Last week would have been Margie Weaver's 30th anniversary as director of the local senior center. To mark the occasion, the center now shares her name.

On July 25, hundreds gathered for the unveiling of the Margie Weaver Senior Center to commemorate nearly three decades of compassion, loyalty and love for seniors in the community.

"The only thing that would have made it better is if she'd been there, if she got to retire and she'd got to see it. Just to honor her, that her name will be on that building from now on, it's just amazing," said Sharon Reagan, Weaver's daughter.

Weaver died March 18 at the age of 74, four months shy of what would have been her 30th anniversary as the center's director. Today would have been her 75th birthday.

"It's just cool to me. I was thinking over the weekend, you know in five years, or 10 years from now, somebody's going to go to the park and they're going to say, ‘the Margie Weaver Senior Center -- I wonder who Margie Weaver was,'" Reagan said. "And I guarantee somebody's going to tell a story about something she did for somebody."

County Commission Chairman Mike Berg called the dedication ceremony a celebration.

"It's just wonderful how many people are here, how many lives she touched," he said. "Margie was such a dynamic figure. Everybody wanted to help her, help others in this county. This is a celebration, something to be proud of. This building will stand here a long time and will have her name on it ... and we'll remember her for the good things she did."

Granddaughter Samantha Bruce said the ceremony was a fitting dedication for the "Nanny" she shared with so many in the community.

"She has taught me so much about life," she said. "She showed me and everyone else she came in contact with that growing old isn't something you should be scared or depressed about. Life is what you make of it, as she has told me that many times."

Having the center bear her name would most likely rank among Weaver's most meaningful achievements at the center, according to Bruce.

"I remember how excited Nanny was when she finally got the OK to break ground and build the current facility. At that time it was her greatest achievement as director," she said. "Her last greatest achievement as director was finally getting the elevator in and working.

"Nanny would have been as honored and proud as I am."

State Rep. Kevin Tanner, who served as county manager before being elected last year, worked alongside Weaver to bring an elevator, which allows wheelchair-bound and walking-aid seniors to participate in activities offered in the basement, to the center.

"No matter how dire the budget was, she would always say people would step up and would help us. She had that much faith in this community and the people," he said.

After years of community-based fundraising efforts and a contribution from the county commission, the elevator took its first passengers to the lower floor for art instruction and exercise classes in December.

Tanner said it was that dedicated commitment to the seniors of the county that will live on as Weaver's legacy "long after we all are gone."

"I just want to thank her family for sharing her with Dawson County for so many years. It was a commitment," he said. "We are all better for knowing Margie. Thank you very much."