01/30/2026
As we continue celebrating Activity Professionals Week, we are proud to recognize another dedicated member of our Life Connections team — Lawanda Darby!
Lawanda has devoted an incredible 31 years to the healthcare field, bringing compassion, experience, and heart into everything she does. She spent three years serving as an Assistant Activity Director in Greenwood before beginning her journey at Vaiden Community Living Center as the Life Connections Coordinator. With training and support from CES and fellow staff members, Lawanda embraced this new and exciting environment with enthusiasm and passion.
Lawanda truly loves what she does, and the residents and families she serves bring her immense joy. One of her most meaningful early experiences was forming a special bond with a resident who deeply touched her heart. Though that resident has since passed, Lawanda carries those memories with her — a reminder of both the beauty and the challenges of working in healthcare.
Outside of work, Lawanda enjoys spending quality time with her family, especially her first-born grandchild, who was born in 2022. Recently diagnosed with autism and non-verbal, he continues to inspire her daily with his ability to express his needs and emotions in his own unique ways. During her quiet moments, Lawanda enjoys watching horror and suspense movies, the ID Channel, and cheering on her favorite NFL team as a proud, die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan.
We are so thankful for Lawanda’s dedication, compassion, and the meaningful connections she creates every day. 💙 Thank you, Lawanda, for being an Everyday Hero and for going Beyond the Ordinary!