On the Circuit: 2025 Sage Awards
The 33rd annual Sage Award Luncheon brought together nearly 400 supporters at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, all eager to celebrate this year’s distinguished honorees and recognize four decades of AgeWell Middle Tennessee’s service to older adults and their caregivers.
The program honored five exceptional “Sages over 60,” each recognized for a lifetime of leadership and impact. Emmy-winning meteorologist Lelan Statom, senior transportation and community leader Brenda Payne, county historian and preservationist Rick Warwick, public relations leader Deborah Varallo, and nonprofit leadership executive Jerry B. Williams. Each received warm applause. Together, they represented the depth of talent and dedication that continues to strengthen communities across Middle Tennessee.
Abe’s Garden Community was named the 2025 Sage Organization honoree, celebrated for their person-centered approach to memory care and their commitment to enhancing the lives of older adults living with dementia. The annual Elizabeth Jacobs Distinguished Service Award, created to honor the founder of AgeWell Middle Tennessee and awarded to a volunteer whose service reflects the organization’s mission, was presented to Nancy Conway. A steadfast community leader, especially in Williamson County, Conway has long been an ambassador for older adults and those who care for them.
A new addition to this year’s event was an intimate fireside chat, during which honorees shared personal reflections and “sage advice” gathered from decades of service. Their stories, filled with heart, humor, and inspiration, offered guests a memorable look into the wisdom that has guided their work.
The Sage Awards also serve as the primary annual fundraiser for AgeWell Middle Tennessee, and this year’s results were exceptional. With 120,900 dollars raised, surpassing the original goal by more than 20,000 dollars, the organization is poised to expand its reach to thousands of older adults and caregivers throughout the region.
“These honorees represent the very best of Middle Tennessee’s spirit of service and leadership,” said Grace Sutherland Smith, Executive Director of AgeWell Middle Tennessee. “Their lifelong commitment to improving our communities sets a powerful example for what it truly means to live and age well.”
