Ortonville- More than 100 people turned out for a dedication of Edna Burton Senior Center and the Senior Memorial Garden on Sept. 29.
The former Brandon Senior Center was renamed in honor of Edna Burton, the former township clerk who was responsible for obtaining a grant in 1977 which established the original senior center on the corner of South and Mill streets. A few years later, Brandon Township purchased and remodeled a building at 345 Ball St. (the current location) and Burton began the senior transportation program in 1988. Burton devoted much of her time to the center and the seniors, visiting everyday, up until two weeks before her death Jan. 1.
In a June interview with The Citizen after the Brandon Township board voted to rename the center, clerk Jeannie McCreery said, ‘Edna was so involved with the center, cooking soup for the seniors and having coffee there with them every morning. She never considered herself a senior, she talked about ‘her? seniors. I think she would be very pleased with the (center’s) new name.?
A memorial garden and plaque dedicated at the ceremony honor not only Burton, but others involved in creating, sustaining and growing the senior center.