The Homeplace at Midway recently marked a meaningful day of celebration with a ribbon cutting ceremony and the dedication of the Mayor Tom Bozarth Community Room, generously named by the Sexton family.
The event honored a vision more than 25 years in the making and celebrated the lasting partnerships and community commitment that continue to shape Homeplace today. The gathering moved indoors due to rainy weather and reflected the true spirit of Homeplace, warmth, connection, and home.
The celebration included the dedication of the Sexton Wellness Path, a meaningful addition to the campus that honors both legacy and vision. The walking path was dedicated in memory of Hargus Sexton, recognizing his family, his love of horses, and his early vision for what would ultimately become Homeplace at Midway. His commitment, along with the support of others in the community helped lay the foundation for a dream that would grow into Kentucky’s first and only Green House senior living community.
Tonya Cox, Vice President of Operations for Chirstian Care Communities and the first Executive Director of Homeplace at Midway, shared reflections on the long journey that led to this moment. Though Homeplace officially opened in 2015, the vision began in 1999 with a bold idea: to reimagine senior living in a way that felt fundamentally different.
That vision was led by former Christian Care Communities CEO Dr. Keith Knapp, who, drawing from his background in geriatrics, envisioned a model centered on dignity, choice, and a true sense of home. Instead of traditional institutional design, Homeplace was created as a cottage-style community where elders, families, and staff could live and connect in a more personal, home-like environment.
During the program, CEO Mary Lynn Spalding shared that the celebration felt less like a formal event and more like a family gathering, with residents, families, staff, and community members all coming together in a shared space of connection and belonging. She reflected on the journey that brought Homeplace to life, sharing the extraordinary length and dedication it took to turn vision into reality. Turning that vision into reality took sixteen years of persistence, planning, and deep community commitment. She reflected on attending early planning meetings and even walking around the future site before construction began, remembering climbing the dirt hills where Homeplace would one day stand. What stood out most was the unwavering dedication of the Midway community throughout the entire process.
Former Mayor Tom Bozarth, the Sexton family, members of the task force, and many others remained steadfast in their belief in the project, never giving up through years of challenges and delays. “This project took a reallylong time to get off the ground,” Spalding shared. “But the community never gave up, they persevered.”
Now, standing together at a ribbon cutting and community room dedication more than a decade after opening, that perseverance was on full display. The celebration served as a tribute to vision, patience, and steadfast belief. The Sexton Wellness Path now stands as a lasting symbol of that journey, honoring Hargus Sexton’s legacy and the collective effort that brought Homeplace at Midway from dream to reality.
“Thank you for joining us in recognizing this important milestone at Homeplace at Midway. We are grateful for your continued partnership and support as we carry forward the vision that has shaped this community for more than 25 years.” – Mary Lynn Spalding President/CEO
