By AMBER PATINO
Love found its way into the halls of the Holmes Council on Aging (HCOA) this winter, proving that it’s never too late for a new beginning. Mike Weaver, 70, and Debora Waddell, 68, first met at the center in Bonifay, though neither would have guessed at the time that their friendship would turn into something more.
Debora has been attending HCOA since 2019, while Mike began visiting about a year ago. Both admit they didn’t hit it off right away. But as they slowly began talking, they discovered a surprising number of shared interests.
“I was surprised at how much we had in common,” Debora said. “He was so nice and polite to me.”
For Mike, the connection was unexpected. An Army veteran who spent 34 years as a truck driver after his service, he lost his wife two years ago and believed that chapter of his life had closed. “I was lost when my wife died,” he said. “I had given up on love.”
Debora, a retired retail clerk, helped change that. As their bond deepened, the couple realized their friendship had blossomed into true love. Wanting to celebrate with the people who had become such an important part of their lives, they held an engagement ceremony at the HCOA on January 21, surrounded by friends, staff, and volunteers. They returned to the center on January 30 to exchange vows in a joyful wedding ceremony.
“These people are like family to us; why shouldn’t they share in our happiness?” Mike said, describing their story as a fairytale romance.
When asked what advice they would give others still hoping to find their own happy ending, Debora didn’t hesitate: “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. There’s happiness to be had if you just reach for it.”
Staff Report 