'Just keep dancing': Athens Activity Center honors wife, memory of Lloyd Roper

Sep. 21—"If he Lloyd were here today, he would say, 'Just keep dancing and have a good time,'" Bobbi Roper said of her late husband at a special tribute to him at the Athens Activity Center Wednesday morning, Sept. 20.

The Dancercise class at Athens Activity Center performed a special dance Wednesday morning in remembrance of Lloyd Roper. They danced to Elvis' "Just Pretend," which was first choreographed and performed at the Roper's wedding anniversary in December of last year.

Lloyd, along with his wife Bobbi, started the Dancercise program at the Athens Activity Center in 2019 but were quickly shut down due the COVID-19 pandemic. Once the center was able to reopen, they asked Kay Burlingame to take leadership of the program.

Lloyd passed away Aug. 21, at the age of 90, and their friends at the Athens Activity Center got together to honor him and show their support for Bobbi and their family. The Dancercise class presented the family with a personalized memorial flag display case for the flag given to Bobbi at Lloyd's funeral service.

Lloyd served in the U.S. Navy after high school, while he and Bobbi were still dating. While Lloyd was on leave, the young couple eloped to Georgia, with $20 he borrowed from his mother. They married the day before he was to catch a bus back to Norfolk, Va. Fifty years later, they renewed their vows in a church ceremony. The couple enjoyed more than 69 years of marriage.

"I want to tell you how much I appreciate you and how much I appreciate what y'all did for this group. I know this is a tough part of your life to go through but we love you and we care about you," Mayor Ronnie Marks told Bobbi.

Burlingame thanked the Ropers for their dedication in establishing the Dancercise program in Athens.

"Thank you so much for all the joy, all the pleasure, the hours that you and Lloyd invested in this facility," she said. "Thank you for getting bored and wanting something to do and deciding that you'll just try your hand at line dancing."

Burlingame added, "Not only did we have fun, we were loved. They loved each of us as if we were a part of their family; therefore, we became a family. That's a family that no matter where you are, we are always here for you."