After 12 Years of Service, Seniors First Executive Director Jimmy Roberts to Retire

After more than a decade leading one of the region’s largest organizations serving older adults, Jimmy Roberts will retire Aug. 1 as executive director of Seniors First, closing a chapter marked by growth, innovation, and an unwavering focus on helping seniors remain independent.

Jimmy Roberts works at his desk at Seniors First, where he has served as executive director for the past 12 years. Roberts will retire Aug. 1 after leading the organization through a period of growth, expanded services, and increasing demand for programs that help older adults remain independent in their own homes.

Roberts joined Seniors First 12 years ago after spending two decades as the owner of a for-profit business. Rather than pursuing another career in the private sector, he felt called to a different kind of work.

“After spending 20 years owning a for-profit business, serving myself, I decided it was time to serve others,” Roberts said. “I didn’t specifically seek out Seniors First. I sent my resume to several human services organizations, and Seniors First was the one that hired me. I never put a timeline on how long I would stay; I left that up to God.”

That decision would shape not only his career but also the nonprofit’s future.

A Mission of Independence

For Roberts, the organization’s mission has always been about more than delivering services.

“I would tell people that life has many seasons, and each one brings new opportunities and challenges,” he said. “The aging process can be difficult and even frightening at times, but Seniors First exists to help those who qualify age with dignity and grace while continuing to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.”

That philosophy guided his leadership as the region’s senior population continued to grow at a record pace.

Building for the Future

Looking back, Roberts points to rebranding the organization as one of his proudest accomplishments.

“Rebranding the agency laid the foundation for our future,” he said. “It positioned Seniors First to better meet the needs of what is now the largest senior population in history while preparing the organization for continued growth and innovation.”

During his tenure, the organization expanded services, strengthened its financial position, and invested in facilities to better serve clients. One of the most recent milestones was relocating one of its senior centers to a larger, more accessible location.

“We aren’t satisfied with the status quo,” Roberts said. “We’re always looking for better ways to serve our community.”

Meeting Growing Demand

The challenges facing aging services have changed dramatically over the past decade, none more significant than the years following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Emerging from the pandemic, we experienced a significant increase in demand for services while federal and state funding failed to keep pace,” Roberts said. “That challenge forced us to rethink our operating model, become more efficient, and find innovative ways to serve more people with fewer resources.”

He remains concerned that federal funding under the Older Americans Act has not kept pace with the rapid growth of the nation’s senior population.

“Our primary funding comes from the Older Americans Act, signed into law in 1965, yet federal funding has never kept pace with the tremendous growth of our senior population,” he said. “As a result, organizations like ours are forced to maintain waiting lists for services that many seniors desperately need.”

A Story That Says It All

Among the hundreds of clients Roberts has served, one story stands out especially.

After conducting an assessment for a woman who qualified for home-delivered meals, he expected service to begin within days. A week later, she called asking why no meals had arrived.

When Roberts investigated, he learned that the Meals on Wheels driver had mistakenly been delivering the meals to a neighboring home.

He visited the neighbor, who warmly welcomed him.

She explained that only days earlier, she had prayed for food because she had none. Soon afterward, someone knocked on her door.

It was a Meals on Wheels driver with a hot meal.

“She thanked God for answering her prayer so quickly,” Roberts recalled. “Then she smiled and said He came back the next day … and the next … and the next.”

Roberts completed an assessment for the neighbor and discovered she also qualified for the meal program. The delivery address was corrected, and both women continued receiving meals.

“What started as a delivery mistake became a reminder that sometimes even our mistakes can become someone else’s blessing,” he said.

The Difference Volunteers Make

While Roberts has often been recognized as the face of Seniors First, he is quick to credit the staff, volunteers, and donors who make the organization’s work possible.

“I want them to understand what it really means when we say we’ve changed someone’s life,” he said. “The answers aren’t found in reports or statistics—they’re found in the testimonies of the people we serve. Every meal delivered, every ride provided, every visit made has a real impact on someone’s life.”

Looking Ahead

Although Roberts is retiring from full-time leadership, he says he has no intention of slowing down.

“I don’t see retirement as stopping,” he said. “I see it as a shift in priorities.”

He plans to devote more time to serving his local church and following whatever opportunities God places before him.

He admits there is one part of retirement he’s especially looking forward to.

“Not having to drive 38 minutes to work every morning and 38 minutes home every evening,” he said with a laugh. “And I’m only half joking.”

A Message to the Community

Before stepping away, Roberts hopes the community will continue supporting the organization and the growing number of seniors who depend on its services.

“It takes a community to build a better community,” he said.

“The need for aging services is growing faster than ever, but funding simply isn’t keeping pace. I encourage our community to come alongside our mission by becoming monthly donors. Whether it’s five dollars, ten dollars, or whatever someone can afford, consistent giving can make a meaningful difference in the lives of seniors throughout our community.”

Leaving a Legacy

Asked what he will miss most, Roberts doesn’t mention budgets, meetings, or administration.

Instead, he points to the people.

“I’ll miss the stories we’ve created while serving seniors and the extended family I’ve built over the past 12 years,” he said. “The relationships with clients, volunteers, staff, and community partners have been the greatest blessing of this journey.”

As Roberts prepares to hand the reins to new leadership, his legacy is measured not simply in programs expanded or buildings improved, but in the thousands of older adults who have been able to remain in their own homes with dignity, independence, and the support of a community determined not to let them age alone.