Kings and queens were crowned in celebration of the holiday

Herman Whatley and Dorothy Belcher were crowned Valentine King and Queen of the Troy Nutrition Center Thursday morning.

Then, across town that afternoon, John Stroud and Bessie Burton were crowned Valentine King and Queen of the Troy Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Hassie Green, nutrition center director, said there is no couple more deserving of the title than Whatley and Belcher.

Jeanette Dawkins, TH&R activities director, said the same of Stroud and Burton.

The Troy Nutrition Center King and Queen were chosen by popular vote of the clients and they received an extended round of applause when their names were announced.

“Herman has been coming to the Troy Nutrition Center for about two years and Dorothy has been a client for five years,” Green  said. “They were both surprised and thrilled to be the Troy Nutrition Center Valentine King and Queen. Mayor Jason Reeves crowned our king and queen and we were honored to have him with us and he is always welcome at the Troy Nutrition Center.”

Green said that although the crowning of the king and queen is a highlight Valentine’s Day, the celebration is for all of the Center’s clients.

“The staff prepares a special Valentine’s Day dinner for our clients as a way of showing them how much they are appreciated and how much they are loved,” she said.

The Valentine party at TH&R is also the facility’s way of showing appreciation to its residents and their families. The Valentine King and Queen were selected by an impartial panel and, if the applause was an indication, the residents were happy with the choice.

Stroud and Burton showed appreciation to their friends with smiles and kingly and queenly salutes.

Both said they had never been crowned before and were excited to be TH&R royalty.

Their reign together should be an amiable one. Both love to play Bingo and listen to gospel music.

“For a man 92 years old, being the king is exciting,” Stroud said.

The queen said, too, that she was excited with all the fanfare, but “ladies don’t tell their age.”’