saw the light in both of their eyes and the hand holding," she said. "I knew how nurturing (Rodgers) is and I knew he was looking for someone to take care of. She is delightful and friendly and outgoing, and so much about their backgrounds are similar."

When Rodgers proposed to Loyce in the parlor of St. Teresa Manor, she very quickly said yes, although she said it took her a minute to "get over the shock."

With her children standing by-one of her sons walked her down the aisle, another served as Rodgers' best man-the two were married-the first wedding at St. Teresa Manor. Loyce's daughters-in-law had bought her dress as well as her peignoir for her wedding night.

Ann Hollis, Loyce's daughter, said that it meant a lot to her that her mother asked for her advice.

"She seems very happy," she said. "I think he is a really great guy. She looks very pretty and I'm very happy for her."

It was important to the bride that her family supported her new marriage.

"(My family) had been around us a good bit and they saw we were interested," she said. "My children just fell in love with him. I think they know their mother is happy and that's all that matters. They know he put the sparkle back in my eyes."